Edwards

We have received request upon request for our Axial Flow (Thayer) valves. We are now pleased to offer valve conversion kits that will allow you to modify your existing Bach, Conn, or other trombone of choice with an Edwards valve system. We are too busy building horns to do the conversions ourselves, but we will be happy to refer you to a competent repair tech that can do the work.

More info »

If you live on the east coast of the US, you now have more options for play testing our instruments. We’ve recently decided to put our horns into two retail outlets: Washington Music in Wheaton, Maryland, and Dillon Music in Woodbridge, NJ.

We chose to partner with these two stores because we feel they will offer the highest level of support during and after the sale. Please call ahead to make a fitting appointment so you can be sure they will have everything you need in their inventory. We’re looking forward to working with Washington and Dillon to help you find your perfect Edwards.

Washington Music
11151 Veirs Mill Road
Wheaton, MD 20902
phone: 301-946-8808
fax: 301-933-4438
web: www.wmcworld.com
email: sales@chucklevins.com

Dillon Music
325 Fulton Street
Woodbridge, NJ 07095
phone: 732-634-3399
fax: 732-634-4932
web: www.dillonmusic.com

Do you remember those tan Edwards travel cases we used to sell? We’re going to start selling them again because we recently found quite a few while going through our inventory.

If you purchase any T350(E), Alessi T396-A or B454(E), we can offer you one of these vintage-style travel cases at cost. That’s $170 for tenor and $175 for bass. When these cases are gone, the sale is over. We still have our current cases and gig bags for sale, but if you’re a fan of tan, give Cathy a call to place your order:

(800) 562-6838

View image of open case

Well, I’m sitting here and thinking, “what have I forgotten to do?”. The horn has been tested and re-tested (and tested again) in as many configurations as we could think of. Now it’s time to get the Alessi Model in our customers’ hands. You can be one of the first to try it at the Midwest Clinic next week. Details are in the post below. Come to the booth early to get your invitation. We hope to see you there!

Edwards will be at the Midwest Convention in Chicago December 17-19 displaying our regular assortment of trombones and trumpets. After much testing and input from players around the country, we’ll be showing our new Eb trumpet, as well.

Trombone players will also be able to play a new horn — the Alessi Model. But there’s a catch. You won’t find the T396-A in the exhibits hall. Instead, interested trombonists need to come to the booth to receive an invitation to our top secret location where you’ll find the horn and quite possibly Joe Alessi himself.

Okay, Joe will be there and so will I. We are planning on doing two to three sessions a day. Each session will begin with a 15 minute introduction, followed by a Q&A and time for you to try the horn. Please bring your own mouthpiece.

Space at these private sessions is limited, so be sure to stop by the Edwards booth early to pick up an invite. We have tentatively scheduled two sessions on the 17th and three sessions on the 18th & 19th.

See you there.

How many times have you looked at your yard and thought, “I’d really like to do some landscaping. Maybe a new tree here, some bushes there, a coy pond, perhaps.”? And how often do you simply mow the grass and go inside to pay the bills, run the kids to soccer practice or take a nap? If so, you know all too well the things we face everyday (sans the nap). We’re a small company devoted to making the best instruments we can. That requires time and energy that, in the past, has kept us from putting in the coy pond.

Well, three years ago, I decided to start putting time aside in order to develop a new signature series tenor trombone. Time that would allow me to fully delve into every aspect of the horn. Time that would allow for testing, not only in-house, but out in the real world (the latter mostly at Lincoln Center with Joseph Alessi performing with the New York Philharmonic). Time that would help Edwards create the next great tenor trombone.

We feel we’ve accomplished just that with the Alessi Model T396-A. Read more about this horn and see some production shots.

Being the first fixed instrument that Edwards has ever produced, the biggest challenge to us was building a trombone that would fit the physiologies of trombonists around the globe. I had a call with Joe one morning (he was in Switzerland and I was in a Lowes parking lot) where things really started to come into focus. For 45 minutes we discussed the merits of the prototypes we had been working on. The conversation kept coming back to the weight within the build. We both felt strongly that the new brace we added to his then-prototype helped bring stability to that horn (we dubbed that new brace the “Harmonic Bridge (Patent Pending)”, and it plays a vital role in the T396-A’s construction and playability). The prototype Joe was on at the time had a bit more weight in the valve section than our current prototype so Joe insisted that I try to get a bit more into the prototype I was working on in-house.

I got to the office a bit late that day and immediately started working on adding more weight to the horn. The first step was attaching a counterweight. A mere 134 grams made the horn too centered and we lost the beautiful blossom in the resonance we had worked so hard to achieve. I modified the counterweight by taking off a four grams. The result was better, but a counterweight wasn’t the aesthetic I was looking for.

I was looking at the horn and an idea hit me: build the counterweight system into the instrument’s bracing via the Harmonic Bridge (Patent Pending). So I once again found myself back at Lowe’s in the nuts and bolts aisle during my lunch break. I bought a number of materials and headed back to the shop.

After tapping the Harmonic Bridge (Patent Pending), I inserted one threaded rod into the left hole of the brace. The partials instantly stabilized and the sound changed (not in a small way) but was more defined in the outer ring. So I decided to insert two more rods and the horn instantly changed once again. Depending upon the lengths and material densities of the rods, the results were drastically different each time we tested new combinations.

I went back to the first combination to make sure my ears (and brain) weren’t playing tricks on me and the sound and feel changed once again. My head was spinning with the possibilities: I could change the tonal characteristics — the width, depth and core of the sound — simply by switching out the materials and their respective lengths. Not only could I affect the resonance but the entire feel of the instrument, as well.

To take it further, I brought out a number of mouthpieces that, in the past, have not worked well for me and each one immediately felt more comfortable. I realized that the one thing I had been trying to accomplish (building a fixed horn that would fit everyone) was now possible. The T396-A had gone from being an excellent instrument to being one that I think could very well set the new standard for tenor trombones.

Here are the goals we initially laid out:

1. Build a fixed model Edwards that works well in a symphony orchestra

We accomplished this by traveling to NYC once a month to work with the New York Philharmonic’s low brass section. There were no compromises with this goal. After all, the orchestra is Mr. Alessi’s livelihood.

2. Build an instrument that also works well as a solo instrument, either in a recital setting or in front of an orchestra

Mr. Alessi has performed solos (many premieres) on recitals around the world on the T396-A.

3. Build an instrument that records well

It has met Mr. Alessi’s exacting standards in recording sessions.

4. Allow Mr. Alessi to perform with the correct timbre and feel no matter the musical setting

This is more difficult than it sounds. A lot of timbre comes with having an instrument that is tonally flexible without becoming unstable in different registers. We feel we have achieved our goals in each and every way and thus are excited to make an instrument available that is as unique as each and every one of our customers.

Delivering the first acoustically tunable fixed instrument is a new concept. We hope all of you will be able to test it for yourselves as it travels from ITFs to ETWs to MEAs in the coming months.

Just built our first five Eb trumpets. They’re in process in the buff room. After this they will be silver plated.

After they’re assembled we’ll get pictures of them and then you’ll be able to see them in the final state on the website.

Thanks to all that tried (purchased) and gave their input on the design and final product. It’s exciting to work with all of you and your input is greatly appreciated. Graham Ashton, Leonard Candelaria, William Takacs, and many players in the surrounding area (some not to be named due to other manufacturer endorsements) input was used and I am thankful to have these people as friends and collaborators.

We look forward to having this model added to the current Edwards line available Jan 1st 2009.

Regards,

Christan Griego

As we continue to gear up for the upcoming Alessi Tenor Trombone, I’ve had to make some tough decisions. The T350 has been our standard tenor model since our inception in 1989. However, since we added the T350-E to the catalog a number of years ago, T350 sales have decreased as more and more players have gravitated to Edge Braced valve sections. So as of now, the T350-E is now our standard Axial Flow valve tenor trombone.

We will still produce the T350 for those that want it, but these will only be made couple times a year. Delivery will be slower than the T350-E. There is no need to worry for those of you with a standard braced T350 on order. Current orders will be made to your specifications. By moving in this direction, we will free up valuable time in the production schedule for the new Alessi Model.

This does not affect our bass trombone models, so no worries to you breathers of the hot, slow air.

There are quite a few Edwards trombone sections in symphonies around the world. We recently received this photo, taken shortly after the São Paulo Symphony performed the Bartok Concerto for Orchestra. Thanks to Alex for providing the pic!

As many of you already know, Edwards has been working closely with Joe Alessi on a new tenor trombone the past couple of years. We are making great progress and anticipate this horn being available for sale in late 2008 or early 2009. With all the buzz this instrument is receiving, we thought it would be nice to provide you with a sample of the color we are achieving with this project. Enjoy.