King Duo Gravis 6B Bass Trombone Outfit [pre-owned]

Trombones - Used

  • King Duo Gravis 6B

    Bass Trombone Outfit [pre-owned]

    Professional double valve bass trombone.

    Used King 6B Duo Gravis bass trombone. Manufactured in Eastlake, Ohio in 1971 or 72. Likely a prototype.

    Specifications:

    •  Key of Bb/F/D
    •  0.562 large bore
    •  Open wrap F attachment
    •  9.5-inch silver plated two-piece brass bell.
    •  Nickel hand slide
    •  Hard case

    Level: Professional

    Condition: Good

    Narrative: Part of the Alan Raph collection. This is an early model King 6B "Duo Gravis" double valve bass trombone. This is likely the prototype model developed when Mr. Raph was consulting with King on the development of this instrument. There are no serial numbers on the bell section or on the rotary valves as is typical. The serial number exists only on the slide. The horn is in good shape though it of course shows sign of wear. The lacquer is good all around with a few spots showing wear orscratches. The valves are dependent (stacked) and string operated as they are on all 6Bs. Both valves are operated by the left thumb in a stacked paddle arrangement. The tuning slides are interesting. They follow the geometry of the 6B, but in this case they touch&mdash:the F reaches up to touch the underside of the D—perhaps as a sign of an early model before the details were completely worked out? The hand slide is in pretty good shape, especially for its age. It has nickel plated main tubes with the classic King single radius brass crook. It has a spring-loaded first position like the old Conns used to have. The outfit comes with a hard wood shell case in good shape and no odor. Here are some more details:

    • Dependent rotary double valves, string operated.
    • Bb/F/D tuning - both valves together give D in first position.
    • Double stacked paddle triggers. The lower F paddle is angled slightly more forward (into the thumb) to make it easy to use without engaging the D paddle, The D paddle aligns more or less with the F paddle when the F paddle is engaged. For a double paddle system, most of which are unwieldy, this works well enough.
    • Triggers behind the brace. In classic King style, the triggers are located behind the curved bell brace, giving a little more security in holding the horn.
    • The valves move freely, easily, and without undue percussive effects due to their quiet string linkages.
    • The valves have good compression for their age. Each will give a clear pop 5 seconds after the tuning slide is pulled out and the trigger is pressed (the 1"+5" test).
    • The second valve slide on this horn features some dents. It is also lacking a brace near the tenon (insertion) end, as is seen on all later models. As a result it can be difficult to move when dry. The dents are likely the result of previous battles attempting to move/remove it. We've lubed it up nicely with some synthetic grease so it now moves without a hitch.
    • Brass guard on the main tuning slide outer radius. This is unusual for a professional American instrument. It's more often seen on German horns. I'm not sure if this was a later stock feature, a custom addition by Mr. Raph, or something being tested on the prototype. It may contribute to the horn's quick response.
    • The step-up gooseneck ferrule on this horn is different than later models. This one is tapered, clearly showing the increase in bore from the gooseneck to the main tuning slide. Later models use a square ferrule here.
    • Old style three-piece King counterweight installed on main tuning slide makes for a perfectly balanced instrument while adding a little weight. This is removable if you don't like the balance. This is likely an add-on, but might have been part of the prototype.
    • Valve guard. There is a custom brass valve guard soldered to the horn to prevent the F linkage member from hitting the player's neck. This is likely a retrofit made during development or more likely made later by Mr. Raph after experience in the field. Later models have the F linkage positioned differently to prevent this issue. The guard and the linkage on this horn are comfortable and not unwieldy.
    • Finger ring on hand slide grip. This is a classic King feature on all their bigger horns.
    • The slide works well, with no dents or slow spots. It has average compression when dry. It will likely have much better compression when lubricated.
    • The slide fits a standard Bach taper large shank bass trombone mouthpiece, but seems to better fit Remington taper models. Given the era, this is not surprising, as the predominant Conn basses and big tenors all used Remington shank mouthpieces at the time this horn was being developed.
    • 9.5-inch silver-plated two-piece brass bell. The plating and geometry of the Duo Gravis' bell give this horn its classic "bark" and make it especially popular in big band and commercial use. This bell is in decent shape, though it does feature someradial creasing around the wire, likely caused by the bell moving in the case, which is not well fitted to the horn, again likely as a result of this being a prototype.
    • No model number on the bell. The bell is engraved simply "King" with an offset crown emblem. Later models had the model name 6B engraved on the bell as well as the city of manufacture.
    • This horn features no dents save for a few significant ones on the D slide (and the aforementioned bell creasing). The bell has many minor scratches and dark marks where the silver has either been scraped off or has pitted. Otherwise the horn is ingood shape.
    • The case is a classic King 1970's black compact woodshell model. It holds the slide well, but the bell has too much play and is ill fitted to the case. We suggest either re-casing the horn altogether, or modifying this case to better support the bell section when in use. This same case frame was used for later 6Bs, but they were more appropriately set up to hold the horn.
    -cdp
    • Category: Trombones - Used
    • Item: 005560
    • Grade/Level:
    • Our Price: $4500.00  MSRP: $5500.00 Save: $1000.00 (18%)

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Woodwind Instrumentation Codes

Following many of the titles in our Wind Ensemble catalog, you will see a set of numbers enclosed in square brackets, as in this example:

Description Price
Rimsky-Korsakov
Quintet in Bb [1011-1 w/piano]
Item: 26746		 $28.75

The bracketed numbers tell you the precise instrumentation of the ensemble. The first number stands for Flute, the second for Oboe, the third for Clarinet, the fourth for Bassoon, and the fifth (separated from the woodwinds by a dash) is for Horn. Any additional instruments (Piano in this example) are indicated by "w/" (meaning "with") or by using a plus sign.

Flute   Oboe   Clarinet   Bassoon   —   Horn

This woodwind quartet is for 1 Flute, no Oboe, 1 Clarinet, 1 Bassoon, 1 Horn and Piano.

Sometimes there are instruments in the ensemble other than those shown above. These are linked to their respective principal instruments with either a "d" if the same player doubles the instrument, or a "+" if an extra player is required. Whenever this occurs, we will separate the first four digits with commas for clarity. Thus a double reed quartet of 2 oboes, english horn and bassoon will look like this:

0,2+1,0,1-0

Note the "2+1" portion means "2 oboes plus english horn"

Titles with no bracketed numbers are assumed to use "Standard Instrumentation." The following is considered to be Standard Instrumentation:

Brass Instrumentation Codes

Following many of the titles in our Brass Ensemble catalog, you will see a set of five numbers enclosed in square brackets, as in this example:

Description Price
Copland
Fanfare for the Common Man [343.01 w/tympani]
Item: 02158		 $14.95

The bracketed numbers tell you how many of each instrument are in the ensemble. The first number stands for Trumpet, the second for Horn, the third for Trombone, the fourth (separated from the first three by a dot) for Euphonium and the fifth for Tuba. Any additional instruments (Tympani in this example) are indicated by a "w/" (meaning "with") or by using a plus sign.

Trumpet     Horn     Trombone   .   Euphonium     Tuba

Thus, the Copland Fanfare shown above is for 3 Trumpets, 4 Horns, 3 Trombones, no Euphonium, 1 Tuba and Tympani. There is no separate number for Bass Trombone, but it can generally be assumed that if there are multiple Trombone parts, the lowest part can/should be performed on Bass Trombone.

Titles listed in our catalog without bracketed numbers are assumed to use "Standard Instrumentation." The following is considered to be Standard Instrumentation:

People often ask us about "PJBE" or "Philip Jones" instrumentation. This is a special instrumentation adopted and perfected by the Philip Jones Brass Ensemble. It consists of the forces 414.01, and often includes Percussion and/or Tympani. In addition, there are often doublings in the Trumpet section - Piccolo and Flugelhorn being the most common. While this instrumentation has come to be common, it is still not "Standard" as many Brass Dectets use very different forces, most often with more Horns than PJBE.

String Instrumentation Codes

Following many of the titles in our String Ensemble catalog, you will see a set of four numbers enclosed in square brackets, as in this example:

Description Price
Atwell
Vance's Dance [0220]
Item: 32599		 $8.95

These numbers tell you how many of each instrument are in the ensemble. The first number stands for Violin, the second for Viola, the third for Cello, and the fourth for Double Bass. Thus, this string quartet is for 2 Violas and 2 Cellos, rather than the usual 2110. Titles with no bracketed numbers are assumed to use "Standard Instrumentation." The following is considered to be Standard Instrumentation:

Orchestra & Band Instrumentation Codes

Following some titles in our Orchestra & Band catalogs, you will see a numeric code enclosed in square brackets, as in these examples:

  Order Qty Description Price
Beethoven
Symphony No 1 in C, op 21
[2,2,2,2-2,2,0,0, tymp, 44322] 		$150.00
Jones
Wind Band Overture
[2+1,1,3+ac+bc,2,SATB-2+2,4,3+1,1, tymp, percussion, double bass] 		$85.00
MacKenzie
Hines Pond Fantasy (DePaolo)
[2d1+1,1,2+1,1-2,2(+2),3,0, perc, tymp, 44322, Eb clarinet, SAATB saxes, trombone solo] 		$75.00

The bracketed numbers tell you the precise instrumentation of the ensemble. The system used above is standard in the orchestra music field. The first set of numbers (before the dash) represent the Woodwinds. The set of numbers after the dash represent the Brass. Percussion is abbreviated following the brass. Strings are represented with a series of five digits representing the quantity of each part (first violin, second violin, viola, cello, bass). Other Required and Solo parts follow the strings:

Woodwinds—Brass,   Percussion,   Strings,   Other

Principal auxilary instruments (piccolo, english horn, bass clarinet, contrabassoon, wagner tuba, cornet & euphonium) are linked to their respective instruments with either a "d" if the same player doubles the auxiliary instrument, or a "+" if an extra player is required. Instruments shown in parenthesis are optional and may be omitted.

Example 1 - Beethoven:

[2,2,2,2-2,2,0,0, tymp, 44322]

The Beethoven example is typical of much Classical and early Romantic fare. In this case, the winds are all doubled (2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets and 2 bassoons), and there are two each horns and trumpets. There is no low brass. There is tympani. Strings are a standard 44322 configuration (4 first violin, 4 second violin, 3 viola, 2 cello, 2 bass). Sometimes strings are simply listed as "str," which means 44322 strings.

Example 2 - Jones: (concert band/wind ensemble example)

[2+1,1,3+ac+bc,2,SAATB-2+2,4,3+1,1, tymp, percussion, double bass]

The second example is common for a concert band or wind ensemble piece. This ficticious work is for 2 flutes (plus piccolo), 1 oboe, 3 clarinets plus alto and bass clarinets, 2 bassoons, 5 saxes (soprano, 2 altos, tenor & bari), 2 trumpets (plus 2 cornets), 3 trombones, euphonium, tuba, tympani, percussion and double bass. Note the inclusion of the saxes after bassoon for this band work. Note also that the separate euphonium part is attached to trombone with a plus sign. For orchestral music, saxes are at the end (see Saxophones below. It is highly typical of band sets to have multiple copies of parts, especially flute, clarinet, sax, trumpet, trombone & percussion. Multiples, if any, are not shown in this system. The numbers represent only distinct parts, not the number of copies of a part.

Example 3 - MacKenzie: (a fictional work, by the way).

[2d1+1,1,2+1,1-2,2(+2),3,0, perc, tymp, 66432, Eb clarinet, SAATB saxes, trombone solo]

In the third example, we have a rather extreme use of the system. It is an orchestral work for piccolo, 2 flutes (1 of whom doubles on piccolo), 1 oboe, 2 clarinets plus an additional bass clarinet, 1 bassoon, 2 horns, 2 trumpets (plus an optional 2 cornets), 3 trombones, no tuba, percussion, tympani, 6 first violins, 6 second violins, 4 violas, 3 cellos, 2 double basses, Eb clarinet (as an additional chair, not doubled), 5 saxes (soprano, 2 alto, tenor & baritone) & a trombone soloist.

Note: This system lists Horn before Trumpet. This is standard orchestral nomenclature. Unless otherwise noted, we will use this system for both orchestra and band works (in most band scores, Trumpet precedes Horn, and sometimes Oboe & Bassoon follow Clarinet). Also, it should be noted that Euphonium can be doubled by either Trombone or Tuba. Typically, orchestra scores have the tuba linked to euphonium, but it does happen where Trombone is the principal instead.

Saxophones, when included in orchestral music (they rarely are) will be shown in the "other instrument" location after strings and before the soloist, if any. However for band music, they are commonly present and therefore will be indicated after bassoon as something similar to "SAATB" where S=soprano, A=alto, T=tenor and B=baritone. Letters that are duplicated (as in A in this example) indicate multiple parts.

And finally, here is one more way to visualize the above code sequence: