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Sackbuts and Classical Trombones by Egger and Tomes
Adolf Egger founded the company "Blechblas-Instrumentenbau Egger" in 1940. He built brass instruments in all sizes, from the trumpet to the tuba and made a respected name for himself in the Basle, Switzerland area.
Already as an apprentice in his father's shop, Rainer Egger was fascinated to learn about the way instruments function. Constantly looking for the "ideal" sound and optimal acoustic properties, he further developed the historical instruments with which his father had pioneered.
Today Rainer Egger heads a small team of exceptionally skilled employees, who are devoted to maintain the highest standards of quality. The experience with which Egger's instruments are made is based on countless experiments with various materials, bores, and construction methods. The collaboration with expert musicians and acousticians and the use of an acoustical measuring device allow him to continuously refine his instruments. All the knowledge thus obtained is also poured into the construction of piccolo and rotary-valved trumpets as well as bocals for modern, classical and baroque bassoons.
Egger Historical Trombones and Sackbuts
Fabrication
Egger historical trombones and sackbuts are available in four basic types of fabrication:
Renaissance sackbuts: Standard, MDC and Slokar
Classical trombones: Standard and Historic
Measurements
The measurements of the Standard, Historic and MDC trombones and sackbuts are identical to those of the original instruments. We consider this to be of importance because the proportions of an instrument do also have a significant meaning in respect of the sound. For this reason the 4th slide position of these sackbuts does not correspond with the bell rim, but rather lies outside of it, as was usual for the historical instruments.
The Slokar sackbuts which have been developed together with Branimir Slokar and his Quartet are designed to enable an easy frequent change from the modern to the historical instrument. The shapes of the bells and the diameters of the tubes are authentic in the essential points as well. The concept however has been altered, so that the 4th slide position corresponds now with the bell rim, as it is usual for modern trombones. The manufacturing processes are the same for the Slokar and the standard models.
Manufacturing Techniques
The sound of brass instruments depends on the measurements and the material as well as from the manufacturing processes. The metal structure and as a result also the sound suffer if great tension of the metal is caused during the transforming process, a fact which is common for modern instruments.
The MDC models are made according to historical manufacturing techniques. Through a preliminary treatment of the sheet metal serving as a point of departure, a metal structure similar to the molecular structure of historical sheet metal is attained, whereby the timbre of the finished instruments approaches still further that of historical instruments. Historical techniques are also applied at some points in the manufacture of the standard and the Slokar instruments, especially where the bell is concerned.
Egger Renaissance Sackbut Models
Standard Model
Instrument in brass; German silver inner slides, chrome plated; bell chased entirely by hand; sleeves decorated; garland and flat bell stay engraved; round slide stay.
Slokar Model
Same as standard, but with modern slide positions and modern water key (water key not included for the bass sackbut).
MDC Model
Instrument in brass, richly decorated; brass slides; stays, garland, and sleeves silver-plated; final polish done according to historical techniques. Thin hand-chased bell; all tubing except slides and sleeves with soldered seam; flat bell stay riveted; slide stay soldered, respectively hinged for bass sackbut, all the remaining connections glued.
Historic Model
Instrument in brass, brass slides; hand-chased bell; all tubing except slides and sleeves with soldered seam; final polish done according to historical techniques.
Egger Renaissance Alto Sackbut in Eb
Model Hieronimus Starck Nürnberg 1670
Original: Germanic National Museum, Nuremberg
Bore: 10.0/10.0 mm, bell diameter: 94 mm
The original instruments did not have a tuning slide. However, we furnish our instruments with a tuning slide at the bell bow, because it is both useful and easy to integrate into the design.
Standard model $3,750.00*
Slokar model $3,995.00*
MDC model $5,900.00*
Egger Renaissance Tenor Sackbut in Bb
click above for larger picture
Model: Sebastian Hainlein, Nuremberg 1632
Original: Historical Museum, Frankfort
Bore: 10.5/11.0 mm, bell diameter: 98 mm
The original instruments did not have a tuning slide. However, we furnish our instruments with a tuning slide at the bell bow, because it is both useful and easy to integrate into the design.
Standard model Sackbut only - $3,950.00*, $4200.00 with hard case and kruspe water key.
Slokar model $3,950.00*
MDC model $6,350.00*
Egger Renaissance Bass Sackbut in Eb or F
Model Isaac Ehe, Nuremberg 1612
Original: in E-flat, Germanic National Museum, Nuremberg
Bore: 11.5/12.0 mm, bell diameter: 124 mm
Standard and Slokar model $5490.00*
MDC model $12,500.00*
Egger Accessories
D slide for E-flat sackbut
E-flat slide for F sackbut
Water key Kruspe model
Modern water key
Tuning bits for a'= 415 Hz and a'= 430 Hz for alto and tenor sackbut each $50.00 each
The slide positions change by using tuning bits for 430 Hz.
Tuning bow for a'=430 Hz for alto and tenor sackbut each $310.00*
The slide positions do not change when using tuning bows.
Mouthpieces for renaissance sackbuts $135.00 in Brass, $155.00 in Silver Plate
Egger Classical Trombones
Egger Classical Alto Trombone in Eb 440 or 430 Hz
Model J. J. Schmied, Nuremberg 1785
Original: Historical Museum, Basel
The original instruments did not have a tuning slide. However, we furnish our instruments with a tuning slide at the bell bow, because it is both useful and easy to integrate into the design.
Standard model $3,850.00*
Historic model $5,200.00*
Egger Classical Tenor Trombone in Bb 440 or 430 Hz
Model J. J. Schmied, Nuremberg 1778
Original: Private collection, Basel
The original instruments did not have a tuning slide. However, we furnish our instruments with a tuning slide at the bell bow, because it is both useful and easy to integrate into the design.
Standard model $3,975.00*
Historic model $5,300.00*
Egger Classical bass trombone in F 440 or 430 Hz
Model J. J. Schmied, Nuremberg 1785
Original: in Eb, Historical Museum, Basel
Standard model $6,100.00*
Historic model $7,900.00*
*Due to currency fluctuations, prices may change without notice.
Sackbuts by Frank Tomes
Tomes Alto Sackbut in Eb 440
Internal diameter of slides - 11mm.
Bell diameter - 106mm.
The bell is hand-made using traditional methods of construction, not spun as on modern instruments. The bell garland can be burin engraved as an extra. The slide section has hinged flat stays packed with soft thread and leather as found on the original instrument to acoustically isolate the parallel lengths of tube as much as possible. Round stays are available as a less expensive alternative. A tuning slide adjustment is fitted where the slides join the bell section. The nickel silver inner slides have stockings and they are chrome plated to give a very smooth action. An Amado water key is fitted as standard.
Alto Sackbut with flat stays $3,150.00*
Alto Sackbut with round stays $2,790.00*
Burin Bell Engraving on bell garland $400.00*
Tomes Tenor Sackbut in Bb 440 After Neuschel 1557
Internal diameter of slides - 12.3mm.
Bell diameter - 103mm.
The bell is hand-made using traditional methods of construction, not spun as on modern instruments. The bell garland can be burin engraved as an extra. The slide section has hinged flat stays packed with soft thread and leather as found on the original instrument to acoustically isolate the parallel lengths of tube as much as possible. Round stays are available as a less expensive alternative. A tuning slide adjustment is fitted where the slides join the bell section. The nickel silver inner slides have stockings and they are chrome plated to give a very smooth action. An Amado water key is fitted as standard.
This design was developed by Christopher Monk (who had playing access to the original sackbut) and it has proved to be very popular with both professional and amateur players throughout the world. The large bore makes it a very useful second instrument for a bass sackbut player
Tenor Sackbut with flat stays $3,295.00*
Tenor Sackbut with round stays $2,850.00*
Burin Bell Engraving on bell garland $400.00*
Tomes Long Model Sackbut in F/Eb 440
Internal diameter of slides - 12.3mm.
Bell diameter - 130mm.
The bell is hand-made using traditional methods of construction, not spun as on modern instruments. The bell garland can be burin engraved as an extra. The slide section has hinged flat stays packed with soft thread and leather as found on the original instrument to acoustically isolate the parallel lengths of tube as much as possible. Round stays are available as a less expensive alternative. A tuning slide adjustment is fitted where the slides join the bell section. The nickel silver inner slides have stockings and they are chrome plated to give a very smooth action. An Amado water key is fitted as standard.
Alternative tuning slides for F at Baroque pitch and Eb at modern pitch are available. This long model has the advantage of better balance and is freer blowing than the shorter convoluted models.
Bass Sackbut with flat stays $4,450.00*
Bass Sackbut with round stays $4,150.00*
Burin Bell Engraving on bell garland $400.00*
Eb Tuning Slide $495.00*
Baroque Pitch tuning slide (a=415) $310.00*
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