The great Spike Wallace, former principal trombonist of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, knew what he wanted in a trombone. He wanted a sonorous sound like a large King, but a fast response of a smaller horn. His friend Earl Williams created such instruments for generations. Sadly, those Williams instruments are no longer in production, but after many requests to produce a replica, Zig Kanstul obliged and succeeded.
Our model 1606 features a large throat one-piece bell, which is completely hand hammered and hand spun. Its large bow tuning slide and distinctive curved bracing add to its broad tone. The slide is very light, with nickel outer tubes and crook, and a new set of ferrules for style and lighter weight. Three removable mouthpipes are offered: a replica of the original, and also two replicas of mouthpipes made by the great Burt Herrick, a renowned Los Angeles brass instrument builder and innovator.
LA studio players Les Benedict and Bob Payne are using the Model 1606.
