Warning: This page has just about nothing to do with music, it is just about tools. That being said, I am a gear head. I have owned way too many trombones, but I learned something from just about everyone of them.

I play an S.E. Shires custom trombone. I use an un lacquered 2RVET7 bell, and a T47 slide. I usually use it with the S.E. Shires rotory valve section, but I also have the straight pipe and counterweight. I play a Laskey 57MD mouthpiece and the #2N leadpipe.

I also have a .508 bore Shires (S2R8, T08) that I play when I need something a little smaller. I play a Laskey 54M (or a Laskey 48C) with the #3N leadpipe on the .508.

My bass trombone is a Bach 50 with Greenhoe valves that I play with a Laskey 93D, and I play a Conn 5J tuba, with a Schilke 66. I also have a Weril alto trombone that I play with a Laskey 48C on the rare occasion that it gets played.

I try to play acoustically as much as possible with my own band, but I also have a wireless rig that uses an AKG SR60 transmitter/receiver with an AKGC419 microphone, that I run through a rather old, but still cool sounding Digitech DSP256, and a TC-Helcion Quintet harmonizer. I also use a Shure SM57 in certain situations, but for straight ahead jazz, would rather just play in a place where the whole band can make music acoustically.

I also use an Apple MacBook, an M-Audio Firewire 410 interface, Sibelius 4, Logic Pro 7.2, and Pro Tools (M-Powered). I have a Roland XP-10 that I use mostly as a MIDI input tool, although it has seen gig use once or twice. For live recording I use an Edirol R-9.



One final gear disclaimer: None of this takes the place of practicing and developing as a musician. The gear is just a tool. The right tool makes a job easier, but you still have to know how to use the tool.

If you are a gear head like me, check out http://forum.samburtis.com for an interesting discussion forum that is frequented by some very knowledgeable gear heads...and there is some great music conversation there too.