Slotting and horn compression

ConnArtist · Posted: Fri May 04, 2012 12:48 am Post subject: Slotting and horn compression

I played a horn today that has very loose slotting. Can easily bend notes more than a half-step without jumping to next note. And then the bend slides into the next note, rather than jumping to it.

As it happens, the compression is terrible too. I test it by removing one valve slide, depressing the valve, plugging the relevant pipe with my thumb and blowing a hard as I can. I can get air moving and hear the hiss of passage. When I do this on most of my horns (by most, it's at least under ten so far!), I can't get any air to move, or so little it feels more like I will pop a lung if I keep blowing. Those horns also have tighter slots.

Coincidence or relationship?

What factors are dominant in determining whether a horn has loose or tight slotting?
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"Stomvi" PhrankenPhlugel w/ Blessing copper bell
1971 Coprion Director cornet
c. 1955? Besson 10-10
c. 1960s? Steenhuysen Flugel
1986 Bach Strad 37 ML

Manuel de los Campos

shofarguy · Posted: Fri May 04, 2012 5:27 am Post subject:

Yes, there is a direct relationship with the looseness of the valves and the loose slotting of the horn. My ol' Benge 5X was about like you described until the valves and slides were rebuilt/refitted. After that, the horn played and slotted much more definitely.

Brian
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Flip Oakes Wild Thing Bb Trumpet
Flip Oakes Wild Thing Flugelhorn

There is one reason that I practice: to be ready at the downbeat when the final trumpet sounds.

SactoBob173 · Posted: Fri May 04, 2012 5:59 am Post subject: Compression / Slotting

Makes sense,
When you half-valve to execute a gliss or horse-whinny (sleigh ride), what you seem to be doing is bleeding off compression. That is why your horn seems to slot better after a valve alignment I think too. So it would make sense that leaky valves would definitely make the horn looser slotting.
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Bob

Shaft · Veteran Member Joined: 19 Sep 2006 Posts: 486

I'm wondering about the J tuning slides that Flip Oakes offers for the Wild Thing horns. I haven't tried them but I read that they allow a different slotting feel and more artistic freedom with pitch center, in other words.

What I'm curious about is how or why the slides are able to pull that off and if there are compression changes there. This topic made me think think of those slides.
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Curry 70s, 70m, 70tf, 70tc 70flm
Wild Thing Bb trumpet
Bach Stradivarius Flugelhorn

shofarguy · Posted: Fri May 04, 2012 9:09 am Post subject: