Any noticable effect of heavy caps?

[Leonel Leon]

Has anyone really noticed a benifit of heavy valve caps? I find it makes horns a little loud, harder to get around on and things along those lines...But only when they about double the weight of the trumpet. Is it just me or do they seem like away from a dealer to sell you $100 chunks of metal. I guess some people must like they if they are selling.

[jazz_trpt]

Sometimes horns that slot kinda loose can feel a bit more secure with some mass added here and there. I also notice a change in the blow of the horn in some cases. Like anything else, it creates trade offs, and they're not always productive.
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Jeff Helgesen
Free jazz solo transcriptions! :: Jazz Mayhem CD

[James B. Quick]

I use them on my Kanstul Col 103. They give the horn more crunch, which means that less energy is lost to sympathetic vibration.

Besides that, the extra mass causes flux lines in the lumineferous ether to concentrate ultra-magnetic force nodes at points corresponiding to the location of the heavy caps.

(for the less scientific-minded readers, 'ultra-magnetic force lines' affect brass because of their higher frequency, unlike ordinary magnetic forces, which act only on ferrous metals.)

jbq

[core]

They change your sound:darker and more secure. The trade off is less efficient response and decreased color versatility.
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Yamaha Chicago C
Yamaha Custom Eb/D
Yamaha Chicago Bb
Stomvi Elite Piccolo
JH Yamaha MP

[etc-etc]

They are mostly there to improve the grip on the horn, should you use the Vulcan grip.

[razeontherock]

If they're not heavy enough they do nothing at all. On my horns with heavy caps, they don't reduce efficiency or ability to color the sound at all. They do add intensity and focus to the sound, as well as tightening up the slots. My heaviest caps fit on my flugel, and that is WRONG for that horn.

[Dan O'Donnell]

I've done a lot of experimenting with heavy bottom valve caps.

I use them on my Bb and C Trumpets

For ME, they provide a more solid feel in my sound (not light and edgy) as well as improves the slotting on MY horns while still allowing enough flexibility to bend notes etc.

The #1 thing I learned for ME that I am 100% confident...

They make the sound dull and muffled on MY conical horns (Flugelhorn and Cornet).

It is certainly a personal thing and like other equipment...it might or might not help to provide you with what you want or need.

Have fun experimenting.
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God Bless,
Dan O'Donnell

"Praise Him with the sound of the Trumpet:..."
Psalms 150:3

[Tony Scodwell]

The "mood enhancing, harmonically balanced" bottom caps found on my "Gabrieli" model Scodwell USA have a "scientifically placed copper alloy ring made from material mined by virgins only under the light of the full moon high in the Andes under certain conditions" [which I cannot reveal here]. These caps, along with the strategic placing of the special "S' medallion and front "Z" brace make a balanced, free blowing and vibrant horn. Standard finish is silver plate with gold wash trim inside the bell, finger buttons with black inlay and gold wash trim, bottom caps gold wash trim except for the copper rings and gold wash trim on the "S' medallion.
The preceeding was an unsolicited advertisement and I approved of this message.
Tony Scodwell Scodwell USA Trumpets and Flugelhorns available in the US only from Washington Music Center, call Lee Walkowich at 301.946.8808 or now in Europe at Musik-Bertram, Freiburg, Germany.

[razeontherock]

Meh, I think it's the gold wash finish on your heavy bottom caps that makes them so special. (So you can give your virgins a break, they'd probably like to come to WI anyway)

[Dale Proctor]

I'll agree with Jeff. They make a small difference on some of my horns, in some cases it's a difference I like, and in other cases, I don't like the change. I like all 3 on my C, I like one on the 3rd valve of my Bb (but 2 or 3 just seem to dull the horn), and I don't like them on my cornet at all.
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Olde Towne Brass
www.otbrass.com

Brass Band of Huntsville
www.brassbandofhuntsville.com

"Brass bands are all very well in their place - outdoors and several miles away ." - Sir Thomas Beecham

[James B. Quick]

Razeonthrock:

[Robert Rowe]

[razeontherock]

My now ex-wife's Brother had one of those on his bicycle seat circa 1989. I could not help but laugh ... was not a big hit with the in-laws

[DaveH]

As long as manufacturers think a market exists, there will be opportunities to spend money on any number of products.

Speaking for myself, I don't like any kind of equipment that adds any weight. I have a set of extra weight valve caps that came with a horn I have, and don't use them. I tried them to see what they would do, and as has been mentioned here and elsewhere, I found the result was a less responsive, "deader" sounding horn.

Since I prefer a brighter, lighter, and more traditional sounding horn and a horn that has a quicker and more nimble response, heavy caps and other heavy things such as mouthpieces, are counterproductive for me.

FWIW.

[Robert Rowe]

[Robert Rowe]

Me ... on-the-other-hand ... I prefer lightweight valve-caps. Not easy to find.

I go for the secondary-harmonics, "color", etc. I have been known to remove stop-rods, lyre-holders, pull-ring assemblies. They ALL take something away from the tone.

Maybe (?) Jon Faddis is onto something .... Ya' think ?

"Dark" is not hard to achieve with other means ... other horns.

Waaaaaaaaaaay too much emphasis is placed (here, at least) on achieving "that dark, smokey tone / sound". Remember: less than 2% of the public is into Jazz.

Interesting, that when I play at public performances (usually, solo), I get people come up to me, afterwards, and comment, "Now THAT's what a Trumpet is SUPPOSED to sound like!".

I do take notice. After-all, I'm not playing just for myself.



~ r2 ~
a listener, first ... a player, afterwards
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~ Love animals; ... don't eat them. ~

[SkaDoobzz]

I found a set of Curry CCaps for my Yamaha on TH once for 20 bucks....went ahead and bought them to see what the fuss was about...I didn't notice any real difference but I paid 20 bucks for them so I left them on. Haha!

[Conn Collector]

If heavy valve caps affect the performance of a trumpet,
does leaving bottom valve caps off completely also affect the performance of a trumpet (for good or for bad)?
_________________
1962 Conn 9A Victor Coprion — .485”
1963 Conn 5A Victor — .485"
1953 Conn 34A Concert Special — .463”
1948 Conn 12A Coprion — .463"

Flip Oakes FO1 “Old Style” 17.65 mm,
wide as Schilke 24, deep as Wick 2B

“Jesus gives eternal life”

[Robert Rowe]

[Conn Collector]