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stuartissimo
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 Posted: Sun Mar 19, 2023 11:15 pm Post subject: Smaller gap question |
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If a mouthpiece gap were made smaller, what would the theoretical expected effect be?
Sorry if this has been asked before, I know it's documentend somewhere on the internat but I can't seem to find right now.
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1975 Olds Recording trumpet
1997 Getzen 700SP trumpet
1955 Olds Super cornet
1939 Buescher 280 flugelhorn
AR Resonance mouthpieces |
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Dayton
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| Posted: Mon Mar 20, 2023 2:48 am Post subject: |
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| If the gap is made smaller but other things remain constant, then you'd expect looser slotting. That means easier movement between notes, especially in the harmonic series. While that might seem desirable, it can also make it more difficult to securely find the pitch center of a note, thus making you constantly work harder at intonation. |
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Divitt Trumpets
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JayKosta
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Location: Endwell NY USA
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| Posted: Mon Mar 20, 2023 4:23 am Post subject: |
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| Divitt Trumpets wrote: | | Smaller gap can make the upper register feel less stuffy. |
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By 'less stuffy', do you mean 'more open' / 'less resistance' / 'takes more air' / 'less controllable' ? 'Less stuffy' seems like it would be an improvement, but at what cost?
Perhaps - IF the upper register feels stuffy, then less gap might lessen the stuffiness, but might also ...
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Most Important Note ? - the next one !
KNOW (see) what the next note is BEFORE you have to play it.
PLAY the next note 'on time' and 'in rhythm'.
Oh ya, watch the conductor - they set what is 'on time'. |
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Vin DiBona
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| Posted: Mon Mar 20, 2023 5:58 am Post subject: |
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From the GR website.
If the gap is greater it is a positive (+) gap measurement and the result will be a bit more resistance, although, the horn will slot and speak well. If the gap is less it is a minus (-) gap measurement and the result will cause less resistance, as well as, difficulty slotting. Some players like this condition and prefer the gap to the minus side.
May I suggest folks here should visit the GR site frequently as there is a wealth of real information there you won't find here or on other websites.
You don't have to play a GR to realize it doesn't matter what brand of mouthpiece you play, either. The results will be the same.
R. Tomasek |
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Divitt Trumpets
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Location: Toronto
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| Posted: Mon Mar 20, 2023 10:15 am Post subject: |
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| JayKosta wrote: | | Divitt Trumpets wrote: | | Smaller gap can make the upper register feel less stuffy. |
-----------------------------
By 'less stuffy', do you mean 'more open' / 'less resistance' / 'takes more air' / 'less controllable' ? 'Less stuffy' seems like it would be an improvement, but at what cost?
Perhaps - IF the upper register feels stuffy, then less gap might lessen the stuffiness, but might also ... |
In my experience, it can make the upper register speak easier. Instead of feeling like the high register tapers off, there can be less change in resistance as you ascend.
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stuartissimo
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Location: Europe
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| Posted: Tue Mar 21, 2023 12:31 am Post subject: |
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Thank you for the replies. There's a specific mouthpiece/leadpipe puzzle that I'm trying to figure out, which may or may not be gap related, hence my question. The info is helpful.
| Vin DiBona wrote: | | May I suggest folks here should visit the GR site |
I knew there was a site with gap related info, but I couldn't remember which one, hence my question. Thanks for sharing!
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1975 Olds Recording trumpet
1997 Getzen 700SP trumpet
1955 Olds Super cornet
1939 Buescher 280 flugelhorn
AR Resonance mouthpieces |
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MrOlds
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delano
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| Posted: Tue Mar 21, 2023 7:07 am Post subject: |
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OK, the gap must not be outragious wrong for a certain setup but my opinion is that the importance of the gap in general is highly exeggerated here, fuelled by brass technicians and mouthpiecemakers.
Maybe a typical case of 'The Emperor's New Clothes' , nobody dares to say something negative about this subject.
But I don't expect a lot of approval here. |
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Divitt Trumpets
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Location: Toronto
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| Posted: Tue Mar 21, 2023 11:19 am Post subject: |
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| delano wrote: | OK, the gap must not be outragious wrong for a certain setup but my opinion is that the importance of the gap in general is highly exeggerated here, fuelled by brass technicians and mouthpiecemakers.
Maybe a typical case of 'The Emperor's New Clothes' , nobody dares to say something negative about this subject.
But I don't expect a lot of approval here. |
The gap adds some fine tuning to the way you like your horn to feel.
It's entirely preferential, and most people will go their entire lives without needing to obsess over it.
There are instances where adjusting the gap/mouthpiece protrusion can entirely change the instrument, or the instrument won't play properly without being at the proper depth, as is the case with flugelhorns and French horns.
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