Waburton Backbores - B Series Question

[Henson]

Hi everyone,

Wanted to get some insight into Warburton backbores specifically the B series.

I have been using a 4SV top with a KT backbore for a long while now, probably around 8 years, and the upper register (usually use this set up for bright sound, upper register lead music) tended to be stuffy and cuts off. I took this as "I gotta shed" and I needed some work.

I tried a BKT from a friend of mine just to see what would happen and everything seems so much clearer and more defined especially from high C and on up. I also noticed a dramatic increase in endurance?

Is the what I perceive to be a small difference in the "gap" really that big of a change to some people? I have been using the BKT set up for a few months now and it feels better and better and if I switch back to the regular KT I get that stuffy feeling. Maybe I am late to the "gap" game and some people I talk to are into it and some people think it is silly for some reason. I just need to wrap my head around close to 8 years on a Warburton set up and a tiny distance helps so much.

Just for measurements:

Gap with the KT was a little under 1/8"

Gap with the BKT was almost exactly 1/8"

I play on a standard Bach 72 which I am guessing was made in 2003-2007-ish (632XXX).

I am certainly going to continue playing around with the BKT and see if that small of a change in gap can make such a difference. Just curious if anyone has had success with a B series backbore or if I am in some weird "honeymoon" phase and just tricking my lips somehow... But when it feels this good...

Thanks

EDIT: Just to add, I did read a few posts on the gap but I didn't seem to find anything on Warburton or how people may perceive a sudden change.

[TKSop]

To answer the main question - yes, the gap absolutely can be that important, especially on an efficient setup (which an SV cup with KT backbore is).

I suppose *in theory* it's possible that there's some actual difference between your particular KT and BKT internally - there shouldn't be, but some Warburton parts have changed subtly over time.... you could always try the "paper trick" with the "KT" one to increase the gap until it matches the BKT gap and see if you feel the same benefit - if you do, it's almost certainly the gap that accounts for the improvement.


"But when it feels this good..."

When it feels that good, you thank your lucky stars and stick with it.

Sure, it's worth trying to figure out why it's so good (if it's gap, it's worth being aware that you're sensitive to gap changes if nothing else), but it's not worth going on any kind of safari over - if it's working well, stick with it!

[bach_again]