Tweaking a horn

trumpet_cop · Veteran Member Joined: 18 Jun 2013 Posts: 242

Who out in the world tweaks trumpets besides Wayne Tanabe? I've seen Wayne do it before and get out his little tool belt.. does anyone else do this?

Does anyone teach these techniques whether it be the whole thing like Wayne or even just little tweaks on the fly? Jim Becker maybe?
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Don Herman rev2 · Posted: Tue Sep 17, 2019 8:03 am Post subject:

Many good techs can "tweak" a horn. Jim Becker, sure, and also Flip Oakes, Rich Ita, etc. We have a local guy that used to work with Wayne Mark Hammelev).
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JVL · Posted: Tue Sep 17, 2019 11:00 am Post subject:

Bob Malone, Bobby Shew, Thomas Lubitz

bear30101 · Regular Member Joined: 05 Sep 2015 Posts: 89 Location: Ga.

George Rawlin
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cheiden · Posted: Tue Sep 17, 2019 1:18 pm Post subject:

Depending on the tweaks, maybe Ken Larson.
https://www.brasswerks.com/
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Ozzbo · Posted: Tue Sep 17, 2019 1:32 pm Post subject:

Josh Landress does it all !!!!

Ozzy Cardona

James Becker · Posted: Tue Sep 17, 2019 7:16 pm Post subject:

The practice of tweaking in my view should occur after all manner of deficiencies have been identified and corrected. This why blueprinting should be the first step in order to eliminate any doubt of unwanted perturbations in the bore. This is along the same lines Bob Reeves takes, recommending valve alignment before making mouthpiece modifications. It’s at that point you can assess whether you desire more or less resistance. The Bobby Shew tweak involves resizing the mouthpipe venturi. Wayne Tanabe’s tweaks similarly increase or decrease resistance along the critical junctions along the bore. How much or how little is determined by player feedback and careful listening to the player in order to identify which adjustments are appropriate for the individual. So you see, blueprinting can be performed independently without the player, while tweaking can only be done with player and technician working one on one.
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James Becker
Brass Repair Specialist Since 1977
Osmun Music Inc.
77 Powdermill Road Rt.62
Acton, MA 01720
www.osmun.com

Our workshop is as close as your nearest UPS store https://www.ups.com/dropoff?loc=en_US

HERMOKIWI · Heavyweight Member Joined: 24 Dec 2008 Posts: 2581

James Becker · Posted: Tue Sep 17, 2019 7:47 pm Post subject:

I would like to add, when Bobby Shew tweaks his personal model Yamaha Z trumpets for individuals, he plays the role of both play tester and tweaker.
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James Becker
Brass Repair Specialist Since 1977
Osmun Music Inc.
77 Powdermill Road Rt.62
Acton, MA 01720
www.osmun.com

Our workshop is as close as your nearest UPS store https://www.ups.com/dropoff?loc=en_US

JVL · Posted: Tue Sep 17, 2019 10:37 pm Post subject:

James Becker · Posted: Wed Sep 18, 2019 3:01 am Post subject:

What we’re dealing with when tweaking to personal taste is on a micro level. That’s to say, how many ten thousandths of an inch sets up your trumpet to feel just right? According to Doc Severinsen his preferred venturi measurement is not .344”, not .345”, but is .3445”. And upon measuring a Shires Severinsen trumpet that was in our shop for service, my micrometer read .3445”! The truth is there’s only a few manufacturers that maintain that level of consistency. Some might think plus or minus one thousandth is in the ballpark. We’ve witnessed Bach 25H pipes that are supposed to be .351” measure as large as .354” and as small as .349”, and it isn’t hard to feel and hear the difference that makes. The funny thing is, like mouthpiece throats, not everyone cares for the same opening. Suffice to say, in some instances larger is not always better. Positive resistance can be set up anywhere, the question is what is appropriate for you.

I hope this is helpful.
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James Becker
Brass Repair Specialist Since 1977
Osmun Music Inc.
77 Powdermill Road Rt.62
Acton, MA 01720
www.osmun.com

Our workshop is as close as your nearest UPS store https://www.ups.com/dropoff?loc=en_US

James Becker · Posted: Wed Sep 18, 2019 5:33 am Post subject:

Allow me to express the difference between blueprinting and tweaking in musical terms.

Blueprinting addresses execution of a design, think musical score. Making sure all the notes are played correctly in tune and in time with proper dynamics and articulations.

Tweaking is more like musical interpretation dictated by the conductor. One’s preferences are determined by feel and sound.

How an instrument is set up is the function of both it’s design and connection with player. One is not subjective while the other is entirely subjective.
_________________
James Becker
Brass Repair Specialist Since 1977
Osmun Music Inc.
77 Powdermill Road Rt.62
Acton, MA 01720
www.osmun.com

Our workshop is as close as your nearest UPS store https://www.ups.com/dropoff?loc=en_US

James Becker · Posted: Sat Sep 21, 2019 4:36 am Post subject:

As a follow up to the Martin Committee thread where I previously posted, I'd like to share this update.

Wallace Roney's Kanstul made Martin Committee tweak is completed. I'd been asked by Wallace to choke the bell in the manner of a Claude Gordon, not possible without removing the bell then remounting. As many might already be aware the Benge C.G valve bore is .468" with a choke of -.004" at the bell down to .464", while the Selmer USA C.G. is .470" with a choke down to .466". Since Kanstul's XL bore is .470" the bell would need to be reduced to .466". With the bell opening already at .472" this took a bit of doing, but was a success. This transformed an otherwise wide open blowing trumpet to have a bit more positive resistance to blow against than before.

Having a working knowledge of what is desired by the player, we're able to target specific points along the bore to provide greater efficiency for the player. But unlike the Bobby Shew tweak which alters the venturi at the beginning of the trumpet bore, this tweak is much further along the bore.

I hope this is helpful.
_________________
James Becker
Brass Repair Specialist Since 1977
Osmun Music Inc.
77 Powdermill Road Rt.62
Acton, MA 01720
www.osmun.com

Our workshop is as close as your nearest UPS store https://www.ups.com/dropoff?loc=en_US

tylerjaeger55 · Posted: Mon Sep 23, 2019 5:57 pm Post subject:

I think that rich Ita in Atlanta is great and Trent Austin in Kansas City