Loosen bottom valve caps?

[taswalb]

Another trumpet player in my community band said that he loosens his bottom valve caps. He said it opened up the horn. Anyone else do this for the same or any other reason? If so, can you explain the mechanics behind how this would change how the horn plays?
_________________
Started back on 10/10/2022 after 45 years off.

Yamaha Allegro 5335 G
Mouthpieces Bach 3C, Yamaha 14B4 GP, Bach 7C

[Dale Proctor]

I tighten mine just enough to keep them from coming loose and it seems to help the upper register a bit. There’s a bigger difference without any caps at all, but that can be messy. Some put an o-ring around the threads and screw the cap against it to produce less tension while still securing the caps. Maybe it works, and maybe it’s just a placebo effect…who knows?
_________________
"Brass bands are all very well in their place - outdoors and several miles away ." - Sir Thomas Beecham

[JayKosta]

[trickg]

[Denny Schreffler]

I first heard about a bottom cap effect in the mid-’80s from an early Monette adherent in Chicago, which was confirmed in a phone call to one of Dave’s insiders by a beat-around-the-bush non-denial. I did some of my own testing with reliable ears-in-the-hall listening and ended up with no bottom caps on a CG Benge with a commercial mpc, and with DIY weighted bottoms on a modded Bach 229. I used a Grime Gutter on the capless Benge for 35 years (and Curry CCaps when they becaome available on the C).

About 1987 I had a chance to talk with Armando Ghitalla as he was hanging backstage for a solo appearance later in the program. He had a Grime Gutter on his C tpt. When I asked him if he had removed the bottom caps, he enthusiastically replied, “No, but they’re hanging on just by a thread! What do you know about this?” He was very much aware of the effect.

—Denny

[jadickson]

It just changes the way the horn resonates. Not better or worse, just different. Like heavy valve caps, loosening the water key screw, etc…

[stuartissimo]

I used to screw them on pretty tight, to the point where you almost needed tools to get them off. Lyre and finger hook rings too. Can’t say I really noticed a difference when playing, but these days I keep them a lot looser, with just a little slide grease to make sure they can be removed easily. As a mental aid though, not overly tight screws ‘feels’ more open to play. But I’ll readily admit it’s probably in my head.
_________________
1975 Olds Recording trumpet
1997 Getzen 700SP trumpet
1955 Olds Super cornet
1939 Buescher 280 flugelhorn
AR Resonance mouthpieces

[shofarguy]

I was testing a little something that Flip Oakes gave me when I visited his home at the beginning of the month. I decided to do my normal warmup routine, in order to have a good feel for my trumpet before I changed or added anything to it. I begin with a bit of lip buzzing, then mouthpiece buzzing just to get the old kisser loosened up and flapping like it should. I "clocked" my mouthpiece as I inserted it into the receiver, then started to do my usual long tone five scale descents. Something was wrong.

I just could not seem to cleanly land any notes. I was playing the easiest stuff in the world, but what a fight! I figured is was because I had not been playing for almost a week, so I kept going along, but it didn't get better. I was a little peeved. I put my horn in my lap and subconsciously started checking the caps and stems to make sure none of them were loose. The 1st valve bottom cap was tight. Really tight. I'm not sure how it became that way, but it took awhile to get it loose. When finally I did, I adjusted all three so that they were all the same amount of snug.

I tried playing again and the horn felt normal, responding as I had come to expect.
_________________
Brian A. Douglas

Flip Oakes Wild Thing Bb Trumpet in copper
Flip Oakes Wild Thing Flugelhorn in copper


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

[trickg]

I'm pretty sure Manny Laureano adjusts the tension on his top and bottom valve caps on his Monettes - I seem to recall reading something about that somewhere on one of the boards.

He's Julliard trained and a principle trumpet player of a major orchestra - I figure he must know what he's doing.
_________________
Patrick Gleason
- Jupiter 1600i, ACB 3C, Warburton 4SVW/Titmus RT2
- Brasspire Unicorn C
- ACB Doubler

"95% of the average 'weekend warrior's' problems will be solved by an additional 30 minutes of insightful practice." - PLP