Leadpipes and bells

[brad333]

What exactly does a leadpipe do to a trumpet? I was discussing putting a new pipe on my Bb and possibily dialing it in to a slightly darker fuller texture. I thought a new leadpipe would improve the trumpet in a variety of ways and would give me the option to choose a larger pipe(perhaps a copper or rose brass one) that would darken the sound a bit. I'm not looking for drastic change, just a subtle one.

My friend, a member on TH, thought that the leadpipe would only affect response and slotting but to change the sound I would have to switch bells. That isn't a process I'm interested in.

I agree that leadpipes affect the blow a lot more than the sound and bells affect the sound a lot more than the blow but I thought a new leadpipe would give me the opportunity to customize the sound of the horn as well as the feel.

Any thoughts? How do leadpipes and bells affect a trumpet? I'm considering Blackburn and Pilczuk but if anyone has any ideas about what else to consider I'm all ears.

[trumpetmike]

Changing the leadpipe has been discussed many times here on TH. If you do a search you will discover a wealth of knowledge.

From personal experience, seeing you are using a Yamaha I would definitely recommend checking out the Najoom leadpipes. I met Dennis at ITG 2003 and tried one of the pipes there, purchased it, had it fitted when I got home and haven't regretted it for a second. The tone is fuller, the intonation is more secure, the high register still sings, the low notes are as full as I could possibly want - in other words - it's a huge improvement!

The thing which really sold me on it was when one of my colleagues in Surrey Brass asked whether I had got a new trumpet, I was sounding very different, an improvement upon my normal playing. That was the first night I was using the Najoom leadpipe in a rehearsal. I had been very happy with it until then, I then became delighted!!

Since then I have also got a custom leadpipe for my C trumpet from him - just as good as the Bb pipe was.