[Trombone-l] Repair Q in re Out of True Leadpipes

[james meador]

Don't worry, you are not as alone as you think.  I really can't tell that much of a difference myself, other than small differences in the 'feel' of how they blow.  In terms of sound, I usually can't tell enough of a difference to choose one over the other...unless it is a dramatic difference, which does occur sometimes.  The only way around this is to ask someone (or even better, several people) whose opinion you respect to stand out at the back of the hall (or a large room) and listen to a play test of the different equipment.  I use this technique for trying mouthpieces, slides, tuning slides, leadpipes, bells, etc.  Keep the variables as few as possible, in other words only change one piece of equipment at a time, play the same excerpt of music each time, aim the same way, play the same dynamic, etc.  (I'm not saying you can't play different dynamics, but match pp against pp, and ff against ff.  Don't play something pp then switch the leadpipe and play something ff, or play something high then switch the mouthpiece and play a low passage.)  Also, keep the changes random.  Don't play them in the same order, don't tell your listeners what piece you are using next.  Force them to select the BEST sound from each round.  The answers won't always be unanimous, but you'll get a good idea about how each one plays.  One may work much better in loud passages, another may sound great in the upper register.  If you only want to use one, pick the one that fared the best.  Some players change leadpipes, mouthpieces, bells, etc. to fit the music they are playing.  Personally, I like to choose the best setup, stick with it and do my best to make it sound great in every aspect of playing.  You can also record yourself, but I have found that to be not quite as good as having others listen to you.

 

My $2 pesos worth,

James         

====================== 
James N. Meador, Bass Trombone 
Orquesta Sinfónica de Yucatán 
011-52-999-221-5845 cell 
jamesmeador at hotmail.com


 
>Apparently I have a tin ear, because I can place any one of three leadpipes
>(call them "A", "B", or "C") in my Shires bass and not notice that any one
>of the three are superior in any aspect of sound or response to any one of
>the others. These are my observations only and very subject to any number of
>non-scientific variables. I wonder if a professional like Doug Yeo or David
>Taylor demonstrated the three leadpipes on my horn if I could hear any
>differences? You know there would still be uncontrolled variables that would
>affect the results. Perhaps playing on an "A", or a "B" leadpipe could
>simply be psychologically superior to playing on a "C" leadpipe. Couldn't
>this all be in the mind? Couldn't exchangeable leadpipes be a marketing ploy
>for present day manufacturers? I wonder. I wish a manufacturer would jump in
>here and explain what is expected from each leadpipe. Is anyone out there?
>Steve Shires? Edwards? Conn? Whomever? Perhaps one is for lyrical solos and
>another is for Wagnerian Blastissimo? I'm not "in tune" with that stage of
>the game.
 
>GRiZ 
 
 

 
 
 


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