Brass valve guides on Bach horns
Robert J.L. Willems
I was wondering if anyone else has got some experience with brass valve
guides.
New horns do have standard brass nylons guides. These are very silent and do
not make any noise when using te valves. Older horns (Bach, Schilke) where
fitted with brass valve guides.
In al my horns I have changed the nylon into brass guides. Brass valve
guides provides me a more centered and more solid tone. I wouldn't changed
them back into nylon guides.
You can order brass valve guides for Bach and Schilke at the Brass Bow
http://www.thebrassbow.com/cgi-bin/store/agora.cgi?product=brass&cart_id=981
1678.10709*yk3Ze
They also sell copper, titanium and nickle guides.
Do you also have experience with those guides on Bach horns ? Please share
them here !
Robert
email: rjl.w...@home.nl
Hamhock
that both my Bachs take the larger size. Both horns are large bores.
The way I found out was during a performance when my first and third valve
suddenly froze in the down position. I had used the standard guides for
several weeks without a problem so I thought everything was fine. But then
suddenly.... when you least expect it.... the two valve guides shifted and
got caught diagonally in the valve cases.
I'm using the correct size now with complete satisfaction. (KOW)
"Robert J.L. Willems" <rjl.willems@no_spam.home.nl> wrote
Martin Hoehne
> In al my horns I have changed the nylon into brass guides. Brass valve
> guides provides me a more centered and more solid tone. I wouldn't changed
> them back into nylon guides.
Hi,
is there any explanation how the material (or weight?) of the valve guides can
have an influence on the tonal quality of the instrument? I can believe that
i.e the weight of the mouthpiece, or even heavy bottom valve caps can change
the instuments sound, but the material of the valve guides?
Do others have the same experience?
Martin
Jim Donaldson
>is there any explanation how the material (or weight?) of the
>valve guides can have an influence on the tonal quality of the
>instrument?
I think the theory is that the metal resonates with the other metals in the
horn; the plastic tends to dampen the vibration. Obviously both Bach and
Schilke found that the difference was less than the cost savings found in
machining the metal and (injection molding?) the plastic. Others, working
backwards, can see (or hear or feel) the difference.
Jim Donaldson
Denver Colorado
JFDon...@aol.com
The Schilke Loyalist
http://www.dallasmusic.org/schilke
David Finton
> >is there any explanation how the material (or weight?) of the
> >valve guides can have an influence on the tonal quality of the
> >instrument?
>I think the theory is that the metal resonates with the other metals in the
>horn; the plastic tends to dampen the vibration. Obviously both Bach and
>Schilke found that the difference was less than the cost savings found in
>machining the metal and (injection molding?) the plastic. Others, working
>backwards, can see (or hear or feel) the difference.
Interesting. Have there been any blind tests to determine that the
differences could not be caused by the player's expectations (the
placebo effect)? I wouldn't expect Schilke to cut corners if they
thought there were any sonic effects. (Bach is a different story ;-)
David Finton
Jim Donaldson
>Have there been any blind tests to determine that the
Wayne Tenabe, the proprietor of the Brass Bow in Chicago, who sells metal valve
guides he makes for Bach and Schilke trumpets, in brass, copper, nickel plated
brass, stainless steel, and titanium, describes a concensus about using one
metal guide in the fourth valve of a Schilke P5-4 and in the third valve of the
Schilke E3L. Without knowing the methodology of the test, it looks like a
number of folks came to the same conclusion independently.
The information is interesting and is located at:
http://www.thebrassbow.com/request.htm
>I wouldn't expect Schilke to cut corners if they thought there
>were any sonic effects.
Early Schilkes (mid-60s and before) had brass valve guides. The company
switched to plastic. Mr Schilke must have felt that there was no difference or
he would have stuck with the metal, I don't think there is any question about
it.