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 Problems with this trumpet included: 1. Top cap of first valve does not fit well with the casing. 2. Tuning slide and leadpipe not fitting well, much compression at tuning slide crook. 3. Notes do not slot well, high or low. 4. Notes getting flatter and flatter from C in the staff onward, higher notes will not play without an undue effort. 5. Sound did not seem to be projecting. |
I think I have covered
EVERYTHING.... what else can one say
about a horn being bad? :-(
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| STEP 1 With experience gained from previous projects, I was bold enough to dissemble the entire horn right away. |
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| Observations: I do
not know if this was the factory or the previous repairer, the
concealed part of the bell crook is an absolute nonsense. It is out of
round and metal is of irregular thickness! Well, not a trained
technician at all, I am not able to do much with this problem except
try to round it out as much as I could. |
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| STEP 2 For this particular horn, the brace between the bell and the valve casing is found to be best at the 3rd valve casing. Then I set off to reposition the brace between the bell crook and the 1st valve slide. Observations: The brace between the bell and 1st valve slide is not fitting well, I have to re-shape the brace for a better fit. When the brace fit better, the trumpet also plays a little better. |
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| STEP 3 Next, I worked on the leadpipe. My intention was to align it with the tuning slide crook. (I think misalignment of the tuning slide and its receiver may be a common problem found on many Bach Strads.) Observations: The dog is completely transformed when the leadpipe and the tuning slide crook is not compressing against each other. After this step, the trumpet has became a decent instrument. It is actually quite a good horn and quite in tune with itself, there was even no need to work on the mouthpiece receiver! |
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| But it is
annoying to find that the braces of the rod between the tuning slide
receivers are not fitting well. Did they manufacture this trumpet in
a rush or something? |
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| I have placed the rod between the tuning slide
receivers a bit forward for a more brilliant sound but I admit the
choice may be just personal. |
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| STEP 4 The braces between the leadpipe and the bell is then re-installed. Observations: now I am very convinced these braces are an important factor of the sound and response of the trumpet. I have to search for the best positions for the braces and then I have to reshape the braces for a tight fit. Note the shape of the braces are slightly different from the original now. |
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| *** This trumpet is now
available for play-testing at my studio. If you are interested, please
call us for an appointment. Thanks! |
|
 Project #4 |
Project
#6  |
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