[TPIN] RE: Pedal Tones Can't Slot...

[David Arndt]

Right. I find that I can get an in-tune pedal C on my Bb Kanstul much more
easily than on my Bach Strad 37 (or as I call it, "my tank").  The Kanstul
has a bigger bell flare (like a 72 Bach) and a larger bore (.460).

But it's interesting to me how much relatively small differences in
configuration make.  I'm fond of saying "it's just some brass pipe" -
obviously more to it than that ;-)

- da

-----Original Message-----
From: Daniel,John [mailto:john.daniel at lawrence.edu] 
Sent: Thursday, February 07, 2008 7:09 PM
To: darndt at oriongate.net; Nick Drozdoff; tpin at tpin.okcu.edu
Subject: Re: [TPIN] RE: Pedal Tones Can't Slot...

This subject is about as academic as it gets.  I think the modern trumpet is
designed to sound good on the other notes, so the mouthpiece, leadpipe and
bell are not designed to make the pedal C to F# very easy to play.  In order
to compensate for the stubbornness of those notes, we over adjust to get
them out.  In other words they aren't flat so much as by the time we get
them to speak we have overcompensated making them flat.

All it takes is a bigger bell, a little more conical tubing, or a
"principale" style mouthpiece, and the pedal C is much easier to play.  As
soon as it is easier to play, flatness isn't an issue.

I think it is really useful to get an open pedal C without distorting the
mouthpiece placement, but it does take some commitment.
John