mattdalton

It's a piece of brass tubing that, when used with the mouthpiece, helps approximate the resistance of the trumpet. It is made as follows:

1. Cut the tube (pipe) to 5" long
2. Drill a 3/32" hole 2" from the mouthpiece end
3. Heat the tube and flare the mouthpiece end (an old discarded mouthpiece should work if you don't have another tool)

7/16" O.D. hobby shop brass tubing should work fine. The 5" length is not critical - I have a pipe that's 5-3/4" long and it works fine too. The hole makes it possible to play any note. If it's not there, pitches will be limited, much as they are when pulling the tuning slide and playing the leadpipe.

This is pretty simple and doesn't really require a picture. But if you want a photo, let me know and I'll see if I can get one together tomorrow night.

If you do try this, let me know how it works for you. Best,
- Matt

__________________
Matt Dalton

michael shanks

buzzzing on my mouth piece doesnt work for me but sometimes it gives me a little bit of a warmup if your wife doesnt want to here you play then just blow a little tune on your mouthpiece make sure your wifes dont read this message

__________________
God gives the sound I just play it

Jimi Michiel

Matt, I'm having a little trouble visualizing this, so if you could post a picture, that would be great. Thanks!

-Jimi

PS. Do you use a blowtorch to heat the piping?

__________________

Vulgano Brother

To get a basic of what Matt is talking about, Google "Jo Ral Short Cut." Matt's version is about $25 cheaper, though, (unless you buy your tubing from Dave Monette).

__________________
www.letsbuildhope.org

trumpethack

[quote=jmichiel;291616]Hi Rowuk,

This is sort of the conclusion I'm coming to. I've tried to take Manny's advice (double the air), but it just feels impracticle to try to play one of these mouthpieces without an instrument. Perhaps Matt's advice of adding resitance by way of BERP may help.

The reason I started buzzing in the first place is a conversation I had with Eric Berlin. He talked about the instrument being and amplifier for the mouthpiece, and the mouthpiece being an amplifier for the lips/air stream. I guess this is somewhat a departure from Dave's concept (especially given the Raja and Raja Samahdi, which you could call the extreme example of a "complete system"). Does the fact that Dave "matches" the mouthpieces with the instrument (my C997 plays the best when I use the mouthpiece that it was designed for) lessen each of the individual parts?

Anyways, thanks for the advice. I think I'm just going to do most of my buzzing on an STC-1 mouthpiece.

Best wishes,
Jimi
QUOTE]

Jimi,

I was one of Eric Berlin's grad TA's for two years so maybe I can give you some more advice along the lines of what he told you.

First your post gives the impression that you are "new" to doing all this buzzing. (I mean you've probably buzzed your mouthpiece before, but there is a big difference between just tooting your mouthpiece and doing it the way Eric will teach you to do it.) So if that is the case then give it time. It takes some time to really get skilled at doing this well.

Second, you can get these metal mouthpiece adaptors that are like a b.e.r.p. in that it sticks into the lead pipe and then there is a ring that you put the mouthpiece into on the side (so the mp is in the same position that it would be if it were in a b.e.r.p.). There is no added resistance but you can get them to fit a monette size mouthpiece. Finding them is the hard part. Sometimes you can call Osmun brass in MA and see if Jim becker has any lying around or can make you one. If you explain what you need and mention Eric he'll probably know what you are looking for.

Third, realize that the sound you make on that mouthpiece is going to sound different than other size and weight mouthpieces. If you take a Bach 1C and a Monette equivalent STC-1 and STC-3, they will all sound a little different when you play them alone (i'm talking about the tone not the pitch). And it will be ther hardest to get that good sound on the heaviest monette. The throat on the mouthpiece you say you are using is huge and therefor takes extremely good breathing habits and a very efficient embouchure. If you cheat, it just doesn't work. That said, it is not "impractical" as you say to play on one of those mouthpieces without the horn. You should learn to do it well.

If you've talked to Eric about this, I would just keep doing what he told you to do. It really helped me alot.

Matt

mattdalton

Jimi -
Here's a quick and dirty picture (not very good lighting) that I hope is good enough. The buzzing tubes in the photo were made by my friend Fred Holmgren, who is good at machining and a creative guy. I used them for the picture because they look far better than what I could make. The little Renaissance bell flares are his special touch. They aren't necessary like the flare at the mouthpiece end that serves as the receiver.


Yes, I would use a blowtorch to heat for bending the flares. And, as I'm sure you would, use clamps, gloves, and eye protection to be safe.

Yeah, and I wonder how much for Prana tubing?
Seriously thogh, it's not only cheaper than the Jo-Ral Short Cut, but far lighter and less obtrusive.

__________________
Matt Dalton