Dr. Zink

I could see some sort of a trigger mechanism on the outside of the valve block - you'd have to back off your left hant to activate it though. there's probably a better arrangementfor this.

But the problem is that you'd want to be able to raise the pitch as well as lower. I'm remonded of the push pull arrangement of the turn of the 20th cent Conn cornets which had an arrangement whereby you could push the tuning slide out with your left middle or index finger and push it in with your thumb. Though the tubing arrangement is radically different on a trumpet, I dare say such a similar arrangement through a push rod could be set up on the main tuning slide of a trumpet. How it would pushing out is obvious, but for pulling in i would suggest a spring loaded adjustable stop rod (to set the pitch for the horn) which could be bypassed by compressing the spring. I would always spring back to the original setting. This would be much like the setup for shortened first valve slides. This whole arranegement could even do away with finger rings and thumb hooks for the first and third valve slides.

Dr. Z

Vulgano Brother

Wouldn't we fall prey to the drawbacks of equal temperment? A principal player, playing a melody, will instinctively raise the leading tone so that it "sounds better." If that same leading tone in the melody functions as the third in the harmony, it must be lowered to be "in tune." In real life a compromise has to be reached, and our ears and musically trained brains are much more equal to the task than present AI.

The pitchfinder concept simply allows us to change and control tuning while at the same time being able to play in the "sweet spot." It allows us to control the instrument rather than being controlled by it.

Not a fantasy, and no batteries required!

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rowuk

Yeah, but VB,
buzz AND operate the valves, tuning slides AND pitchfinder - all at the same time? All because the manufacturer made a design mistake? Fantasy an in-tune horn (actually we don't have to fantasize much, unless we want THE ORIGINAL Bach sound)

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B15M

I don't think you can get a trumpet that plays every note in tune.

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Veldkamp

I even think that if you have a trumpet that's completely in tune, the trumpetplayer will still play some notes out of tune. The better the player, the better the intonation. But a good player also has his weeker moments at the end of the day...

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rowuk

B15,
of course you are right about intonation. Building a horn for A=440 would be longer than one for A=443.
What do we call "in tune"? The frequencies change depending on the key signature. A B in a G scale has a different frequency than in an E or C scale.
I define in tune as not needing alternate fingerings to play as well as the pitch center being placed so that I can play in any key without conciously having to lip seriously up or down. That means well placed notes AND slotting that lets me play in tune without EXTRA effort!

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B15M

Here is my idea of playing "in tune"

Lets say I'm playing a Bb trumpet and playing in the key of C by myself. If I start on low C and go up the scale I will pull my first slide for D and just a little for E and a little more for A.

I were to play a C sharp I would use first and third. If I were to play a G sharp I have to lip it up.

This is how My Monette trumpet works. The problems were also there on my Bach but way worse.

If I had a pitch finder I think it would be easier to move one slide especially if it could go either way.

It seems like a great idea, I don't understand why more makers don't use it.

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Vulgano Brother

With the pitchfinder, it is more of an AND/OR kind of thing, turning the main tuning slide into an adjustable slide, useful for those little 3mm adjustments (anyone else notice that a's tend to get more arrows?). I've seen them on Bachs (duoh!) but also on Monkes and Schilkes. Dave Monette isn't against them, but has issues with lapping the tuning slide enough so that it moves easily enough.

But forget intonation for now -- I secretly want a trumpet that is a babe magnet!

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Richard Oliver

Ooooh noooooooo

I find the trumpet to be much better company

What a relief to finally grow older

rowuk

That would have to be the worst and ugliest trumpet in the world (the one you mentioned - on the island) - then you would have time for her!

Anything better would be perceived as competition!

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