| One of the most hotly controversial subjects in trumpetdom. The good people at the Brass Bow are well respected techs. They obviously believe greatly in it. Several studies have been attempted -- most with some positive results albeit with a very small sample.
The theory is that freezing the horn releases the joint stress that is put on when the horn is soldered together. Hence the reason why 30 years old plus horns are often coveted. The stress has been released. Freeze the horn, and supposedly the same thing happens.
I have seen metallurgists argue that freezing the horn will not do anything of the sort and that the results are due to the Hawthorne effect. I think many believe it is an expense they can do without. Some will try anything. It may work, it may be a placebo. Hard to do a hard core scientific test.
Thats it in a nutshell.
Jim |