What do you get from heavy valve caps?

FutureBC · 01-09-2010, 11:26 PM

Exactly what the title says, what of your playing improves from using these?

s.coomer · 01-09-2010, 11:32 PM

Maybe the strength in your let arm. Playing doesn't improve so much with hardware. If improves with you and the practice you do.

Bach219 · 01-09-2010, 11:33 PM

I don't think they improve your playing, but do darken the sound. Then again...I have never used them...

mattc · 01-09-2010, 11:44 PM

Sorry to add more information from someone who doesn't use them--

my recollection is that the idea is to change how the horn vibrates while you play. Horn vibrations remove energy that could be in the sound. You add the weights, and that changes the frequencies that the valve cluster will vibrate at (presumably to lower frequencies).

I've heard people say the weights help slotting.

Sorry, the idea never made a lot of sense to me, so I am not that versed on it.

tptshark · 01-09-2010, 11:51 PM

i added a heavy third valve cap to my old shilke x3 and it seemed to make it slot a bit more securely... which was surprising as i expected it to do nothing whatsoever.

-Adrian

tedh1951 · 01-10-2010, 01:16 AM

My Harrelson has medium weight upper and lower valve caps - I specified them based on advice provided by Jason Harrelson. Jason said that the notes slot better than with standard valve caps.

The trumpet is very precise and the notes form just as I think they will, and with very little effort - I don't have a set of standard caps to interchange so I don't know if it is my ever developing skill, the high quality build of the trumpet, or the caps, but these medium weight ones work a treat and I'm not changing a thing.

None of my other trumpets slot as well, but they don't have weighted caps, are not spec built by hand, and are not Harrelson trumpets.

So, once again, they are your beer vouchers, spend how you will.

Markie · 01-11-2010, 06:08 AM

I use heavy caps and they seem to help with the slotting

StoporIlltoot! · 01-11-2010, 08:15 AM

If you choose to use them, take careful note of how the instrument sits inside the case with the caps installed. I am speaking specifically of the longer caps that add length (about .5") to the bottom of the valves. With many of the single cases, the trumpet simply will not fit into the pre-formed area. With the multiple-horn cases and gig bags, it usually will....however...

I discovered that the top of the case partially depressed the valves when the lid was closed. Not only does this place unnecessary strain on the valve springs, but any shifting/settling of the horn during transit could cause unnatural valve moment that damages the valve surface.

As for the added weight of the valve caps to the sound dynamics of the horn, I found the difference to be marginal and of little effect regarding slotting. What I did like was having a larger valve cluster to hold on to.

edfitzvb · 01-11-2010, 10:11 AM

The purported advantage is improved slotting. The additional mass supposedly minimizes unnecessary harmonic frequencies assisting with the notes being easier to produce. i read somewhere (probably here) that one can achieve similar results by adding a dime in the existing valve bottom covers. i tried it with my old Courtois and it indeed seemed to make a difference in the ease of centering each note. I of course checked to make sure that it didn't interfere with the valve stroke. for thirty cents its a cheap way to see if you like the change or if it makes any difference for you.

Ed Fitzgerald

Courtois L bore trumpet
Olds Super w/ Bach bell (uptilt) Frankenhorn
Rydy Muck Blessing Super Artist clone (.458/.468 bore)
Getzen Eterna 4 valve flugel
Olds Special cornet
Besson cornet

ogauge47 · 01-11-2010, 06:27 PM

What do you get from heavy valve caps?

a horn that doesn't fit in most cases

01-09-2010, 11:26 PM	#1
FutureBC Pianissimo User Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Northern Kentucky Posts: 104	What do you get from heavy valve caps? Exactly what the title says, what of your playing improves from using these? __________________ ________________MY COLLECTION________________ 1. Olds 10MUMU - piece of CRAP 2. Strad 37 - second best 3. Unnamed ancient horn -just for show 4. Yamaha YTR-01- tied for second best 5. Getzen 700 Special -My best 6. King "superior" 7. Blessing flugel 8. King mellophone

01-09-2010, 11:32 PM	#2
s.coomer Forte User Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Indianapolis, In Posts: 1,331	Re: What do you get from heavy valve caps? Maybe the strength in your let arm. Playing doesn't improve so much with hardware. If improves with you and the practice you do.

01-09-2010, 11:33 PM	#3
Bach219 Mezzo Piano User Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: MI Posts: 610	Re: What do you get from heavy valve caps? I don't think they improve your playing, but do darken the sound. Then again...I have never used them... __________________ Raw brass Bach TR300 Vincent Bach 3C Vincent Bach 7C Vincent Bach Corp. 10.5C Kelly (clear) 3C I didn't want to get that ring around my lips from practicing the trumpet, because I thought the girls wouldn't like me. So I never practiced.- Wynton Marsalis

01-09-2010, 11:44 PM	#4
mattc New Friend Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: California Posts: 43	Re: What do you get from heavy valve caps? Sorry to add more information from someone who doesn't use them-- my recollection is that the idea is to change how the horn vibrates while you play. Horn vibrations remove energy that could be in the sound. You add the weights, and that changes the frequencies that the valve cluster will vibrate at (presumably to lower frequencies). I've heard people say the weights help slotting. Sorry, the idea never made a lot of sense to me, so I am not that versed on it.

01-09-2010, 11:51 PM	#5
tptshark Pianissimo User Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Western Australia Posts: 93	Re: What do you get from heavy valve caps? i added a heavy third valve cap to my old shilke x3 and it seemed to make it slot a bit more securely... which was surprising as i expected it to do nothing whatsoever. -Adrian __________________ www.adriankelly.com

01-10-2010, 01:16 AM	#6
tedh1951 Fortissimo User Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: The wide brown land - Oz Posts: 3,251	Re: What do you get from heavy valve caps? My Harrelson has medium weight upper and lower valve caps - I specified them based on advice provided by Jason Harrelson. Jason said that the notes slot better than with standard valve caps. The trumpet is very precise and the notes form just as I think they will, and with very little effort - I don't have a set of standard caps to interchange so I don't know if it is my ever developing skill, the high quality build of the trumpet, or the caps, but these medium weight ones work a treat and I'm not changing a thing. None of my other trumpets slot as well, but they don't have weighted caps, are not spec built by hand, and are not Harrelson trumpets. So, once again, they are your beer vouchers, spend how you will. __________________ Ted "Attitudes are contagious, Is yours worth catching?"

01-11-2010, 06:08 AM	#7
Markie Forte User Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Clarksburg, WV Posts: 1,599	Re: What do you get from heavy valve caps? I use heavy caps and they seem to help with the slotting

01-11-2010, 08:15 AM	#8
StoporIlltoot! New Friend Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 27	Re: What do you get from heavy valve caps? If you choose to use them, take careful note of how the instrument sits inside the case with the caps installed. I am speaking specifically of the longer caps that add length (about .5") to the bottom of the valves. With many of the single cases, the trumpet simply will not fit into the pre-formed area. With the multiple-horn cases and gig bags, it usually will....however... I discovered that the top of the case partially depressed the valves when the lid was closed. Not only does this place unnecessary strain on the valve springs, but any shifting/settling of the horn during transit could cause unnatural valve moment that damages the valve surface. As for the added weight of the valve caps to the sound dynamics of the horn, I found the difference to be marginal and of little effect regarding slotting. What I did like was having a larger valve cluster to hold on to.

01-11-2010, 10:11 AM	#9
edfitzvb Pianissimo User Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Virginia Beach Posts: 142	Re: What do you get from heavy valve caps? The purported advantage is improved slotting. The additional mass supposedly minimizes unnecessary harmonic frequencies assisting with the notes being easier to produce. i read somewhere (probably here) that one can achieve similar results by adding a dime in the existing valve bottom covers. i tried it with my old Courtois and it indeed seemed to make a difference in the ease of centering each note. I of course checked to make sure that it didn't interfere with the valve stroke. for thirty cents its a cheap way to see if you like the change or if it makes any difference for you. Ed Fitzgerald Courtois L bore trumpet Olds Super w/ Bach bell (uptilt) Frankenhorn Rydy Muck Blessing Super Artist clone (.458/.468 bore) Getzen Eterna 4 valve flugel Olds Special cornet Besson cornet

01-11-2010, 06:27 PM	#10
ogauge47 Pianissimo User Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Metro Detroit, Michigan Posts: 225	Re: What do you get from heavy valve caps? What do you get from heavy valve caps? a horn that doesn't fit in most cases __________________ 1949 Olds Super Bb 1950 Olds Ambassador Bb 1889 Conn Wonder Bb Cornet 1970 Reynolds Medalist Bb Cornet 2007 Jupiter Tribune 1000S Bb 1986 King 601 Bb 2000 Conn 51B C 1995 Conn 86B C '5 out of 4 people have trouble with fractions'

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Heavy valve caps for flugel	ozboy	Mouthpieces / Mutes / Other	2	11-21-2009 06:50 AM
Heavy valve caps for flugel	ozboy	Trumpet Discussion	7	07-28-2009 07:12 PM
What are heavy bottom valve caps???	ComeBackKid	Mouthpieces / Mutes / Other	14	05-29-2009 09:50 AM
Heavy Valve Caps- Do they work? What do they do?	wingman	Mouthpieces / Mutes / Other	23	06-24-2008 03:04 AM
Heavy Valve Caps	dHoff	Mouthpieces / Mutes / Other	14	03-01-2005 05:04 PM

Unleash Your Anger
Copyright 2006 TrumpetMaster.com	All times are GMT -4. The time now is 09:16 AM. Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v2.2.0/Links 1.01 Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.7.2 Copyright ©2000 - 2010, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd. Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO 3.3.0