Weighted caps

sean007r · 03-14-2008, 07:20 PM

Anyone know where I can get weighted bottom caps for a Bundy?

My little Bundy project came out OK for a first draft and now I'd like to balance it a little bit for everyday playing like my old Strads.

However, I suspect that Strad parts WON'T fit an old Bundy!

Cheers

flugelgirl · 03-14-2008, 07:43 PM

Peter Pickett might be able to help you - he makes beautiful parts.
Pickett Brass, Unique accessories for your trumpet

You also may be able to re-thread Bach caps - Bach and Bundy are made by the same company, so they might not be far off. If you can't do it, your repair tech should be able to. Curry also makes nice caps and buttons, and a lot of shops carry them. Look into solid brass valve stems while you are at it - I've done that on 2 different horns, and it helps them slot better.
Have fun costomizing - toys are so fun!

Pedal C · 03-14-2008, 08:33 PM

You can put a dime in the normal valve cap. It has about the same effect. I experimented that way to see if I wanted to buy some real ones. It won't fit right on some models though...they'll rattle.

barrypartake · 03-16-2008, 09:41 PM

Please excuse my ignorance but I haven't played in a while. What is meant by slotting? I have heard the term in several forums, but was unsure of the meaning?

flugelgirl · 03-17-2008, 05:08 PM

"slotting" refers to centering a pitch, and the amount of distance you feel between pitches.

skankin'dan · 03-17-2008, 06:05 PM

just stick dimes in there and that should save you a few bucks =)

barrypartake · 03-17-2008, 07:16 PM

Thanks for the clarification.

rowuk · 03-18-2008, 08:26 AM

Why would you want to put weight on a student horn?

It was never designed for anything like that. It is a myth that adding weight=better slotting. There are certain instruments where that can happen, generally the blow gets harder AND the intonation gets worse at the same time, so the next mod is to bore the mouthpiece out to supposedly make the system more "free blowing". All that does is make the slots fuzzier so that we can bend the out of tune notes back into tune. Nothing is improved, just different. Pimping your horn puts an image into ones head and we know how gullible trumpet players are!

If weights made trumpets that much better, the manufacturers would be able to incorporate that into the production very cheaply. There is a reason that they do not do this and it has NOTHING to do with cost! It is because most horns lose their balanced performance when adding weight. To restore that involves a lot of tweaking which IS very expensive.

My advice, if you want to mess around, use dimes, washers, whatever, just do not spend any money. It will only be wasted. Put the money you would have spent into a piggy bank and save for a finished horn that plays the way you want, instead of trying to make another instrument do what it was NEVER designed for!

MJ · 03-18-2008, 10:39 AM

skip the heavy caps on a bundy!

flugelgirl · 03-18-2008, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rowuk

Why would you want to put weight on a student horn?

It was never designed for anything like that. It is a myth that adding weight=better slotting. There are certain instruments where that can happen, generally the blow gets harder AND the intonation gets worse at the same time, so the next mod is to bore the mouthpiece out to supposedly make the system more "free blowing". All that does is make the slots fuzzier so that we can bend the out of tune notes back into tune. Nothing is improved, just different. Pimping your horn puts an image into ones head and we know how gullible trumpet players are!

If weights made trumpets that much better, the manufacturers would be able to incorporate that into the production very cheaply. There is a reason that they do not do this and it has NOTHING to do with cost! It is because most horns lose their balanced performance when adding weight. To restore that involves a lot of tweaking which IS very expensive.

My advice, if you want to mess around, use dimes, washers, whatever, just do not spend any money. It will only be wasted. Put the money you would have spent into a piggy bank and save for a finished horn that plays the way you want, instead of trying to make another instrument do what it was NEVER designed for!

Now, I never said anything about heavy caps and slotting - I had improved slotting when I added solid brass STEMS. I like to experiment with toys just to see what changes, if anything, and have found that the stems improved both a Schilke B6 and a Yamaha Xeno for me. I do actually have a Pickett Brass finish kit on my Yamaha, but they are the lightest weight caps, and I did it for the buttons and stems. I don't like pearls in my buttons, and no one else seems to do after market parts for Xenos. I do have to say, though, that my Navy horn is the same model, only in silver and without toys, and I like the way my own plays much better. Since Yamahas are pretty consistant, I'm guessing my toys made the difference.

03-14-2008, 07:20 PM	#1
sean007r Piano User Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Dearborn MI USA Posts: 349	Weighted caps Anyone know where I can get weighted bottom caps for a Bundy? My little Bundy project came out OK for a first draft and now I'd like to balance it a little bit for everyday playing like my old Strads. However, I suspect that Strad parts WON'T fit an old Bundy! Cheers

03-14-2008, 07:43 PM	#2
flugelgirl Piano User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Norfolk, VA Posts: 402	Re: Weighted caps Peter Pickett might be able to help you - he makes beautiful parts. Pickett Brass, Unique accessories for your trumpet You also may be able to re-thread Bach caps - Bach and Bundy are made by the same company, so they might not be far off. If you can't do it, your repair tech should be able to. Curry also makes nice caps and buttons, and a lot of shops carry them. Look into solid brass valve stems while you are at it - I've done that on 2 different horns, and it helps them slot better. Have fun costomizing - toys are so fun! __________________ Reeves V Raptor Yamaha 8335RGM 50's Calicchio Marcienkewicz Rembrandt flugel Schilke P5-4 French Besson Classic C Weril Regium Eb/D I am now a Marcinkiewicz Artist! http://www.marcinkiewicz.com/artist/index.htm

03-14-2008, 08:33 PM	#3
Pedal C Mezzo Forte User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Denver, Co. Posts: 798	Re: Weighted caps You can put a dime in the normal valve cap. It has about the same effect. I experimented that way to see if I wanted to buy some real ones. It won't fit right on some models though...they'll rattle. __________________ "The oboe's A is to make sure we still play it 1 and 2" - Bud Herseth "One way or another, every patient stops bleeding." - Scrubs

03-16-2008, 09:41 PM	#4
barrypartake New Friend Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 18	Re: Weighted caps Please excuse my ignorance but I haven't played in a while. What is meant by slotting? I have heard the term in several forums, but was unsure of the meaning?

03-17-2008, 05:08 PM	#5
flugelgirl Piano User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Norfolk, VA Posts: 402	Re: Weighted caps "slotting" refers to centering a pitch, and the amount of distance you feel between pitches. __________________ Reeves V Raptor Yamaha 8335RGM 50's Calicchio Marcienkewicz Rembrandt flugel Schilke P5-4 French Besson Classic C Weril Regium Eb/D I am now a Marcinkiewicz Artist! http://www.marcinkiewicz.com/artist/index.htm

03-17-2008, 06:05 PM	#6
skankin'dan Pianissimo User Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Winnipeg Posts: 186	Re: Weighted caps just stick dimes in there and that should save you a few bucks =)

03-17-2008, 07:16 PM	#7
barrypartake New Friend Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 18	Re: Weighted caps Thanks for the clarification.

03-18-2008, 08:26 AM	#8
rowuk Moderator Utimate User Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Germany Posts: 7,364	Re: Weighted caps Why would you want to put weight on a student horn? It was never designed for anything like that. It is a myth that adding weight=better slotting. There are certain instruments where that can happen, generally the blow gets harder AND the intonation gets worse at the same time, so the next mod is to bore the mouthpiece out to supposedly make the system more "free blowing". All that does is make the slots fuzzier so that we can bend the out of tune notes back into tune. Nothing is improved, just different. Pimping your horn puts an image into ones head and we know how gullible trumpet players are! If weights made trumpets that much better, the manufacturers would be able to incorporate that into the production very cheaply. There is a reason that they do not do this and it has NOTHING to do with cost! It is because most horns lose their balanced performance when adding weight. To restore that involves a lot of tweaking which IS very expensive. My advice, if you want to mess around, use dimes, washers, whatever, just do not spend any money. It will only be wasted. Put the money you would have spent into a piggy bank and save for a finished horn that plays the way you want, instead of trying to make another instrument do what it was NEVER designed for! __________________ Whenever I feel blue, I start breathing again.

03-18-2008, 10:39 AM	#9
MJ Forte User Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Naptown Posts: 2,413	Re: Weighted caps skip the heavy caps on a bundy! __________________

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
Weighted Receivers	hubnub	Horns	3	01-13-2008 06:57 AM
Valve Caps	trumpet520	Trumpet Discussion	37	06-02-2007 04:03 PM
Valve caps?	JackD	Horns	6	04-10-2005 06:42 AM
Heavy Valve Caps	dHoff	Mouthpieces / Mutes / Other	14	03-01-2005 06:04 PM

Unleash Your Anger
Copyright 2006 TrumpetMaster.com	All times are GMT -4. The time now is 03:36 PM. Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v2.2.0/Links 1.01 Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.7.2 Copyright ©2000 - 2009, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd. Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO 3.3.0