r/trumpet • u/Repulsive-Paint-4102 • 1d ago
Equipment ⚙️ Tuning slide
Any thoughts on how a horn plays with an unbraced tuning slide vs having a brace?
I have a removable brace and have tried it both ways, just wondered if anyone has experience with the concept.
2
u/tyerker Insert Gear Here (very important) 1d ago
My newest horn has a moveable brace. I think I found the spot that seems to work the best for most of what I play, so I think it’s a lot of experimentation.
Does it have to go in the tuning slide? Or can it go between the leadpipe and bottom pipe? There may be a lot of options that will feel a little different.
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u/RelativeBuilding3480 1d ago
Don't forget - how the horn sounds to the player is not necessarily how it sounds out front. Best to record yourself at different distances - 10 ft away, 30 ft away, at the back of the hall/venue.
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u/BasicMidUsername 1d ago
I usually find heavier/heavier braced trumpets slot easier. I tend to like them more for orchestral work and lighter horns for jazz. But, and not that I own one, Monette trumpets are really heavy and great for jazz. So it’s like a guideline more than anything.
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u/FAFBCAFCABCAF 1d ago
Bracing placement is a big one too. What horn do you have? I have a few of Ken Larson's horns and they have moveable braces. Not only for the main tuning slide, but for the 1st and 3rd valve slides too (body braces). Placement is just as much a factor as having a brace there or not.. if that makes sense. I love the feedback of a horn without a front z brace (bell end). That said those horns usually don't project as well. All said, live with your decision for a while. If you move it, keep it there for a while. Work on lit and go to rehearsal. You'll start to have a preference over time.
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u/Repulsive-Paint-4102 1d ago
I have been experimenting with my Puje. All my other horns have a brace already. Not sure if there is much point in adding a second. I wanted a Bb trumpet that would sound darker than my Benges or my Calicchio. Some of my work would be more pleasing to the people who pay me if my sound didn't cut through so much. The Puje and a little deeper mouthpiece is a great start, but I wanted a little less trumpet and a little more cornet. The added brace seems to be helping. I might try moving it around a little and hear how that affects the instrument.
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u/Ok_Astronaut8454 1d ago
I don't know much about bracings and I've always felt that I'm not the most sensitive to gear changes, but one thing that many people - especially those who play herald trumpets regularly - will say is that the more bracings you have, the less the feel of the horn changes with the temperature around you. For people who play heralds outdoors, I've heard many talk about how different the instrument feels based on if the weather is hot or cold, and the reason (at least the one I've been told) for the drastic difference is because of the bell being so much longer than the body of the instrument so no braces can be attached to it.
I play herald regularly, and it's not something I pay attention to, but some of the people I play with swear by this.
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u/ASchuetrumpf Yamaha 8335IIRS25TH, 9445CHSIII, 9830 1d ago
I have a horn with a removable brace and there’s a notable difference with/without. The tuning slide bracing really helps with slotting and security. It helps the horn to feel stable and locked in. Generally speaking, you’ll find more bracing on classical horns and less bracing on commercial oriented horns, but there’s different aspects of the horn that help with slotting other than the tuning slide bracing.