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My brass band played last night in very hot and humid conditions - so hot that I couldn't get my horn DOWN far enough to pitch!

I blew my tuning slide out twice while warming up trying to get in tune. I finally had to resort to attempting to blow everything down and just hope that I wasn't too obnoxiously sharp

Why are the smaller instruments not as affected by the conditions as we are?

I know Hetmans makes a grease product for loose slides - can anyone tell me more about that?

FWIW - the band played really well considering the intonation circumstances, but hopefully the rest of the summer schedule won't be as bad

brianggilbert wrote: Why are the smaller instruments not as affected by the conditions as we are?

They pull a little and get a lot and we pull a lot and get little.

Having played in Florida for a summer outside and many years in a row for tours outside in July, I feel for you. If anyone is wondering, it is hot at the sun here in CT now!

I have played a few gigs "on the surface of the sun."

brianggilbert wrote: I couldn't get my horn DOWN far enough to pitch!

What does this mean?

briangilbert wrote: warming up trying to get in tune

And what are you referring to, here?

What is this playing in tune idea? It sounds interesting.

brianggilbert wrote:Why are the smaller instruments not as affected by the conditions as we are?

Oh, they're affected, it's just that they're smaller, so it's a total %'age, and therefore less.

Plus, when the cornet design was worked out, they had to have enough slide to go from the key of Bb to A, and from high to low pitch besides.

If you look, they have about exactly as much slide as you do.

You've got so much more brass and air volume that you'd need about 4 times the slide just to equal what they have, and you're THAT much more affected.

Besides, they're cornet players, so they NEED automatic transmission....

brianggilbert wrote:<Snip>
I know Hetmans makes a grease product for loose slides - can anyone tell me more about that?

Hetman-7 Slide Gel works very well for me. It's heavy and I don't have any slides falling out (like I did when I tried 'Super Lube'). Just today I got the last one that Hickey's Music had in stock, but they're getting more.

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But there are even thicker lubes if you need it. See this link and scroll down to the Hetman Slide gel section:

http://www.hickeys.com/cgi/display.cgi? ... brlube.htm

When I tried the 'Super Lube', it worked okay, but after a time -- I noticed beeds of condensation forming on top of the lube. So the seal wasn't as tight as I preferred. Also, my second and fourth slide started to fall out.

I don't want to be that guy....




BUT what pitch? If it is a brass band, were you employing pitched percussion or something? I guess I want to know why you even had to lower it to pitch.




I've played in several brass band, drum corps, and brass quintet settings where (because of the temperature) we played extremely sharp. Some brass quintets even choose to play with their slides all the way in. It should be relative to the ensemble, not to some number that isn't perfect or a fit all? (not a pythagorean perfect A "believer")

Adam Peck wrote:You might want to go down to your pharmacy and get some "Pure" Lanolin. It is excellent for use on tuning slides and a tube costs about $2. Just work it on to the tubes until they are lightly coated.

Amen. Doesn't dry out, seamingly lasts forever...

J.c.S.

I know your pain. I once had my slide fall off in the middle of a performance.

I had a little slide extender sleeve fabricated and also a threaded/adjustable catch to keep the whole deal from falling-off.

I played the first-gen Yammie in the Crossmen, but in the Cadets I was sucked onto Euph. Last minute before tour, and I was needed to fill the last spot. Not what I planned but the book and the section was AWESOME!

Zaja also makes a good tacky slide grease with teflon that I use on my slides on my 186 that are not usually pulled as much as the 1st valve, and on the 1st valve I use Ultra-Pure light.

That is the current usage, until something better that isn't much more expensive, or as good but cheaper comes along.