Leadpipe replacement...maybe?
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Dan Schultz
- TubaTinker
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Re: Leadpipe replacement...maybe?
There's enough difference between the 'regular' shank and a 'European' shank that there would be an obvious problem other than just a bit of 'wobbling'. You probably have either a mouthpiece shank or a receiver that is a bit out of round. Either one can be corrected easily by most any repairman.
Dan Schultz
"The Village Tinker"
http://www.thevillagetinker.com" target="_blank
Current 'stable'... Rudolf Meinl 5/4, Marzan (by Willson) euph, King 2341, Alphorn, and other strange stuff.
"The Village Tinker"
http://www.thevillagetinker.com" target="_blank
Current 'stable'... Rudolf Meinl 5/4, Marzan (by Willson) euph, King 2341, Alphorn, and other strange stuff.
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Doug Elliott
- pro musician
- Posts: 613
- Joined: Wed Nov 12, 2008 8:59 pm
Re: Leadpipe replacement...maybe?
In my 25+ years making mouthpieces, I have been shocked at how very many tubas have receivers that have either completely the wrong taper or no taper at all. The past few years have shown a big improvement in manufacturing consistency, but there are an awful lot of older tubas with receivers made by that well-known company, FUBAR.
Out-of-round is certainly possible, but that's not the problem I've seen most often.
The receiver-to-leadpipe fit seems to come in three different flavors:
Smooth transition - the mouthpiece actually fits into the flared end of the leadpipe itself, or a separate receiver is attached with a smooth tapered bore that matches the beginning of the leadpipe. This is the way almost all trombones are made, with the mouthpiece going into the leadpipe itself.
The receiver is larger than the beginning of the leadpipe, so that the mouthpiece might actually stop against the leadpipe, or there would be a gap of various sizes depending on the taper of the mouthpiece shank. This is the way trumpets are made.
The receiver is smaller than the beginning of the leadpipe. A lot of PT models are this way. This is mechanically forgiving - almost any mouthpiece will go in it.
It would be nice if the receiver's taper matched at least one of the standard mouthpiece tapers. But that's often not the case.
Depending on how yours is made, you might be able to replace just the receiver.
Out-of-round is certainly possible, but that's not the problem I've seen most often.
The receiver-to-leadpipe fit seems to come in three different flavors:
Smooth transition - the mouthpiece actually fits into the flared end of the leadpipe itself, or a separate receiver is attached with a smooth tapered bore that matches the beginning of the leadpipe. This is the way almost all trombones are made, with the mouthpiece going into the leadpipe itself.
The receiver is larger than the beginning of the leadpipe, so that the mouthpiece might actually stop against the leadpipe, or there would be a gap of various sizes depending on the taper of the mouthpiece shank. This is the way trumpets are made.
The receiver is smaller than the beginning of the leadpipe. A lot of PT models are this way. This is mechanically forgiving - almost any mouthpiece will go in it.
It would be nice if the receiver's taper matched at least one of the standard mouthpiece tapers. But that's often not the case.
Depending on how yours is made, you might be able to replace just the receiver.