Small bore versus large bore

Trhtrbn · by **Trhtrbn** » 2023-12-14 12:22 p.m.

I have a Yamaha YSL-3530R that is dual bore,(.500/.525), from Japan. When I play from low Bb, (Not pedal), down to low E my sound is stuffy. When I played the YSL-448G, I did not seem to have this problem. I used to be a tuba player so I am wondering if I need a large bore tenor or is it a mouthpiece issue or is it operator error and I just need to work on it?

hyperbolica · by **hyperbolica** » 2023-12-14 12:28 p.m.

Small bore shouldn't sound that way. There may be a leak in the instrument somewhere. Fill it with water to see where it leaks.

Trhtrbn · by **Trhtrbn** » 2023-12-14 1:20 p.m.

[quote="hyperbolica"]Small bore shouldn't sound that way. There may be a leak in the instrument somewhere. Fill it with water to see where it leaks.[/quote]

Thanks

Trhtrbn · by **Trhtrbn** » 2023-12-14 1:52 p.m.

[quote="Trhtrbn"]<QUOTE author="hyperbolica" post_id="227764" time="1702574903" user_id="104">
Small bore shouldn't sound that way. There may be a leak in the instrument somewhere. Fill it with water to see where it leaks.[/quote]

Thanks
</QUOTE>

Btw, I had the horn overhauled and cleaned by a trusted local professional. Let’s say it is not a leak, could it be something else?

hyperbolica · by **hyperbolica** » 2023-12-14 2:07 p.m.

Did the problem start after the cleaning? If yes, it could just be a bad spit valve cork placement. If no, you might have a crack. In either case, filling it with water might reveal the problem. Could be a bad solder joint, your leadpipe could be corroded or broken, mouthpiece shank out of round, could be a big dent somewhere important, might have some build up somewhere, although you say it has been cleaned.

Is this your horn: <LINK_TEXT text="viewtopic.php?t=32132">https://trombonechat.com/viewtopic.php?t=32132</LINK_TEXT> Did the tech take out some of those big crinkles in the tuning slide? Whatever caused those dents might have also bent/broke something else. The water test is a great place to start finding things you can't see. Like maybe a pin hole in the tuning slide where the tech straightened out those dents....

JohnL · by **JohnL** » 2023-12-14 4:28 p.m.

Get someone else to play the horn and see if they experience the same problem.

Trhtrbn · by **Trhtrbn** » 2023-12-15 1:14 p.m.

[quote="JohnL"]Get someone else to play the horn and see if they experience the same problem.[/quote]

Good idea

Trhtrbn · by **Trhtrbn** » 2023-12-15 1:17 p.m.

[quote="hyperbolica"]Did the problem start after the cleaning? If yes, it could just be a bad spit valve cork placement. If no, you might have a crack. In either case, filling it with water might reveal the problem. Could be a bad solder joint, your leadpipe could be corroded or broken, mouthpiece shank out of round, could be a big dent somewhere important, might have some build up somewhere, although you say it has been cleaned.

Is this your horn: <LINK_TEXT text="viewtopic.php?t=32132">https://trombonechat.com/viewtopic.php?t=32132</LINK_TEXT> Did the tech take out some of those big crinkles in the tuning slide? Whatever caused those dents might have also bent/broke something else. The water test is a great place to start finding things you can't see. Like maybe a pin hole in the tuning slide where the tech straightened out those dents....[/quote]

All dents removed, thorough overhaul, inspection, and cleaning, water key spring and cork replaced and checked out. I will have a friend who has played for many years test it. Thanks.

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Small bore versus large bore