Originally posted January 7, 2004

Wherein our Hero ponders leadpipes- Part, the First
For the longest time, I've been using the #2 pipe that came with my YSL691 (.508 bore, straight tenor). At Christmas, I got this urge to switch to the #3 pipe, and have noticed some changes. The first is that the tone is a little mellower, darker. I can play a little bit louder before it gets totally nasty. These are good things, to be sure! I had tried this pipe when I was still playing trombone with the Westchester Band, and Ed Aim, the 3rd trombonist, didn't notice that I was using the 691 until the next to last concert. He thought that I had been using my 682 (.547 bore, with F attachment), because it sounded that dark and big. The smaller horn was definitely a lot less work; the band has about 15 trumpets, and only 3 trombones, so dynamics for the trombones were kicked up at least one notch to balance with the trumpets. The #3 pipe also seems to fit in better in the Iona College Pep Band. This group has NO students, all local pros. 4 trumpets, 3-4 bones, electric bass, and drums. Most are using small bore horns, like King 2B's 3B's, Conn 6H's, Bach 16's and 36's. Just something about the overtones with the #3 gets the chords ringing in a way they didn't with the #2. I'll see how it fits in this rehearsal band I do on Wednesday nights, once they start up again. I play lead, so it may or may not work. We shall see... Negative things I've noticed are that the horn's intonation and slotting are totally different from the way it played with the #2. I have to tongue a little harder to get the same point at the start of a note. It has a little more resistance, so that I have to adjust the amount of air I put into it. To give it a fair trial, I'll probably have to play on this pipe for another couple of months. After all, I've been playing the #2 almost exclusively since I got the horn, about 4 years ago. As I get used to it, the intonation and slotting will be less of an issue, I'm sure.