Posted by Joseph Felton on March 30, 1999 at 01:57:14:
In Reply to: Kalison leadpipes posted by BK on March 27, 1999 at 13:50:13:
To quote the owner of VMI, B&S, and Melton(I can't recall his name).. from an instrument makers point of view there are three aspects that they can affect: Sound, Intonation, and Response. The key is to find an instrument that has an appropriate balance of these traits. All horns are a compromise in some fashion. I *think*, based on discussions and trying the alternate leadpipe on my B&S F tuba, that the early taper in an instrument can have the most profound influence on the sound, intonation, and response. As far as what a larger or smaller leadpipe will do to an instrument.. I'll leave that to the instrument designers. Although, based on what I've seen, they *really* don't know all that much.. too many variables to make concrete statements about such things. Also, don't forget that the mouthpiece has a tremendous affect on those variables.
cheers!
joseph