Re: Leadpipes


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Posted by C(G) on March 04, 2004 at 16:33:22:

In Reply to: Leadpipes posted by Flat Bob on March 04, 2004 at 14:17:42:

The only times one would want to cut a leadpipe shorter when cutting a BBb to CC would be (a) if the bell on the cut instrument were smaller than the original or (b) if a 5th valve was to be inserted into the leadpipe. Cutting a leadpipe is one of the last things one would want to do otherwise.

Consider this: If I need to take an inch of tubing out of the horn, I'd have to take a full inch from the leadpipe (and retaper it) or only a half-inch from each side of the tuning slide or large bows.

Leadpipes are made by taking a larger piece of tubing, and annealing it dead soft. Then a tapered mandrel, corresponding to the inside shape of the leadpipe is placed inside the tubing, the front end of the tubing is then "necked down" to fit through a draw plate and the combination of tubing and mandrel is pulled through the drawplate (which is usually a piece of fairly thin metal, so the drawing holde will expand) on a drawbench. The mandrel is removed from the tubing and you have your leadppipe.

Custom leadpipes start by custom-machining a mandrel, so they're not cheap. But there are a few shops around that have the necessary equipment and a selection of mandrels to make leadpipes.

However, most of the guys who "cut" BBb tubas simply use one of the stock replacement leadpipes.


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