Posted by K on May 18, 2003 at 10:51:57:
In Reply to: Re: Helicon Help Needed posted by JohnD on May 18, 2003 at 10:30:15:
Let me be a bit rough. With a roughness once applied to myself, when I wanted to modify the pitch of a new instrument. A capacity asked: How many hours have you invested in this instrument? The true pitch is there, but you have to find it.And it I found it after doing the due amount of wood-shedding.
There are no indications, that Weltklang instruments were built to anything but A being in the 440 to 442 area.
I have no idea whether one or more standard Conn or King sousaphone bits would be applicable or if they would remedy the situation. But I certainly would go that way, before I would allow the structure of the instrument to be altered.
You may come from a smaller instrument easier to fill. You may use a mouthpiece too small for this helicon. You may come from a flattish instrument, so that all of your default technique is geared towards bringing up the general pitch.
My motto would be, that ears, brains, nerves, muscles, and lungs are more adaptable, than are brass tubings.
My gallery has several samples of central European helicons.
Klaus Bjerre
Retired teacher
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