The difference in timbre caused by using additional valves
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@rowuk I will be around 5-15 August and would love to see you. My Gutenstein dates are the week of the 21st.
Ivan Hunter
Player, Designer, Builder, Writer, Teacher, Repairer
Jaeger Trumpets
Convener of Trumpet4Fun Trumpet Saturdays -
@trumpetsplus In reply to the OP. Yes there is a timbre difference using valves; this helps me, when listening to recordings, identify what notes are being played - i.e. is it an A on a Bb trumpet or a G on a C trumpet.
About C trumpet intonation (mentioned earlier in this thread), pushing my barrow slightly, when I build a C trumpet I have slightly different length proportions before and after the valve block, plus some additional in-house decisions on the lead pipe. Jeff Christiana, when he was the big honcho for Bach trumpets was astounded at the playability and intonation of my C trumpets.
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We can hear the timbre changes if we cup one ear and play a scale.
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@vulgano-brother said in The difference in timbre caused by using additional valves:
We can hear the timbre changes if we cup one ear and play a scale.
That is internal feedback but I am sure others hear it differently. I also get this effect when I have sinus congestion, which in Ohio is a lot of the time.
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@j-jericho said in The difference in timbre caused by using additional valves:
I hear timbre and intonation changes with different valve combinations, but the timbre changes aren't enough to sound like a different horn. I just write the phenomenon off to "nature of the beast".
This matches my experience.
The clearest example might be between F# in first space of the system. Easy enough to alternate between a 2 and a "123+trigger" and get the same note at the same pitch. In this experirement I hear a clear timbre difference. That said, I would not really consider using 123 for making music.
So, add my vote to "yes I can hear it but does it matter".
As for why it happens, Rowuk's summary really says it all -- I'd only add that bit about the number of sharp turns that you mentioned yourself, @Trumpetb:
The change in timbre is based on the cylindrical to tapered proportions as well as the specific partial being played.
Many modern piston trumpets have been homogenised for a generally even tone.When it comes to cornets, I believe there are differences that affect the timbre more than the number of sharp/smooth turns. Notably the length of the leadpipe taper, before going into the cylindrical valve block, as well as the ratio between the narrowest diameter of the mouthpiece and the bell radius.
