Claude Gordon Brass Camp 1987 - Tedd Waggoner on Claude Gordon Selmer Trumpet Construction

Transcript Summary

Overview

This Claude Gordon Brass Camp 1987 session discusses brass instrument manufacturing, with emphasis on trumpet construction and how physical design choices affect sound, response, durability, and cost. The talk covers bell construction, soldering, annealing, bore size, bell and mouthpiece influence, lacquer, tapers, and practical care issues such as avoiding residue from drinks entering the horn.

Key Teaching Points

• Many construction principles apply across brass instruments, not only trumpets and cornets.
• A student-model trumpet bell may be made by splicing or soldering a bell flare onto a stem, which is less expensive than other construction methods.
• In acoustic instruments, construction details can affect vibration, resonance, and sound quality.
• The annealing process is used because parts of the brass become very thin during manufacturing.
• The bell and mouthpiece have a major influence on the player’s sound.
• Players seeking a brighter or darker sound may change the mouthpiece setup, the bell, or both.
• Mouthpiece variables mentioned include cup and backbore.
• Bore size terms such as medium-large and large bore refer to very small measurement differences, described as only thousandths of an inch.
• There are many variables in trumpet construction, making simple claims about “darker” or “brighter” sound unreliable without context.
• Lacquering is described as a sprayed-on finish, compared to spraying a car.
• Tapers are a major factor in changing the sound and response of a trumpet.
• The trumpet begins with taper-related design elements, including the mouthpiece cup.
• Students are warned not to drink soda and then blow residue into the horn without cleaning it.

Topics Covered

• Brass instrument manufacturing
• Trumpet and cornet construction
• Trombone construction principles
• Bell flare construction
• Splicing and soldering
• Student instrument design and manufacturing cost
• Bell stem and bell flare assembly
• Annealing brass
• Trim saw or cutter use in bell making
• Bell pattern cutting
• Sculpturing process
• Brass material, soldering materials, and flux
• Bell thickness
• Bell and mouthpiece influence on sound
• Mouthpiece cup and backbore
• Brighter and darker sound concepts
• Bell rings and bell design differences
• Copper pieces used inside port holes
• Balling tool process
• Medium-large bore and large-bore terminology
• Small measurement differences in bore size
• Instrument cleaning and avoiding residue from soda
• Lacquer finish
• Trumpet tapers
• Mouthpiece cup taper

People and Sources Mentioned

• Tedd Waggoner - primary lecturer on brass instrument manufacturing and Selmer/Bach trumpet construction
• Claude Gordon Brass Camp 1987
• Claude Gordon - brief opening and closing speaker
• Selmer trumpet construction
• Dominic Collichio - custom trumpet builder mentioned by Claude Gordon near the end of the session
• Daniel - participant addressed during the bore-size discussion

Student Practice Applications

• Listen critically to how different bells and mouthpieces affect your sound, especially brightness, darkness, and response.
• Understand that changing a mouthpiece cup or backbore can alter tone, but it should be done with awareness of the whole instrument setup.
• Avoid assuming that one finish, bore size, or bell type automatically produces a specific sound; many construction variables interact.
• Learn what bore size terms mean, but remember that the differences may be very small and should be judged by playing results.
• Keep the trumpet clean, especially if you have consumed soda or anything that could leave residue in the horn.
• Recognize that student instruments may be built with cost-saving construction methods, which can affect how the instrument plays and resonates.
• Pay attention to tapers throughout the trumpet and mouthpiece, since taper design strongly influences sound and response.
• When evaluating instruments, consider bell construction, mouthpiece setup, bore size, lacquer, and overall design rather than judging by one feature alone.