Leadpipes and Tubing

The leadpipe that is used on my custom horn and on my conversions is my own design, not a Geyer or Schmidt copy. My leadpipe produces much smoother slurs, and eveness between the Bb and F horn and greater accuracy in the upper register. The rate of taper on a leadpipe is very important.  The faster the rate of taper is the better the upper register.  Too fast a taper and the horn will have a great high register but a stuffy, resistant low register. Conversely, a slower rate of taper favors the lower register, but makes for a less secure upper register.  I feel that the rate of taper on my leadpipe gives an excellent combination of a clear, well centered upper register and a powerful low register.  A number of people have told me that they have been able to play more repertoire on my double horn and use a descant less often.  I myself have performed as first horn on the Schumann Konzertstuck three times and have never used a descant.

My leadpipes, branches and tubing are all drawn on my own mandrels by Mike Bulow of M/K Drawing.  Mike and I have known each other for many years, going back to our days at the Holton Company.  No one is better at what they do than Mike.  I attribute the consistency of my horns to his unequaled skill at drawing tubing.  MIke has drawn hundreds of leadpipes for me and the venturi is always exactly where it is supposed to be, and the tubing is drawn to the mandrel to exact measurements. I once had pipes drawn by another company and the inside taper was off by .004", giving me a minimum venturi of .312". I was told that I would have to pay extra to have the tubing drawn tighter to the mandrel!