Polytonal Tuning Slide in situ

Custom Tuning Slide Inserts kit

Victor E. Burguess of NiViBri Inventors writes with news of two new patented devices for trumpet, the Polytonal Tuning Slide and the Custom Tuning Slide Inserts. He also describes the family effort that went into creating these inventions:

"The Polytonal Tuning Slide (PTTS) idea came from my daughter Nicole (Ni), 20, a gifted student and experienced musician, watching her Dad playing in recital and his having to change trumpets for pieces that required different pitched, toned, instruments: Bb, C, D or Piccolo. She said, "Dad, can’t you make a trumpet that would play in more than one Key"? I figured I could. My son Victor (Vi), 16, also a trumpeter, showed true gifts in the design and was instrumental, and quite skilled, in the use of soldering tips and torches for the specific creation and correcting leaks in the 21 soldering joints found in the prototype. My other daughter Brigitta (Bri), 14, a talented French Horn player, was able to show how the rotary valve operates on that instrument for changing key from F to Bb. Yes, we are a musical bunch – Victor Burguess (Dad) having played the Trumpet for more than 40 years, studying with Roger Voisin, Armando Ghitalla, Rolf Smedvig, Peter Chapman, Al DiPietro, Ramon Parcells ... and also studying Music Education, BME, 1980 from BU, physics, and the acoustical properties of music, five years as Director of Music, grades 7-12, and their Mom is a gifted and talented violinist.

Polytonal Tuning Slide (PTTS) US Patent no. 60/665,443- 03/25/05 for Bach trumpets

"Even without a lengthy dissertation on fixed length instruments, sound waves, just intonation and physics you should be very aware that it is impossible for a trumpet to play every pitch, in every key, in tune. The C trumpet, in particular, has numerous "bad" pitches in its inherent compromise of length. D-5, Eb-5, E-5, B-5, and C-6 often sound low (flat) and C#-4, D-4, F#-5, G#-5, A-5, and C#-5 sound high (sharp).

"By inserting a rotary valve into the removable (and interchangeable) tuning slide, we created the ability to play a trumpet that is now in two keys, both C and Bb (or D and C, or Eb and D) and to switch between them even while playing. This removable device does not mount to your trumpet, and does not change the tone, response, projection etc. that you have now. It is also capable of ½ step lowering (by changing to the shorter slide) and is operated by a short throw, fully adjustable trigger for the right or left thumb. It can be used at any time. Transposition is enhanced and intonation is dramatically improved. e.g. a (painfully) flat concert Eb-5, played 2 or 2 and 3, becomes concert Eb-5 played thumb and first valve, in tune, with ease!

"The only similar patent was by Charles G. Conn, in the early 1900s, was only Bb/A, and was not operational while playing. The need does exist and talented Trumpeters may also remember the Tottle D/C made for Ghitalla or the C/D made for Voisin. These are similar concepts that saw great success in the principal chair of the Boston Symphony Orchestra.

"This is a custom-built device and is priced in the $700.00 range depending on what trumpet it is made for, C, 25H, 25A, 25S, RL, D, Eb, and silver, gold etc. That’s thousands less than buying a new trumpet and taking it in to be "converted", even if you could find someone to do it.

Custom Tuning Slide Inserts kit, US Patent No. 60/696,759 - 07/05/05 for Bach 25, 37, 43, 72, RL, MLV, C, D, Eb, Rotary and Cornet and Yamaha Xeno and Mark II trumpets. .508 and .507 O.D. respectively (more sizes coming too)

"Through our work on the PTTS, we realized that any and all gaps in the tubing must be eliminated. Victor thought this ridiculous, stating, "Why close up all these when as soon as you put it in the trumpet, you will have to pull it out to play in tune and make ¾" gaps in the upper and lower tubing?" The problem here is that these gaps create back pressure, air turbulence and strain effecting our intonation, playability, tone, projection and endurance. A number of concepts have come along to address this, for example, Schilke tunable bell, reverse tuning slides, 25A, 25H, 25S, Vindabona, etc, but no matter the manufacturer or how high the cost, as soon as we play it, we have to pull out the tuning slide to be in tune and this opens these gaps. To fix this we invented, and patented, the Custom Tuning Slide Inserts kit. Simply, these are 6 small pieces of actual, factory, easily removable, tuning slide tube. Two at ½", two at 3/8" and two at ¼". You select the lengths you need to fill the gaps showing on your trumpet and the selected pieces are inserted ahead of the tuning slide, (or in it for RLs) to close the gaps. Currently available on E-Bay at $39.99, plus shipping. Money back guaranteed too.

"Through the support, encouragement and help of several fine trumpet manufacturers and repair technicians, Pettifor, Kanstul, Harrelson, M/K Drawing and Bending, Bach, Yamaha, Conn, the Trumpet Herald, E-Bay, and the testing/trials by Ramon Parcells, we have, in just months from patent receipt, been able to bring these to you!

"These patents can be seen on eBay, at the NiViBri Store, and the inserts will soon be carried by Harrelsontrumpets.com and Woodwind & BrassWind at www.wwbw.com as a "Custom Select" line. Please view these sites and their fine products. Jason Harrelson is also reviewing the PTTS for the design and manufacture of a complete trumpet utilizing both of these products.

"Trumpeters are responding very well to these inserts and have commented on the immediate and noticeable improvement as is documented in our Feedback. Store inquiries are welcome. For any questions please email victoredburguess@aol.com."

Update: NiViBri adds, "Recently, we have received the first sets of lightweight tube inserts for Bach ML and L, 37, 43, 72, LR with star on bell and for Yamaha, ML and L, Bobby Shew and 8310Z. There has been a lot of interest from these lightweight owners so we are responding."

Links:
NiViBri eBay Store - Polytonal Tuning Slide
NiViBri eBay Store - Custom Tuning Slide Inserts kit

Update: amended stockists list and lightweight trumpet inserts 28th January 2006.