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leadpipe

{{Short description|Part of a brass instrument that receives the mouthpiece}}

{{about|the component of brass musical instruments|the type of plumbing|Lead pipe}}

Image:Trumpet piccolo.jpg in B{{music|flat}}, with swappable leadpipes to tune the instrument to B{{music|flat}} (shorter) or A (longer).]]

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| Basic trombone anatomy

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#tuning slide

  1. counterweight
  2. mouthpiece
  3. slide lock ring
  4. bell
  5. knob/bumper
  6. water key/spit valve
  7. main slide
  8. second slide brace/stay
  9. first slide brace/stay
  10. bell lock nut

File:French Horn back.svg (view from underneath). #2: Leadpipe.]]

In a brass instrument, a leadpipe or mouthpipe is the pipe or tube into which the mouthpiece is placed.

For example, on the illustration of a trombone, the leadpipe would be between #3 and #4, the mouthpiece and the slide lock ring. In the illustration of a French horn, the leadpipe is #2.

Detachable leadpipes

Most leadpipes are permanently fixed in the instrument, though aftermarket changes, usually carried out by a repairer, are quite common.{{cite web|title=Najoom Trumpet Leadpipes|url=http://www.najoom.com/leadpipes.htm|publisher=Dennis Najoom|accessdate=17 December 2012}} Some instruments have a detachable leadpipe to allow changing key; to permit the player to easily select different playing and tonal characteristics;{{cite web|title=Smith-Watkins B-flat Trumpet Leadpipes|url=http://www.smithwatkins.com/library/science/b-flat-trumpet-leadpipes.html|publisher=Smith-Watkins|accessdate=16 December 2012}} or simply to act as the instrument's main tuning slide where the shape, or other design issues, make this the best place for it. The use of the leadpipe as the main tuning slide is particularly common in flugelhorns and piccolo trumpets though not unknown in other instruments. For example, in the Selmer piccolo trumpet in the photograph, the leadpipes are used for all three functions: the aftermarket Blackburn pipes shown have different playing characteristics from those of the stock Selmer pipe;{{cite web|title=Piccolo Leadpipes (Flash page: please click through for the product list)|url=http://www.blackburntrumpets.com/products.html|publisher=Blackburn Trumpets|accessdate=17 December 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130509184652/http://www.blackburntrumpets.com/products.html|archive-date=9 May 2013|url-status=dead}} the choice of leadpipe determines whether the instrument is in A or B{{music|flat}}; it is also the main tuning slide.

See also

References

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Category:Brass instrument parts and accessories

{{Brass instruments}}

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