The festive period is the busiest time of the year for meeting up with the people you love. It should be full of fun, music, and great food. One thing you’ll probably hear is brass instruments, including horns and trumpets. But do you know how they work and what makes a great instrument? We want to have a closer look here. Then, if you want to arrange tube swaging for metal tubing, you can rely on us.

How do they work?

Many people think all you need to do to play a brass instrument is blow. However, that’s only part of the job. It’s also important to vibrate the lips. A column of air (known as a lip reed) flows through the tubing, creating a sound wave. Valves or slides can then adjust this to create different notes. The sounds exit through the bell section at the end of the instrument.

There’s a lot to look at here. Players need to think about lip tension, how hard they blow, and the use of the valves or slides. The instrument itself also matters. This includes the size and shape of the mouthpiece. The quality of the tubing, particularly the interior, and the shape of the bell are crucial too.

What makes a great instrument?

The market for brass instruments is really interesting. There are some exceptional names with a long history of creating professional quality products. At the same time, there are cheaper mass produced instruments, many from China. It’s important to think carefully about what you will choose and how they are made. Processes like bending and tube swaging are vital.

The most interesting thing about brass instruments is precision is actually a negative in some cases. It’s possible to mass produce almost any kind of instrument. With CNC machines and tube benders the tubing can be exact every time. However, this means every instrument will have the same sound. Professional players actually don’t want this; they want their own unique sound. This means they need to find the right instrument. Many top names still make instruments by hand to ensure they have individual sounds.

How the tubes fit together is crucial too. The diameter is really important. Bending the tubing and processes like tube swaging can alter it, potentially creating issues when you get to fitting up the instrument. Avoiding this is vital. Many manufacturers will use balling-out dies to get it right.

Critically, the type of brass is also significant. The darker it is, the deeper and heavier the sound will be. Key here is the amount of copper in the alloy. As you increase the amount and reduce the zinc content, you get brighter brasses like yellow, rose, and red.

It’s also essential to keep the gauge of the material in mind. Thicker gauge tubing will make the sound heavier and allow it to project further.

Speak to us about tube swaging

Multiform Tubes Engineering Ltd knows how crucial it is to adapt tubing precisely. It can have a significant impact on key things like the sound of instruments and the performance of industrial systems. We work to deliver the best results for our clients, adapting tube to achieve tight tolerances.

So, if you need tube swaging for brass tubing or other services for different materials, you can rely on us. We’re happy to offer advice too, sharing our massive pool of experience. Get in touch today.