Re: Length of backbore

Posted by John on May 11, 2008 in reply to Length of backbore.:

The backbore may be a little more complex than that. If all tapers were the same and consistent then you would be correct if all shanks and throat entrances were the same. However, length of throat entrances can differ between makers. And backbores all being the same length can differ in average taper, and begining and ending tapers.
Example:
Mouthpiece A has an average taper of .080
Mouthpiece B has an average taper of .080
Both mouthpieces have a given length of "X", both are the same.
However:
If Mouthpiece A has a begining taper that is greater or sharper in the begining and the ending taper is less the mouthpiece will have less blow resistance and fewer upper partials in the sound.
If Mouthpiece B has a less intense, or less acute taper in the begining and then larger at the end there will be more blow resistance and more upper partials in the sound.
So by just changing the begining and ending taper with the average taper staying the same we have changed the tone quality being produced and our sounds will be different out the end of the horn.
If both tapers are exactly alike in taper and the only difference is length I believe you will find the longer backbore will play flater in relation to the shorter backbore and the shorter backbore will play sharper. With the understanding that all other aspects are the same.

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