The Spit Valve

[Sop]

I love the sound of trumpets..

But any instrument that requires a 'spit valve' could maybe use a bit more fine tweaking.

For hundreds of years the trumpet has been around; at what point did we decide 'nah fuck it, that'll do' and just become okay with a quart of spit sitting inside our instruments?

Now I'm no trumpet technician, nor player. I'm just saying that in the span of 70 odd years. We've gone from silent films to high definition tellies in almost every house in and developed country.


SURELY we must have evolved past the point, in the last however many hundred years, of having the need to manually release spit from our instruments.

 

[DinohScene]

EoF?

Also, mind fixing your font?
It's unreadable on the dark theme.

 

[Sop]

EoF?

Also, mind fixing your font?
It's unreadable on the dark theme.

No, this is a serious topic. I want to know if anyone has thought of a solution to this problem.

Also, what font would you recommend?

 

[DinohScene]

No, this is a serious topic. I want to know if anyone has thought of a solution to this problem.

Also, what font would you recommend?

Meh, I feel it gets derailed quickly and gets moved to the EoF anyway.

Edit your tect with the BB editor and remove the colours.
That should revert everything to the default colours and be readable for both dark and normal theme users.

 

[Nathan Drake]

Because the alternative would be having spit drip down the instrument onto the ground while you play? I mean, really, some things don't leave much room for improvement. The majority of instruments fall into the category of "as complete and improved as it's realistically going to get".

 

[Ethevion]

Make a new design. Add a hose that sucks all the spit into a container that sits beside you. You can thank me when this design makes you millions

 

[Sop]

Because the alternative would be having spit drip down the instrument onto the ground while you play? I mean, really, some things don't leave much room for improvement. The majority of instruments fall into the category of "as complete and improved as it's realistically going to get".

We put a man on the moon yet we can't figure out a way of automatically releasing spit from our instruments without dripping it all over ourselves like toddlers.

 

[FAST6191]

Psst many of the "films" are technically of a higher definition than your TV.

The short version is I can control atoms and electrons with it getting better all the time. The sack of meat that wanders around directing it has not changed in such a way as to be useful to this.

Two options if this is really an issue.
1) Some seriously hydrophilic substance instead. It would be germ city but that is OK, I figure musicians need to be made of sterner stuff.
2) The bagpipe approach or bagpipe approach gone technical. Bagpipes make a sack of air which is used to make sound, you then need some way of making a sack of air. Gone technical does the same thing but probably using a variable blow switch.

 

[DiabloStorm]

No, this is a serious topic. I want to know if anyone has thought of a solution to this problem.

Yeah, it's called computer programs, no spit or physical instruments involved. I'm absolutely sure there's something out there.

 

[Sop]

Yeah, it's called computer programs, no spit or physical instruments involved. I'm absolutely sure there's something out there.

A bad alternative. Synths can never truly replicate the sound of an instrument. And besides, you can't have soul with a synth.

 

[Gahars]

Play the acoustic guitar and wear dark sunglasses with your tweed jacket.

Problem solved, nerd.

 

[FAST6191]

A bad alternative. Synths can never truly replicate the sound of an instrument. And besides, you can't have soul with a synth.

So part 1) just needs more science (or more likely just a bit of random distortion) and part 2) does not exist/is otherwise known as point and laugh at the third rate audiophile.

Hardly insurmountable problems.

 

[marcus134]

releasing spit from our instruments without dripping it all over ourselves like toddlers.

That's actually the point of a spit valve, it allow you to control where and when the spit is released. If it goes everywhere when you do it, it's because you're blowing to much or you're not opening the valve completely.
You can't leave the hole open to let it drip as you play cause it'll affect the sound.
Some way I could see would to design a trumpet in such way that spit would naturally flow toward the bell and then either drip or get projected in front of you, which would cause people to consider the trumpet as a disgusting instrument.

I haven't played some trumpet for years but if I remember well, depending on how much you're salivating, you should be able to get 20-30 min easily without having to empty it, also when it's time to empty it you got some kind feel, I can't really describe it cause it's been too long.

The bagpipe approach or bagpipe approach gone technical. Bagpipes make a sack of air which is used to make sound, you then need some way of making a sack of air. Gone technical does the same thing but probably using a variable blow switch.

that wouldn't work since trumpet don't make sounds by blowing into the mouthpeice, you have to pinch you lips and make them vibrate, and depending on how you pinch you can access different pitch

 

[Plstic]

The spit valves on the tuba are waaay worse than on a trumpet. I sometimes accidentally hit the spit valve when playing and it leaks all over my leg and this is a $15k instrument lol.

 

[Sop]

I don't actually play the trumpet, I like it's sound though. I do play the saxophone which also has a spit valve.

Reason for this thread: People emptying their instruments all over the floor after band practice.