Opening up the chamber on a Custom?

[MPL]

I'm trying out a #5 Custom Spoiler but I can't play it in tune at all...it's around +20 cents from the bottom to the top of my Martin Committee baritone, and I suspect the chamber is too small for the horn. But I like the ease of blowing this mouthpiece, and that spoiler really does give the horn a little extra oomph.

So can the chamber on one of these be opened up enough to play more in tune on my horn? Who can do it?

[Charlie A.]

It is quite possible that your tip opening may be too close.
I would suggest that you call Runyon products at 1 800 624 1729 and ask about this. They will work on it for you or you may have a local tech to use.

Charlie A.
www.gigdust.com

[The Martin]

MPL

The whole horn is 20+, on all tones :?:

Sounds like you pushed it on to far, try pulling the mpc out, use a bit of paper if the bore of the shank is to big......

[MPL]

That sharpness was with the Custom practically hanging off the end of the neck! Intonation on this horn has never been an issue with my Meyer 5, and I prefer not to wrap the neck if I can help it.

Leroy at Runyon is going to work on it for me. We'll see if that does the trick!

[mark_m]

Santy extended an 88 for me by about 3/4", for my The Martin bari. This plays in tune. I have a Custom also, and it's sharp all over the horn, plays about right if it's hanging on by 1/2", same story (and not the first time I've heard it!) The only drawback to the extension is it's a bit long altogether by that point; better than sharp though.

I asked Jody about trying to enlarge the chamber on a Custom; he wasn't too keen on the idea...

[MojoBari]

What did Santy use to extend the 88?

[mark_m]

Sorry, just noticed this question.

He (or Leroy) cut off about 3/4" of a shank from another 88 and gr`fted it on. Not a perfect job but definitely helped. Makes a pretty long piece!

I'd still be real interested in a custom with a larger chamber. I knocked down the baffle in the elongated 88 to get a bit more effective volume so the baffle's a little more like a custom than an 88. That is to say the baffle rolls down to the chamber instead of the cliff that the 88 has. This actually helped the playing of the piece for me, although it's a sloppy job - I didn't have the right tools to really clean up the work.

[MojoBari]

I can probably help you with the chamber work. Let's discuss it. kwbradbury@yahoo.com

[Mike Ruhl]

I've often wondered what the effect would be if you took a Dremel to the side walls of a tenor Custom, and scooped them up from the back, kinda like a Guardala. First, I gotta get me another Custom, then a Dremel...