navigating the True Tone LH table keys

[max]

I'm still loving life with my new TT soprano! :D

The one thing that I am having a spot of trouble with is the LH table keys. How do you cleanly play from Bb<->Db?

I also have some trouble getting between B<->C#, but it's much easier, and I think I'll get that down soon enough...

[Dave Dolson]

max: Your little finger should be able to slide across the rollers, although there is no roller for Bb to C#. Both of my TT sops (233 and 237xxx) have rollers on all of the LH table keys (except for the aforementioned change).

I'm not sure about earlier TTs, but if they don't have rollers, then your finger can slide across the metal-work. I dunno, I guess I'm just used to it. Good luck. DAVE

[max]

Mine is a 232xxx and has the rollers.

Sliding from C# to B is easy and I can do it cleanly - the B plate is even with the C# plate when it's down, so it's just a matter of popping over there. Getting back to C# from B is harder, since when the B plate is down, the C# plate isn't, and it's higher to start with. I'm learning to work with it; it'll probably just take some time.

The real issue is that the Bb plate is only under the B plate and not the C#, so getting to it requires either playing a quick B on the way, or getting a little C natural in there as I try to bridge the gap.

Does that make sense? :?

[Bootman]

Get your tech to adjust the heights of these table keys so that the are flat or slightly angled so that it is easier to get from one to the other. Itis a simple fix and then it requires some practise. It gets much easier the mor eyou grow accustomed to these keys.

[Dave Dolson]

Max: Makes sense to me . . . but it has not been a problem for me. I guess I must have mastered it without thinking too much about it.

However, Bootman makes a good point. Maybe the levers need to be evened out if somehow they'd been bent or tampered with over the years. DAVE

[max]

I just picked it up and tried it again - the hard thing is getting back up to the C# - going from C# to either of them is fine. Maybe a tweak is all it needs.

[Bootman]

If you lift the pinky as you slide then this makes life a lot easier when going from C# to Bb or B. Get the angle sorted out of these keys and the playability of these notes improves dramatically.

[MusicMedic]

I have had a lot of luck stepping the LH pinky keys on Bueschers. This is not how they came from the factory but it sure makes the action feel smoother. The whole process is difficult and takes a good amount of time to get the feel right but It's worth it in end.

I usually set the C# higher then the Bnat, then have the low Bb further back. This takes some bending and a lot of removing and replacing keys. Once everything is set, the 'cork' on the G# tab needs to be set up.
I use a very firm material that is also used for cooling systems on some trucks. As you can imagine, the low C# and B Keys don't hit the G# tab like they used to so one level piece of material will no longer cut it.

I sand the material to match the new curve of the table keys. Then I put on a thin layer of Ultra-Suede (to reduce key noise) and cover that with a very thin layer of Teflon (to reduce friction). This system works like a charm. When folks try it they say...."Ohh. can you set mine up like that..."

I'm doing a Buescher Aristocrat Alto here shortly. If anyone wants pictures of what I'm talking about, I will send'em. Curt@MusicMedic.com

[Bootman]

I would love to see these pics.

[max]

me too (just sent e-mail).

[MusicMedic]

I just got a bunch of Emails from people who want to see those LH keys so, I'll put some pictures up here when I get it going.

[MusicMedic]

Ok, I spent some time today working on this wonderful Aristocrat.

I think the LH table is nearly the way I like. I took pics along the way, so here goes.

First I put the Gasket material on and sanded it to my liking. -have to take into consideration the Low C# movement and the G#.
Here is a picture of the material after it's sanded from the side.
Note that there's more on the Right side (C# side) than the left.
http://www.musicmedic.com/bueschertemp/lhtable/lh1.jpg

Then I covered that with the Ultra Suede. This is the thinest Ultra-Suede I can find.
Here's a shot from the front. Note that the Rollers have indentions to fall into.
http://www.musicmedic.com/bueschertemp/lhtable/lh2.jpg
Here's a side shot of that.
http://www.musicmedic.com/bueschertemp/lhtable/lh2a.jpg

I put the Key on the horn and double check that it's working OK. Make sure that the Teflon over the Ultra-Suede will not be too thick. This pic has the G# key pressed so you can see the LH Table keys are stacked.

http://www.musicmedic.com/bueschertemp/lhtable/lh3.jpg

Here I took the Key off and added the Teflon sheeting.
http://www.musicmedic.com/bueschertemp/lhtable/lh4.jpg

Here is the Key back on but with the G# pressed.

All in all it's not that much to look at. It does take a good deal of time to do this sort of adjustment however. When it's done it's all worth it.