This week I received an additional shim from him for my Schilke. Last year he sent me some custom shims of greater and lessor weight and with the vent holes cut to a diameter the same as Pat Hund puts in his weighted caps.
Through trial and much error I ended up very satisfied with a combination including: Curry CCap + heavy shim with "Schilke" size vent hole, on my third valve.
During the past few months I have returned to my 1976 Schilke hardware without the Schilke heavy caps. The sound to my ear is more musical and not a "thuddy."
However I experience a lack of resistance from the third valve -the one responsible for projection into the room. The new shim came from Mark a day or two ago and when I place it in my third valve standard Schilke cap the sound came alive. The resistance balanced up in the horn as much as if Bob Reeves had just adjusted the valves!
Another compliment is that the usually unstable range between D in the staff and A above the staff, is completely centered, and quite easy to move around in.
Wide slurring is easier and the tone is richer.
Needless to say this is all gR subjective, but the point I am making is that these things will help your playing. Never be afraid to test, try, and emply accessories.
I meet so many players that are trapped in their equipment because it works for them - the question is: Does it work optimally or sufficiently?
