TromboneChat

Has anyone come up with a perfect way to safely carry two or three lead pipes in a gig bag ? I thought a length of plastic pipe might do it but I can't find a succesful way of capping the ends.

Some PVC pipes have threads at the end that actually work perfectly with Shires threads. I got a few of these and cut them to the correct length and then capped the bottom.

Edwards sells a clear acrylic storage tube with fine pitch threads on one end that work for their leadpipes. They were ~$10/ea a couple years ago, but I'm not current on availability and pricing. I couldn't find an equivalent for coarser threads like Shires uses, but I found some tubing from US Plastics that works fairly well (https://www.usplastic.com/catalog/item. ... emid=32512). For tapping the threads, I use 11/16" 32 for Edwards/Getzen and 11/16" 18 for Shires. Spiral point taps (aka "gun" taps) seem to work better than other types. I cap the other end with these (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08HHSZ1V3). If you have press fit pipes or don't want to tap threads, you could probably just hold the pipe in place with those vinyl caps, as the fit is pretty tight. I haven't tried those particular vinyl caps on 1/2" pvc, but just looking at specs (1/2" sched. 40 OD = .840"), the 22mm caps should work. I'll see if I have a bit laying around that I can try one on to confirm.

I got a 5-foot long piece of the gray plastic electrical conduit at Lowes, cut it up into pieces that are about 9 inches long, and got a bunch of 3/4" diameter rubber "leg tips" for the end caps. Done.

The press fit pipes fit into these storage tubes and seat on the rim. For the threaded ones, the threaded section seats on the rim, but the end caps still fit nicely over them. I thought of widening out the tops so the threaded section would seat inside the pipe, but then decided it was silly to go to that length. These are easy to use, dirt cheap, and are VERY protective.

I purchased a few of these from DAC music in Japan. Each carries three pipes.

https://www.kkdac.co.jp/item/trombone/a ... etail/187/

They can also be purchased through Yahoo Japan Auction as well if you have an account or use Buyee. With the conversion it’s just over $10 US + whatever shipping fees incurred.

https://store.shopping.yahoo.co.jp/kkdac/10001313.html

Thank you all for your replies and solutions.

HawaiiTromboneGuy wrote: Wed Oct 29, 2025 9:24 pm I purchased a few of these from DAC music in Japan. Each carries three pipes.

https://www.kkdac.co.jp/item/trombone/a ... etail/187/

They can also be purchased through Yahoo Japan Auction as well if you have an account or use Buyee. With the conversion it’s just over $10 US + whatever shipping fees incurred.

https://store.shopping.yahoo.co.jp/kkdac/10001313.html

This looks handy but maybe not very protective? Is there some sort of hard surface that surrounds the pipes?

RE: the pouch that HawaiiTromboneGuy has suggested…

1) if you’re comfortable carrying your horn in a gig bag, your lead pipes would be, at least, as protected as your horn.

2) my MB case for large tenor has a pouch for 1 extra lead pipe that snaps to the interior of the case. If you unsnapped and removed the single pouch, I’d guess that the triple pouch could fit in the same space or, possibly, could be Velcro-ed against the interior shell elsewhere in the case. Just a thought.

Are any of you changing leadpipes mid-rehearsal or performance?

JTeagarden wrote: Sat Nov 01, 2025 6:47 pm Are any of you changing leadpipes mid-rehearsal or pereformance?

No. I use the same leadpipe that will do the job 90% of the time and use it 100% of rehearsal time and during performances. For me the trick is trying different leadpipes and mouthpieces on all of my horns until I find what is giving me a tone and response I am happy with. I have a Shires bass with a gold bell, dual bore slide and #2 leadpipe that is darker. That setup with the proper mouthpiece pretty much stays that way and I use it when I need a darker sound.

My "daily driver" Shires has a yellow bell, straight .562 slide and #1 leadpipe. This is versatile for ME because I can use it for about 90% of the groups I play in. I also have an inline bass (yup, Shires) that is one of the earlier Massachusetts bells that really pops in big band work. Don't remember which leadpipe is in it but which ever one I chose to keep with that horn does what I like in a more commercial setting.

I know a guy who would change leadpipes, during performance, even change several times during a concert and it seemed pointless. Couldn't hear a difference in his sound.

I like to fuss with gear as much as anyone, as the number of mods by John Sandhagen, Eric Edwards, and Scott Sweeney in recent months attests to: I have Noah Gladstone on speed-dial...

But while I have had horns that came with multiple leadpipes, I have always found one to work better than the others in nearly all respects, and even when I revisit my selection later (due to a new mouthpiece, a change in the tuning slide, or utter boredom), it's always the same leadpipe.

UrbanaDave wrote: Fri Oct 31, 2025 5:26 am

HawaiiTromboneGuy wrote: Wed Oct 29, 2025 9:24 pm I purchased a few of these from DAC music in Japan. Each carries three pipes.

https://www.kkdac.co.jp/item/trombone/a ... etail/187/

They can also be purchased through Yahoo Japan Auction as well if you have an account or use Buyee. With the conversion it’s just over $10 US + whatever shipping fees incurred.

https://store.shopping.yahoo.co.jp/kkdac/10001313.html

This looks handy but maybe not very protective? Is there some sort of hard surface that surrounds the pipes?

No hard surface between/surrounding the pipes. I haven’t had any issues yet with anything getting damaged/scratched/scuffed up (horn or pipes) while storing the pipes in it and transporting them around in my gig bag.