Re: "Bows" vs "Branches"


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Posted by Matt Walters on March 05, 2001 at 19:39:51:

In Reply to: "Bows" vs "Branches" posted by Mark in Ohio on March 04, 2001 at 17:48:41:


Steve seems to have the gist of it.
BOW is usually used when refering to a "U" shaped body part whose sides are of approximately equal length. i.e. "the bottom bow".
BRANCH is most often used to express a "J" shaped body part. The top branch on most tubas is like this. Indeed most of the larger, bent and tapered tubing in a tuba's open bugle, would be branches as they are typically "J" shaped.
When there is a seperate piece of tapered tubing between 2 "U" shaped bows, then that part is recognized as the branch. i.e. Conn 20J goes bell, bottom bow, 1st branch, top bow, then 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th branches. Which is then followed by a dog leg, main tuning slide, valve section and leadpipe.
A couple manufacturers do start calling the bottom bow the 1st branch, but most call the top branch the first branch. That's the closest thing to standardizing that I can make of it.
Matt


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