<html> <body> Thanks, Stan. At 11:40 AM 4/13/04, you wrote: <blockquote type=cite class=cite cite>Ron & List, Something came up on the CAUT list today where someone said that trumpets were now being manufactured for A-442. Is this true? Or is it just an option besides A-440? Just wondering. Avery Avery!   First, the difficulty for the designer/manufacturer of any wind instrument is that the player and the player's choice of mouthpiece (and related equipment) has an effect upon pitch that cannot be predicted accurately.  Therefore, if the pitch target is A440, then the instrument must be constructed so as to allow for tuning both above and below--that's why there is a tuning slide.  </blockquote> I agree. That was my point. When an orchestras' pitch gets too much above 442, I would think that wind players would have to have special instruments built. I'm aware of the adjustments available on wind instruments (brass) but it's still limited! One can only push "in" so far! Reeds are even more limited. <blockquote type=cite class=cite cite>If the player needs half an inch of travel in the slide in order to achieve A440, then that had to be built in, or the instrument modified later.  AND, even if the player/instrument interface is neutral, so to speak, if the performance happens to be in an environment where the temperature is below normal room temperature, then the instrument will respond at a lower pitch than normal--so the tuning slide must be pulled in to adjust. </blockquote> I'm not even talking about the humidity thing. I'm just referring to the differences between the pitch levels of various orchestras around the world and how the instrumentalists have to adjust to it. Especially over 442! If a trumpet, for example, is manufactured for A-440 (give or take), my assumption is that to play in an orchestra who's pitch level is 445 (for example), that player might have to have a different instrument manufactured so he could deal with that pitch level! Am I wrong? I used to play bassoon and there's no way that I could tune to a level like that without a specially made reed/bocal and/or more probably, a specially made instrument. <blockquote type=cite class=cite cite> My guess is that A442 might be a dangerously LOW pitch for a new instrument with the slide pul! led all the way in. Stan Ryberg Barrington IL jstan40@sbcglobal.net</blockquote> Avery </body> </html>