Bullet Brace
Installation Instructions (Revised
May 21, 2008)
BB2001
Price: $105.00
Availability: Ships in 3-7 days time. Allow
1-2 weeks before contacting us about delivery.
We now offer two versions of the Bullet Brace in order to accommodate
more trombone models. The BB2001 fits Edwards, Getzen and most
Shires trombones. However, we have not tested it on the Shires
TruBore instruments.
The "S" brace included with the BB2002 model provides adequate room
to fit most other manufacturers' trombones. However, some modification of the "S" brace may
be required in order to fit the Bullet to your instrument. The "S" brace
is built long to accommodate any such modification. See installation
instructions for more details.
We would like to thank everyone who provided feedback on this
product. With the input Edwards received, we have made improvements
to the bullet brace.
About the Bullet Brace
BB2002
The Bullet Brace is a descendant from our Stegeman bar, which
has been in existence for six years. These items came into being
from the requests of many players that wanted left arm relief
from the many hours they were spending holding their instruments.
The Stegeman bar is an "L" shaped brace that is soldered
onto the receiver of the valve section. This brace helps redistribute
the weight of the horn to the bigger lower muscles of the left
arm. By redistributing the weight the bar takes the tension off
of the smaller upper muscles in the wrist region. Many people
get an imprint in the fleshy part of their left hand from the
weight of their horn. The Bullet Brace and Stegeman bar eliminate
these pressures and relieve discomfort that can occur from holding
the instrument over a long period of time.
The Bullet Brace is the most innovative stress-relieving device
built since the Stegeman bar. The Stegeman bar relieved stress
but required a technician to solder into place once the right
position was found. If the technician was not good with a torch
the heat could travel towards the receiver/valve connection and
weaken the integrity of the joint. Once in place the Stegeman
bar was not adjustable and if a player ever had the slide in
a different position from where the Stegeman bar was positioned,
the Stegeman bar could become uncomfortable.
Click image for larger view Wanting to make this bar something that every trombonist could
attach to their trombone without the use of heat was one of the
goals Edwards had when they set out to build the Bullet Brace.
To make something that would fit every player regardless of their
hand size and eliminate the most stress while improving the players
comfort was a large challenge to say the least. It took a few
prototypes but the final design was a two-piece design that allows
the player to mount the Bullet to the lower bell brace near the
bell. The Bullet is mounted with the same allen wrench that works
on the axial flow valve. The "S" brace fits into the
bullet and can be adjusted as needed to fit the individual's
hand. The bullet can be moved left or right on the bell brace
and adjusted higher or lower to move the "S" bar wherever
the individual should desire. A black delrin rod is installed
on the bar and can be left alone or a black piece of round foam
(comes with purchase) can be fitted over the delrin rod to assure
a greater comfort.
The Bullet is machined out of solid aluminum, which helps maintain
the sound qualities we are after with our instruments. The Bullet
Brace is installed on a cross brace which does not dampen the
vibrations of the instrument. Soldering onto the receiver can
cause vibrations. With no heat being applied there is no worry
of weakening any solder joints where the valve meets the receiver.
With infinite adjusting possibilities a person does not need
to go to their local repairman to tweak the position of the Bullet
Brace, they just need to remember where they put their allen
wrench.
|
