[olds1959special]

I have a 1925 Buescher C melody with the G# trill key. Can this key be removed to cause the action of the G# to become lighter and faster?

 

[milandro]

the action won’t become any faster (unless it is not installed well) and you will devalue your horn.

If you can, send a video (easiest thing is to put it on youtube) where you show why you feel that your G# trills slowly.

The only thing that can slow down than is a faulty installation (or a slow hand)

 

[turf3]

What he said. The G# trill key has no effect on the spring tension or responsiveness of the G# key; the trill key itself is unsprung and it's basically just along for the ride. Sometimes if the corks in the G# trill mechanism are lost, the G# trill key can kind of stick up and be felt in between your other fingers. In this case, the real fix is just to install a correct thickness cork where the mechanism wants it, and taking off the key altogether would be like using a cannon to swat a fly. Besides that, depending on how the individual design is, you might actually have to cut the key off which would be a mutilation. I would suggest checking the corks and then if desired gently bending it down closer to the body to get it more out of the way.

Since both the index and middle fingers of the right hand only ever touch one key touch, if your hand position is correct, you should never encounter that trill key in the normal course of playing. My Conn alto and tenor both have this key and I have never noticed it while playing.

 

[JayeLID]

Well, removal of that key was apparently quite common for a time, as I have gotten in many a Conn, Boosh, etc. which had the key gone.

I cannot off top of my head remember the mechanics of a 20's Boosh alt G#....but if it was like Conn's, it was simply a matter of removing the keytouch and barrel (which was mounted on 2 posts hiding under the lower stack posts).

If that is the case with the Boosh...there would be 'no harm done' (as long as you keep the key and the mounting screws/rods).

As noted by others, not sure this would 'improve' the action of the pinky G# touch, tho...

 

[lydian]

I have a 1925 Buescher C melody with the G# trill key. Can this key be removed to cause the action of the G# to become lighter and faster?

For a beginner coming from trumpet, where the pinky is never used, I think you simply need to build strength and dexterity in your pinky. Rather than make any mechanical changes to the horn at this point, really work that pinky table in every practice session, especially B and Bb which require the most strength. And if you want to continue to build strength between practice sessions, get something like this thing that guitar players use:
https://www.amazon.com/DAddario-Exerciser-Improve-Dexterity-Comfortable-Conditioning/dp/B001OCGGEM

 

[lostcircuits]

What he said. The G# trill key has no effect on the spring tension or responsiveness of the G# key; the trill key itself is unsprung and it's basically just along for the ride. Sometimes if the corks in the G# trill mechanism are lost, the G# trill key can kind of stick up and be felt in between your other fingers. In this case, the real fix is just to install a correct thickness cork where the mechanism wants it, and taking off the key altogether would be like using a cannon to swat a fly. Besides that, depending on how the individual design is, you might actually have to cut the key off which would be a mutilation. I would suggest checking the corks and then if desired gently bending it down closer to the body to get it more out of the way.

Since both the index and middle fingers of the right hand only ever touch one key touch, if your hand position is correct, you should never encounter that trill key in the normal course of playing. My Conn alto and tenor both have this key and I have never noticed it while playing.

Ditto!