ROGERIO

STCMAN, You lost me.... I thought someone said he now works for Yamaha. Do you mean his SHOP still does alignments?

B15M

I don't understand the valve alignment. How do they adjust the down stroke and as soon as the felts ware a little doesn't that negate the alignment?

ROGERIO

B15M,

There are probably others that understand this better than I, but...

the up and down adjustment is done two ways. One is shortening the valve stem (where the valve buttons screw on). The other is using rubber compound instead of felts. These can be sanded down to just the right height.

I believe the side to side adjustment is made with new and adjusted valve guides.

Anyone?

Solar Bell

Rogerio wrote:
Just a rumbling, but I heard that Wayne does go to his shop on a regular basis to do the PVAs himself.

I cannot confirm it though.

-cw-

__________________
Chuck Willard
The Willard of Oz

"Don't be afraid to see what you see."
Ronald Reagan

Schwab

I think Tanabe is in NYC now, and he still does alignments. Felix told me the next time I'm in town I should go see Tanabe to get my horn aligned by him.

The idea of a valve alignment is to adjust the ports on the up and downstroke by using different sized non-compressable pads or rubber.

__________________
Dylan Schwab
Stage 1 New York

loudog

Hi Alex...

I think that the easiest thing that you can do is get some Blackburn leadpipes for your horn. My first piccolo was a Yamaha 6810S (short model), which had some intonation issues. My teacher at the time suggested I purchase the pipe, so I bought one in A. It's absolutely amazing how much it improved the horn.

The intonation and response were greatly improved, and I think that it even affected the sound, although that could have been just due to the fact that I didn't have to lip the pitches all over the place anymore.

Give Cliff a call...he makes several different models, and will be able to send you one for your Yammie.

Also, valve alignments really may help...but you may not necessarily need one. I know a lot of people that went and had one done, and it didn't change their horn at all, probably because the valves were already aligned pretty well. Have your repairman take a look at it first. Another thing you can try is (especially if the horn is older) to just replace the valve felts, and the felts on the top of the valve-caps. Over the years they do get worn down.

Good luck!!!

Louie

__________________
Louie Eckhardt, MM
Freelance Trumpeter
Performance and Instruction
http://www.LouieEckhardt.com

miles71

I have a Stomvi Elite Picc and the best thing I did for it was get a Blackburn leadpipe. Improved everthing about the horn. I dont play picc enough to warrent a P5-4, but now this horn plays pretty close.

I know Stus in Westminster Md has the leadpipes in stock usually, or just give Cliff an email.

__________________
NYTC Stage 1 Endorsing Artist
www.domenicomusic.com

Alex Yates

Thanks very much everyone for your advice and guidance. I just emailed Cliff (believe it or not, I know him since my Louisville days when his shop was a little building behind his house......my, how time flies!). I will be attending the WCU Festival next weekend to hear Byron Stripling and Chris Martin and Cliff will be one of the exhibitors. I asked if he could please bring an "A" pipe for me. Hopefully he will get the email and bring it with him. (keeping fingers crossed). I am sure it will do the trick for what I want. If that doesn't fix my first valve intonation problems, I will get the trigger Rogerio mentioned. (I will be PMing you Rogerio....thanks for your input). I have had a ring on the third valve for years and it helps a great deal.

It wouldn't hurt if Cliff's leadpipe helps the response a wee bit either. That would be nice.

Thanks again!

Billy B

The Bob Reeves valve alignment can solve a lot of problems, especially with an older horn. I have also seen new horns that benefitted from this. Bach has a new picc that is tweaked by Reeves. I hear it plays great.

dizforprez

If you are happy with the blow of the horn and want to improve the tuning and response a new leadpipe would be a great place to start, but the Blackburn picc pipe I have does change the sound of the horn.