View Single Post
Old 04-22-2007, 10:32 PM   #2 (permalink)
mike ansberry
Piano User
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Clarksville, Tennessee, USA
Posts: 318
mike ansberry is on a distinguished road
Re: Problems w/valves

It's hard to say without actually seeing the instrument. The old King 601s had metal guides that locked in one position only. I haven't looked at one in a lot of years. It could be that they (like many horns) will lock in two positions, each 180 degrees from the other. Take the 1st valve out and blow through the horn. Will air go through easily and come out the 1st valve casing? If so, the 1st valve wasn't in correctly. If not, take out the 2nd valve and check it. If air still doesn't come out, take out the 3rd and try. If air still doesn't come out you have an obstruction in the part of the horn between the valves and the mouthpiece. This is unlikely. Probably you will find that one of the valves was mis-aligned. Or possibly there is a problem with the valve guides. (broken or inserted improperly) If you find that air will go through when you have the 1st valve out but even when you align the valves correctly no air will go through, you probably have an obstruction in the tubing between the valves and the bell flare. This requires some skill and tools to find and remove.

In all likelyhood your valves aren't aligned properly. If you align the valves and still it doesn't work, take it to the shop.

Mike
__________________
"Music is a fire in your belly that has to come out of your mouth, so you'd better put a horn in the way before someone gets hurt" (paraphrase of Bleeding Gums Murphy)
mike ansberry is offline   Reply With Quote