screamingmorris

I already owned a 1956 Conn 14B Director and knew what its valve guides were like: they look like they are one piece from the factory.

A few minutes ago I received in the mail my eBay 1952 Conn 22B.
While oiling the valves I discovered that the valve guides are totally different from the 1956 14B.
The little things that stick out to keep the valves from spinning are attached to vertical rods that stick down into holes in the valves.
Those vertical rods are extremely loose in the holes so that they wobble like *crazy*.
Is there any way to tighten them?

Also, 3rd valve sticks up slightly higher than the other 2 valves.
I made sure that all 3 are screwed together equally tight.
Any clues on what to do about it?

BTW:
I am amazed at how much darker the 1952 22B sounds compared to my 1956 Conn 14B Director even though they have the same .438 bore size.
And the beat-up Conn 4 mouthpiece that came with it is also amazing in the richness of its sound while also making upper register relatively easy.
When I put the richness of the Conn 4 mouthpiece with the richness of the 22B, I actually have a *good* tone for the first time in my life, from low F# right up to High F without warming up.
Do the later 22B Victors have a similarly dark and rich sound?

- morris