mimic

I will be getting a new Calicchio in a couple weeks. What is the best method to break a horn in, if at all? Especially the monel valves. I've never had to do this before.

veery715

First month: Oil. Play. Daily - wash and dry valve pistons and cylinders. This is to remove any metallic deposits from break-in wear. Re-Oil.
Second month do this weekly.
Third month and therafter - monthly.

v

rowuk

Depends on what Valve oil that you use.
Petroleum base: Clean and oil the valves every day
Synthetic: Every 2 or three days

Clean means remove the valves, clean the valve and casing. Make sure they are BONE DRY. Then reoil and put back together.

More important is breaking the first and third valve slides in. Go to the drugstore and get some anhydrous lanolin. Put that on the slides and add a drop of valve oil or two until the action is perfect.

Once a week for the first month, bathe that baby.

Breaking yourself in is also recommended. Pay attention to posture, hand position and practicing slowly get you into the new groove. Resist the urge to practice fast because everything is easier. UGLY THINGS creep into your playing this way.

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Whenever I feel blue, I start breathing again.

trumpetnick

I don't think that a well built instrument needs a "break in". Cleaning and oiling is another story. All the above about cleaning and oiling is correct. You may need to readjust your playing habits, but if you made a good choice for yourself, this should not be a major problem, unless is a major step up comparing to your previous instrument.

__________________
Spada Bach B flat 72, leadpipe 2L/DWMM1.5C
Spada Bach C 256, leadpipe 2LQ/DWMM1.5C
1956 Olds Ambassador Cornet
Spada Custom Piccolo

If you don't know where you are going, you 'll end up someplace else

Bachstul

You are the best. I sincerely hope you love that Cali; every moment.

Bathe often!!!

Oil often. Between oiling, pull valves and swab casings dry.
Wipe valves with scrap 100% cotton t-shirt cloths before re-oiling.
The cloths should reveal "blackness" indicating breaking in.
Don't twist valves excessively when putting them back in during this phase.

ChopsGone

Bathe often is right. Don't be afraid to bathe it before you play it for the first time. While it would have been cleaned before leaving the shop, it will have been bouncing around a good bit on its way to you.

Don't use the scrap T-shirts, though. Even well-worn and well-washed, they can still leave lint on your valves. Use a lint-free cloth. Cheesecloth used to be recommended, but the cheesecloth I've gotten the past several years isn't exactly lint-free. Get a bundle of lint-free microfiber cloths, at places like Costco or your local auto parts shop.

It's not excessive to pull the valves and bottom caps, wipe down the pistons and bottom caps, swab the casings, and re-oil every day for the first few weeks. And it's not excessive to bathe it in warm soapy water and snake it out every week for the first few months. You don't get the chance to break in a new horn but once per horn, so go ahead and be obsessive about it. The horn will benefit.

__________________
Vintage Olds and Reynolds, yes sir, yes sir, two gazoos full.

Calicchios, Besson, Kanstul, Kanstul Bessons, Wild Things, Sonaré, Selmers, etc.

F.E. forgive me, even a Bach Strad (but I like the others much better)

mimic

Thank you kindly for the info. I have a feeling the horn will be like a new car.....I'll be so thankful when the first dent happens so I can stop fretting over it.

NYTC

Mimic,
Use Ultrapure oil from day one.

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Stage 1 Trumpets

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mimic

It's fortunate that I just ordered some UltraPure the other day. I heard synthetic oil is best for monel. I was told to stay away from Al Cass Fast, which is what I've been using faithfully on my other horns.

NYTC

I wouldn't stay away from other brands,a lubricant is a lubricant.
However,from my personal experience,I prefer the Ultrapure to others.It just works better.

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Stage 1 Trumpets

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