79connvictor

I've asked about this on another thread but didn't get al lot of response. My older horn plays really easily and sounds very good in or above the staff, sometimes below the staff and sometimes even in the lower part of the staff it sounds kind of airy and weak. There is no water key leaking and the slides are ok; Is this indicative of a valve problem, or is it just me not blowing enough air? Is there some kind of test I can perform to tell if I need to get the valves reworked? How much would this kind of surgery cost?

Brass crusader

Hi,
If you notice significant wear on the valves themselves, you should consider a valve re-plate. I'm sending one of my horns to Dr. Valve, he's regarded as the best there is. A google search for his work should bring up contact info for him.
Good Luck.


p.s. What kind of horn are you talking about?

__________________
~Brass Crusader

Yamaha Xeno Custom w/ reverse leadpipe
1947 Olds Super Recording trumpet
1947 Olds Special trumpet
1952 Olds Ambassador cornet
1967 Olds Special cornet
1970's Yamaha 631 Flugel w/ Rose brass bell
1970's Conn 17b Coprion director
Other assorted Conns and Olds
Yamaha and Bach Mouthpieces
1929 Martin Handcraft "The New Master"
1935 Conn 22B NY Symphony Special tpt
'83 Callet New York Super Large Bore trpt.
'35 Conn 32H trombone

79connvictor

Conn 6B Victor

oldlou

Pull each valve tuning slide in sequence. While the individual slide is pulled, stop off the outlet tube from that valve and blow strongly through the leadpipe while holding the subject vave fully down. Do this with each valve, listening for any air leak. If you find any leak at all the valves are in need of replating to fill the gap between the piston and the casing wall.


OLDLOU>>

__________________
Couturier trumpet
York Master Model trumpet
York Elite trumpet
York Airflow cornet
King super 20 Master Model cornet
King Liberty trumpet
Reynolds Professional cornet
Bohm & Meinl professional trumpet
Besson 10-10 trumpet with Holton M.F. bell
Olds Special cornet Los Angeles
B&H Sovereign cornet
G.R.Band Instr. cornet
Getzen Super Deluxe trumpet and cornet
Getzen Deluxe trumpet and cornet
Many others no room to list

rowuk

There are some horns that are just airy and weak, regardless of valve tightness or mouthpiece gap. The first thing to go when the valves get leaky is intonation and slotting not the lowest octave.

Dave Monette has a test for his horns that most any 10 - 20 year old horn would fail: press the 3rd valve down and extend the third valve slide. Release the 3rd valve, push the 3rd slide in. Wait 20-30 seconds then press the 3rd valve down. If you still hear a "pop" the valve is tight. I am not sure that the Ambassador could have passed this test new though. I am not sure that I would invest much money in a vintage student horn unless there was something very special about it. The cost of the valve job depends on how worn the valve and casing are. A couple of hundred dollars in any case.

__________________
Whenever I feel blue, I start breathing again.

Dr. Zink

An even simpler and perhaps more telling test - does the horn play better when you oil the valves?

Dr.Z

Brass crusader

Hello again!
Another quick fix I use is to get a bottle of the new Yamaha synthetic "vintage" oil. This stuff is amazing, and as it is heavier, it seals up leaky valves considerably well. No substitute for a valve job, but a good idea to do it anyways. Yamaha has a rebate right now, so get it while it lasts. I'm in the process of changing all my horns to one of the three types of this new oil, over from the classic Blue Juice.
I put this oil on one of my horns that has worn valves, and it played 100% better. Definitely check this out!
Cheers

__________________
~Brass Crusader

Yamaha Xeno Custom w/ reverse leadpipe
1947 Olds Super Recording trumpet
1947 Olds Special trumpet
1952 Olds Ambassador cornet
1967 Olds Special cornet
1970's Yamaha 631 Flugel w/ Rose brass bell
1970's Conn 17b Coprion director
Other assorted Conns and Olds
Yamaha and Bach Mouthpieces
1929 Martin Handcraft "The New Master"
1935 Conn 22B NY Symphony Special tpt
'83 Callet New York Super Large Bore trpt.
'35 Conn 32H trombone

79connvictor

Thanks for the good information I will likely try your suggestions. I'll let you know what I conclude.

79connvictor

Who said anything about an Ambassador?

rowuk

My mistake. I had another recent thread in my head.
The rule could still apply however. An investment only makes sense if the results are potentially worth it. If this is a rare or special instrument, then the value cannot be measured in dollars or cents.

__________________
Whenever I feel blue, I start breathing again.