oldlou

I just receently had a Yamaha 232 student grade trumpet given to me by a neighbor. Having read many aspersions against the Yamalloy valves found in three diget model number Yamaha trumpets and cornets I was expecting problems. The valves were a bit dry upon receipt of the old horn and I expected the horn to be dirty inside, so, a bath was done. Upon re lubing the valves, slides, and spit valve pivot screws I stuck one of my favorite mouthpieces in the receiver and proceeded to play the thing. I was amazed. It just came to life in my hands. My only complaint thus far is that I have to slide the third valve slide farther than I am accustomed to do with most of my other horns for the notes immediately below the staff. The afore mentioned suspect valves are just sterling in their performance and I can find no fault with them. I have now researched the Yamalloy valves and find that they only give problems to a small group of players, due to the chemical composition of their saliva and, possibly, the valve lube employed. I use Hetmans #1 for tight valves in this horn and my personal opinion is that the performance of the old girl is as good as almost any trumpet I have played. Please hope with me that these valves stay as good as they now are for a long time, as I intend to give this old horn more than a little usage.


OLDLOU>>

stchasking

Yamaha may specify only Yamaha valve lube for optimum performance.

Al Cass seems to work well for me. What are you using?

rowuk

The Yamalloy problem was ONLY in the late 70's and early 80's if I remember right.
Japanese companies do not generally make the same mistake twice and Yamaha with its expansive materials research can zero in on a problem and solve it in short order!
Anything from that company is amazing!

stchasking

The Yamalloy valves may be the problem with my YTR9830.
It is Serial number 010075. Could it be the 75th horn made?
Could it have Yamalloy valves?

I hope not to high Jack the thread but some of you out there are going to know the answers.

I'll try to find out what Yamalloy really is.

Sturmbill

Read this article: Miscellaneous

It deals mainly with the Schilke/Yamaha collaboration, but it gives a good analysis of and cure for the Yamalloy curse.

Good luck!
Bill

Richard Oliver

In the late 70's, I remember trying Yamaha and the Bach Mercedes II trumpets we had in stock at the music store where I worked. I had played all the top line horns we had too.

I remember thinking My, so why is it I spend much money on fancy trumpets when these play so well?

My moment of common sense soon abated however.

gord-o

As I recall, the Yamalloy curse only referred to the Monel valves they made in the 70's and 80's. But a model 232 most likely would have nickel plated valves, not monel, so the curse would apply if your horn had monel valves. I think even way back then Yamaha put an 'M' after the model number stamped on the 2nd valve to indicate that the horn had Monel valves rather than the standard nickel plated valves. The worst valve problems I've seen on that vintage of Yamaha student model trumpet is that the guide slots on the inside of the spring barrel of the valve are really sharp, and they cut grooves in the valve guide.

Bonasa

Inaugural post from the proverbial newbie on the board--but with an urgent question:

How can I determine whether my Yamaha 631 flugel has Yamalloy valves? Is there a serial number list for Yamaha brass that would help me pinpoint when it left the factory? Are the differences between Yamalloy valves and monel valves easily discerned?

Any and all advice most welcome

Many thanks in advance...

tatakata

ive never been impressed with any student model yamaha valves

Bonasa

Agreed; the student-model valves are adequate, at best.

But my question is regarding one of their pro-model horns; the 631 was, I believe, their initial small-bore, vertically-tubed flugel.

Again, does anyone know where I can view a serial number list or how I might tell whether this horn has Yamalloy or monel valves?

Many thanks--