johnmarkpainter

I have a 20's Martin Superlative that plays like it has a leak (it doesn't).
I've plugged the Leadpipe and each of the valve slides and then the Bell and no leaks....

Not much 'pop' in the Valve slides but the pistons aren't leaking when I plug the slides/bell.
The serial numbers match the Valve pistons.

All I can think of is bad valve alignment (when the valves are up).
When I depress the valves and look with a flashlight they seem to be pretty close.

The low register is where it is most obvious. Really feels like a leaky tuning slide cork (it isn't!).
The low register also plays flat if that is a clue.

ANYWAY...this is an interesting very lightweight horn and I would like to get it working.

IDEAS?

Thanks,
John

veery715

Does it play better with the valves depressed than not? If it doesn't then it isn't alignment. Have you scoped the interior with a light seeking blockages? Tried different MPs? Loose valve fit will not necessarily show in a leak test. Lack of compression is a bad sign.

__________________
Never play it the same way once.

Trumpets:
Lawler Bb / Stage 1 Calif Bb Special / Conn 12B / Yamaha 8310Z / Getzen 990S / Hunter-Diamond II /
Stage 1 California C / Mannheim (Chinese) / Benetone / 1934 Cleveland (HN White) 603 Silver Plate w/ Gold Bell / Jaeger NY
PUJE!!
Kanstul ZKT 1525 Flugelhorn
Cornets:
'77 B&H 921 Sovereign / '41 Conn 36A / King Super 20 Master / '68 Olds Ambassador / Conn 18A /
Easyplay (??) / King HN White 1904 Bb/A

johnmarkpainter

No, it doesn't play better with the valves depressed...thanks for that.
I'm slowly grasping how horns work!

This Horn is DIRTY.
I just agressively snaked the leadpipe and Tuning slide and got lots of black out of it. ANd it plays better now.

Here is a possible big one...
There is some solder blobbed inside of the leadpipe!

Could turbulence in the horn cause it to play wierd like that?
The bell bow and Tuning slide are very square on this horn.

jmp

johnmarkpainter

AHHHH

The leadpipe has been hacked.
It is supposed to have a tuning bit leadpipe (like a Flugel).
That's why it is flat....the made the reciever too long.

This might be a parts horn.
I'll have to show it to a repairman and see if it is worth saving.
It really seems like it 'wants' to play.

I did get a GREAT Cookiecutter mouthpiece with it though.
I'm having it gold plated.

jmp

veery715

A repairman's a great idea. Good luck with it - my sense is it will be worth rescuing. Let us know how it comes out.

__________________
Never play it the same way once.

Trumpets:
Lawler Bb / Stage 1 Calif Bb Special / Conn 12B / Yamaha 8310Z / Getzen 990S / Hunter-Diamond II /
Stage 1 California C / Mannheim (Chinese) / Benetone / 1934 Cleveland (HN White) 603 Silver Plate w/ Gold Bell / Jaeger NY
PUJE!!
Kanstul ZKT 1525 Flugelhorn
Cornets:
'77 B&H 921 Sovereign / '41 Conn 36A / King Super 20 Master / '68 Olds Ambassador / Conn 18A /
Easyplay (??) / King HN White 1904 Bb/A

pipedope

I suggest a good repairman check it out.
Sometimes a leak can be small and sneaky and having someone else check it will help find the trouble.

OTOH If you don't want to bother you can wrap it in lots of bubble wrap, put it in a box and send it to me. I would diligenty search for any and all things that can cause problems and fix them.
Then the horn would get a long and loving play test that could last a very long time if needed to make certain of every nuance of play quality has been made as good as I can make it.

Good luck. It sounds like a good horn with a few things to clear up.

__________________
No substitute for music through the horn.