Is this red rot?

bdr · Regular Member Joined: 12 Apr 2007 Posts: 25

Hello all--

I just came into a Mount Vernon Bach and was wondering if some of you folks could help me figure out if there is red rot on the horn. It looks like it could simply be discolored brass, but I want to be sure. The only place it appears is on the tuning slide. I have never had red rot issues with any other horns, so if it is red rot will it get worse? Any questions you could answer would be very much appreciated. Thanks!

BR

uglylips · Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2012 9:26 pm Post subject:

To me this looks like red rot, but I'm no expert. I have a Bach with three similar looking spots on the leadpipe with a small red dot in the middle. I've had a repair tech. look at mine and he determined it was red rot. The little red dot is usually a sign of this. My trumpet is 45 years old and the red rot hasn't gotten any worse in years. I make sure that I clean the leadpipe out with a swab after each use. You will most likely benefit from doing the same to your leadpipe and slide.

oldblow · Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2012 10:04 pm Post subject:

I won't claim expertise either, but I vote "no." Red rot starts from inside, and first emerges as a pinhole on the outside, sometimes with a shell-shaped crater underneath the pin hole. Your corrosion seems limited to the tuning slide, plus, the spit valve screw has some of the same color corrosion, as well as some green verdigris around the shank of the screw, indicating some exposure to acid. My guess would be from spewing fluid from the spit valve. The underside of the bell catches spit residue on one of my horns, an Olds, and has a similar condition.
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Andy Del · Posted: Sat Feb 11, 2012 4:20 am Post subject:

Classic red rot, pure and simple.

The discolouration or the lacquer around the pink parts is the giveaway. Keep it clean and you'll likely have no problems for years.

cheers

Andy
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supportlivejazz · Heavyweight Member Joined: 05 Jan 2003 Posts: 3757

I vote yes because it appears to be pink in the center areas. If that is the only place on the horn where you see it, not so bad as a new slide can be acquired for around $125-150 fro M/K Drawing and Bending. I would remove the main slide and clean the leadpipe thoroughly and inspect the inside with a very bright light. Look for dark spots inside and corresponding areas of lacquer deterioration outside.
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A.N.A.Mendez · Posted: Sat Feb 11, 2012 5:08 am Post subject:

I will vote no, if you can remove the lacquer or polish just that area you can find out. I was sure this was RR till I took lacquer off.In all these spots I found one pin point size spot that MAY have been.....

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Irving · Heavyweight Member Joined: 11 Feb 2003 Posts: 1888

Probably not. If you don't have any RR in your leadpipe, then you wouldn't have it in the tuning slide either.

Cadenza · Veteran Member Joined: 12 Jan 2009 Posts: 243

I'm not an expert, either.

Wondering what the pink central spots could be if they're not red rot.

homebilly · Posted: Sat Feb 11, 2012 8:30 am Post subject:

yes
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study888 · Posted: Sat Feb 11, 2012 8:41 am Post subject: Is this red rot?

Hello,just clean those areas real good with Flitz Metal Polish. Should remove all of that corrosion out of the metal. If it all is removed,probably is not red rot. If it is red rot and not to deep into the metal. Once polished out and removed. Horn should be good to go.

Have tried other metal polishers, found Flitz Metal Polish to clean over all the best. You can clean all those worn spots and leave rest of the laquered horn alone. The laquer may be old looking,but does help protect the rest of metal on the Horn. Good luck.

plankowner110 · Heavyweight Member Joined: 12 Jun 2003 Posts: 3620

Sing to the Ames Brothers' song "Rag Mop"

R
I say R-O
R-O-T
R-O-T-T
Rot
R-O-T-T
Rot Rot Rot Rot

R
I say R-E
R-E-D
R-E-D-D
Red
R-E-D-D R-O-T-T
Red Rot

Doo-doo-doo-DAH-dee-ah-dah
Red Rot
Doo-doo-doo-DAH-dee-ah-dah
Red Rot
Doo-doo-doo-DAH-dee-ah-dah
Red Rot
Doo-doo-doo-DAH-dee-ah-dah
Red Rot
Doo-doo-doo-DAH-dee-ah-dah
R-E-D-D R-O-T-T
Red Rot!

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A.N.A.Mendez · Posted: Sat Feb 11, 2012 9:17 am Post subject:

at about 3 min. in....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wD89HbSCSk
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dmb · Posted: Sat Feb 11, 2012 9:54 am Post subject:

Manuel de los Campos · Posted: Sat Feb 11, 2012 12:16 pm Post subject: Re: Is this red rot?

Capt.Kirk · Heavyweight Member Joined: 24 Feb 2009 Posts: 5792

Yes.
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yourbrass · Posted: Sat Feb 11, 2012 12:41 pm Post subject:

Yes, without question, those are pin-sized copper spots left from the zinc leaching out of the alloy. It's very common on Bachs and many other brands of horns.

It doesn't mean that there's any immediate crisis. You could get years of service out of it still. What happens is that the zinc leaches out, allowing a sort of "bleed" that breaks the bond between metal and lacquer, so the spot looks much bigger than it really is.

The only time it might be a problem is if you decided to have the horn silver plated. If the spots are big enough, or numerous, the plate won't stick properly, and you get festering over the spots. Relacquering can be done though, it just needs to be clean.