Need valve repair for Strad

[GiveItOne]

I have a 73 Strad that needs some help.

The third valve, VERY intermittently, is slow to come up. The valve is very fast when you test it. Then, when playing, it will surprise and come up slow. Never a bump or dent, valve looks great and the horn has been professionally cleaned.

Local tech suggested mild lapping (I think that I'm saying that right) but he said it was not a repair that he could do.

Can anyone suggest a qualified repair shop in North Carolina (preferably western) or southern Virginia? I'm really nervous about handing this horn to just anyone. I want to get it done right.
_________________
'73 Custom Strad (that I play with a Jet Tone MF 3)
Weird ain't it....
'65 Conn Director
Yamaha Allegro

[Howie J]

I have an issue like this with my Stomvi piccolo. I had it lapped by two different people and it didn't help. When I sent it off for a Valve Alignment, I was told that to fix it 100%, the valve would have to be rebuilt. The PVA helped the issue so it only rears it's head every now and then.

Some notable trumpet techs that have great reputations for fixes, tweaks, custom work:

Sorry, I'm not filtering by location.

-Charlie Melk in WI
-Dr. Valve Steve Winans in Illinois
-Jim Becker at Osmun music in MA
-Ken Larson in MI

There are others, just not coming to me at the moment. Other guys will chime in. I had Charlie do alignments on my C and picc and he does superb work. From pure recommendations and seeing some of their work, you would be safe with any of the above.

Howie J
_________________
Bach Strad 37
Stomvi Mahler Titanium C
Stomvi Elite Picc
Monette B3FS7, B2L, C2S3 cut for Flex Couplers, AP4LD

[Ed Kennedy]

Rich Ita in the Atlanta area would be a good bet. He's Schilke trained and we all learned to lap valves properly there. You might also try some different valve oil. PDQ (very fast and smells like jet fuel) from Warburton solved a similar problem on a couple of my horns.

[Brad361]

Definitely not in your locale, but Dr. Valve (Steve Winans) in Illinois did an INCREDIBLE valve job on my Strad. Worth shipping the horn out, worth the cost and worth the wait, in my opinion.

Brad361

[KingSilverSonic]

This past summer someone kicked a stand over onto my Burbank Benge. The stand hit my first valve and damaged both the valve casing and the piston. I sent it to Steve (Dr. Valve) and he had it fixed the day he got the horn, and it was in the mail back to me the next day. Can't tell there was every any damage. Great work and service.
_________________
Richard

Lawler C7
Burbank Benge C
Calicchio 1s/2
King Symphony 20 DB and Silver Sonic Cornet
Lawler flugelhorn
Member: Bugles Across America

[trumpaholic]

Before going this route, I strongly suggest that you try some La Tromba Extra Fine valve oil. I have seen it fix valve issues.

[Ed Kennedy]

[dbacon]

DB

[jmichaelhurt]

I think you should try cleaning it yourself first and foremost. You said it was cleaned by your tech but if he doesn't know how to or doesn't have lapping compound then he might not be the best person to be cleaning your horn. Lapping a valve is a relatively easy thing to do. There might just be some debris of some sort in there and cleaning it again could do the trick. It only sticks when you play because as the horn gets warmer the tolerances get smaller. We use mineral spirits at the brass instrument workshop to degrease anything. Add some more valve oil to it and see what happens. If this doesn't work then it might be something more serious. And by serious I mean it could cost you like $20 to get it fixed. Doesn't sound like a big problem in my opinion.
_________________
Bach C with Butler conversion
Various Frankenhorns
Wedge mouthpieces

Brass repair tech at Ken Stanton Music

[James Becker]

Cleaning is well and good, but this might be too little too late for a trumpet from 1973. Even with regular cleanings and lubrication there is very likely a measurable amount of wear with a trumpet going on 38 years. While hand lapping can improve action, nothing can take the place of a proper valve rebuild.

In our workshop we perform free diagnostic evaluations which include measuring parts and a compression test. We are but one of a few shops that perform this test and do 100% of the work onsite, start to finish. We do our own plating, honing using state of the art Sunnen equipment allowing us to meet or exceed original manufacturer's valve fit. Our final compression test comfirms that we've done the job right. With a final playtest we are able to put your trumpet though it's paces to insure it is performing it's best.

For further information about our services visit our website or contact us at our new workshop in Acton, MA. I hope this is helpful.

_________________
James Becker
Brass Repair Specialist Since 1977
Osmun Music Inc.
www.osmun.com
jbecker@osmun.com
978-823-0580

We are as close as your nearest UPS store http://go.mappoint.net/ups/PrxInput.aspx

[Tuba]

[Michael Meeks]

Where can one buy lapping compound?

[Frank Gorecki]

As a repair tech, I would say only to use lapping as a last resort. While sometimes unavoidable, lapping is the removal of metal, something I am against. Too many repair techs reach for the lapping compound WAY too soon.

I don't want to open up a huge can of worms, so I'll avoid giving my opinion on this next matter, and I'll say this instead: If the horn was chemically cleaned, are you sure the chemical was strong enough, and if it was ultrasonically cleaned, are you sure that it was scrubbed and rinsed thoroughly? You'd be surprised by the amount of shops cleaning with too weak a chemical, or not scrubbing after an ultrasonic cleaning
_________________
Frank J. Gorecki III

I play my trumpets with mouthpieces.

[Brad361]

[davidelf]

Lapping compound can be purchased, but a milder abrasive like a pumice based hand cleaner might be a better choice. There's an orange scented pumice gel that I've used before. Just put some on the valve and work it up down in the casing 50-100 times, wash it out and try it again. Also Hetman #3 valve oil is great for sticky valves.

[Brad361]

[robertgrier]

There is no shop in NC. I know I've looked. My vote goes to Jim Becker at Osmun Brass. I getting ready to send him another of my horns.

Where in NC are you?
_________________
Bob Grier
An Old Pro
Web Cam lessons for trumpet and jazz improvisation
www.bobgriermusic.com
bgrierjr@triad.rr.com

[GiveItOne]

Update.

A very kind person sent me a private message suggesting Alysin oil and cleaner. I've tried them and I am happy to report that the results are SPECTACULAR!!!!!!

Before this I cleaned and cleaned. I tried several oils and nothing helped at all. I thought that the valve was clean but the Alysin cleaner still removed lots of gunk.

''''''''''''''''''''''''''
_________________
'73 Custom Strad (that I play with a Jet Tone MF 3)
Weird ain't it....
'65 Conn Director
Yamaha Allegro

[improver]

Is it cool to use those little brushes to clean inside of valve casings?

[robertgrier]