Something Yucky

Louise Finch · Posted: Tue May 02, 2017 1:40 pm Post subject: Something Yucky

Hi

Something a little yucky happened to me today.

I'm pretty careful with my horn maintenance, oiling before each playing, greasing once a week, and most importantly in my opinion, swabbing out the leadpipe and tuning slide after each playing.

Since I've been swabbing out the leadpipe and tuning slide, I'll be honest, I haven't worried so much about washing out my horns with a snake, since the front end is clean.

My trumpet is a Xeno II and has a longer chimney on the main water key. I've never thought that my trumpet has the most efficient main water key, it tends to take quite a few goes and quite a bit of shaking to get all the water out. Anyway, my trumpet has always been like this, since I bought it as an ex-demo, and it has never bothered me. I did however check when I got it, that the water key hole had been fully drilled or however they are made.

Anyway, I was getting rid of the water whilst chatting to a colleague whilst packing away after my orchestra rehearsal, doing my usual blowing and shaking routine whilst listening, when I saw something a bit horrible on the end of the water key chimney, then a horrible bit of gunge came out.

Not wanting to get the water key cork too wet when washing out my main tuning slide with a snake, I haven't really bothered to ensure that I open the water key and let the water out through it, and obviously (now I think about it) my H W Brass Saver which I use dry as a leadpipe swab doesn't clean out this chimney.

Always cleaning my teeth before playing and considering that my water key has always been like this, I reckon that this gunge has been in this chimney since I've had my trumpet.

It was horrible anyway, and has made me realise that a leadpipe swab doesn't clean this chimney, and that I need to make sure that no further gunge builds up in it.

I'm posting this on here, in case it hasn't occurred either to anyone else who has the Xeno II, that this longer chimney on the main water key, bypasses a leadpipe swab.

All the best

Lou
_________________
Trumpets:
Yamaha 8335 Xeno II
Bach Strad 180ML/37
B&H Oxford
Kanstul F Besson C
Yamaha D and D/Eb
- James R New Custom 3Cs
Flugel:
Bach Strad 183 - Bach 3CFL
Cornets:
Yamaha Neo + Xeno
Bach Strad 184ML
B&H Imperial
- Kanstul Custom 3Cs

Benge.nut · Heavyweight Member Joined: 18 Mar 2017 Posts: 695

Eeewwwwwww!!

Re: the waterkey cork; I've had mine replaced with rubber years ago. Never worried about water or had any wear since.

That gunk could have been hiding in a valve port somewhere if that's not an area you clean often and broke loose. No biggie. But running the snake through those valve ports that lead to the slides, and through the slides themselves including the tuning slide isn't a bad idea

Ewwwww

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_SKdN1xQBjk

LittleRusty · Posted: Tue May 02, 2017 1:53 pm Post subject:

If getting a water key cork wet was a problem we wouldn't have cork on our water keys.

Louise Finch · Posted: Tue May 02, 2017 1:58 pm Post subject:

Benge.nut · Heavyweight Member Joined: 18 Mar 2017 Posts: 695

Richard III · Posted: Tue May 02, 2017 4:51 pm Post subject:

I haven't bought new in quite some time. Used horns go to the tech who replaces all those corks and other stupid stuff with whatever material makes sense. They also do the deep cleaning and valve alignment. But if you want quirky stuff coming out of your horn, my friend had a bird head drop out of his 100 year old tuba. He wondered why it always seemed a little stuffy.

_________________
Richard

King 1130 Flugabone
King 12C mouthpiece

Benge.nut · Heavyweight Member Joined: 18 Mar 2017 Posts: 695

John Mohan · Posted: Tue May 02, 2017 5:48 pm Post subject:

It happens to all of us. Taken in the pit at the Mercury Theater:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10154339823614570&set=a.96703059569.86869.844224569&type=3&theater
"Never, ever, ever look in your trumpet's leadpipe!"

My only suggestions is, don't worry about getting your waterkey cork wet in the future. It's a cork. It'll be fine.

Dennis78 · Posted: Tue May 02, 2017 6:44 pm Post subject:

Brad361 · Posted: Wed May 03, 2017 10:50 am Post subject:

Not to derail Lou's thread here, but if want to see "yucky", just pull the tuning slide of the average kid's horn and look down the sewer....er, I mean leadpipe.😱

Brad
_________________
When asked if he always sounds great:
"I always try, but not always, because the horn is merciless, unpredictable and traitorous." - Arturo Sandoval

Louise Finch · Posted: Thu May 04, 2017 8:39 am Post subject:

Louise Finch · Posted: Thu May 04, 2017 8:40 am Post subject:

Louise Finch · Posted: Thu May 04, 2017 8:42 am Post subject:

Louise Finch · Posted: Thu May 04, 2017 8:43 am Post subject:

Louise Finch · Posted: Thu May 04, 2017 8:44 am Post subject:

Louise Finch · Posted: Thu May 04, 2017 8:48 am Post subject:

RandyTX · Posted: Thu May 04, 2017 10:29 am Post subject:

Bear in mind that the corks are an easy to replace item and they do need it from time to time. Just about every time I put a horn in a shop for service, I get it back with new corks installed. Plus, they're cheap.

I would not worry about needing to protect them from drowning.

_________________
"Music is like candy, you throw the (w)rappers away."

Louise Finch · Posted: Thu May 04, 2017 12:34 pm Post subject:

VetPsychWars · Posted: Thu May 04, 2017 2:10 pm Post subject:

Lou, you might consider running water down the bell quite frequently. You'd be surprised what comes out.

Not too hot on a laquer horn.

Tom
_________________
1950 Buescher Lightweight 400 Trumpet
1949 Buescher 400 Trumpet
1939 Buescher 400 Cornet
GR65M, GR65 Cor #1

Louise Finch · Posted: Thu May 04, 2017 3:40 pm Post subject: