Excessive water dripping out from the bell

DR_DIRT_MAN · Veteran Member Joined: 11 Jul 2003 Posts: 107

I've noticed quite a bit of water dripping out from the bell of my new horn I've been playing as a comeback player. Maybe this always used to happen with my old horn but I don't seem to remember noticing it like I am seeing now. Any thoughts on this phenomenon?

thelurker · Veteran Member Joined: 04 Aug 2003 Posts: 257

[ This Message was edited by: thelurker on 2003-10-09 20:52 ]

TopGun · Veteran Member Joined: 17 Mar 2003 Posts: 456

I would not worry about it to much. Maybe you are just moving a lot of air and blowing the water through. That sounds like a good thing my friend.

TopGun

drunkiq · Posted: Mon Sep 22, 2003 7:05 pm Post subject:

should be fine... i get water out of the bell all the time when playing loud or high...

-marc

DR_DIRT_MAN · Veteran Member Joined: 11 Jul 2003 Posts: 107

ok, then I guess it is pretty normal. Thanks

HorneyMikey · Veteran Member Joined: 18 Jun 2003 Posts: 325

I have seen Doc up close many times, and often you can see water coming out of his bell. This guy really moves his air!

Mike Supple
Minneapolis

Prof Zep · Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2003 11:00 am Post subject:

I heard a great story one time about some high note trumpet player (could have been bud brisbois) who when he was playing at some university for a concert/masterclass event that at one point he put his horn up to his chops and played some incredibly high/loud lick and because of the great amount of air/force he was playing with a mist of water shot from his bell. Sorry I dont remember all the details, was told to me a few years ago.

qckning · Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2003 9:16 pm Post subject:

I'm glad to hear that the consensus is that it's nothing to worry about.. I'm a new player and I've noticed the same thing and thought maybe something was wrong with my horn.. I drink a lot of water when I play too..
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plp · Posted: Wed Sep 24, 2003 4:47 am Post subject:

Sounds to me like an efficient use of air, if you are moving it with that much velocity.

Bootleg · Posted: Wed Sep 24, 2003 5:25 pm Post subject:

if it's really a bother, just drain your spit more. then it comes out before travelling all the way thru your horn. because it often doesn't get all the way there, and it gets stuck there, and the calcium from your spit builds up which isn't great. and it can also rust your trumpet from the inside. so it's best to drain as often as possible.

MaynardProdigy · Posted: Mon Oct 27, 2003 12:23 pm Post subject:

I think that the water we are all talking about is more like spit.
And yeah, its normal when whaling like Maynard!!

Jon · Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2003 3:50 am Post subject:

I've always thought of the water coming out of the bell as condensed water. Thinking "warm air" when playing must be a keyword...

AccentOnTrumpet · Heavyweight Member Joined: 03 Nov 2002 Posts: 878

I get that every now and then, but I think it's not a really big deal. If it's not affecting the way you sound, I wouldn't worry about it.

jcmacman · Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2003 9:49 am Post subject:

I am also a comeback player and have noticed excess water from the bell and the spit valve that I never noticed before. I am trying to play my CG Benge 6x, I think I need to take up running again! I remember seeing the Disney Drum Corps a few summers ago where the lead Sops had a mist or steam coming out of thier bells when they were wailing away to Malaguena. Really cool thing to see and hear.

roynj · Heavyweight Member Joined: 19 Oct 2002 Posts: 2065

It's water all right. If you store your instrument in a cold place or play in a cold room, then you will get more condensation. The water in your breath condenses on the inner surface of the tubing and then gets moved by air flow out the bell. Don't do anything about it. That would be my advice.

hazmat · Heavyweight Member Joined: 23 Mar 2003 Posts: 669

I noticed that when I do free-blowing in my horn without playing notes I get the same problem. So it is really that you are blowing so fast and hot that the water doesn't condense quick enough before it gets to the bell. Think of it as another water key just without the key.

badebop · Posted: Thu Dec 25, 2003 3:08 pm Post subject:

I'm in agreement with roynj that the ambient temperature outside the horn has the most to do with the amount of moisture being emitted from the horn. I've had Christmas gigs outside where I'm dumping my water key every 8 measures and I've had July 4th gigs outside with the temperature 95 degrees/50 percent humidity where I only open my water key after every set.

etownfwd · Posted: Thu Dec 25, 2003 4:03 pm Post subject:

While I don't want to steal anyone's thunder, but I have the same problem with my horn. But I tend to get EXCESSIVE "spit", or condensation. Usually not only is my waterkey on the tuning slide full, but each one of my valve slides and usually each one of my bottom valve caps is also filled relatively full... Is this just the byproduct of leaky and crappy Bach valves, or am I just a freak? It's gotten so bad that I seriously believe that my horn is retaining water! again, sorry if I step on the poster's toes. I may just re-post this in a new topic! Thanks again
-efwd

WaxHaX0rS · Heavyweight Member Joined: 19 Jul 2003 Posts: 524

I know it has been said, but it is NOT spit. Maybe a very tiny bit is, but it's mostly water. Spit-key is a misnomer.

Bruce Lee · Posted: Fri Dec 26, 2003 3:58 am Post subject:

The ambient temperatures have the most effect on the condensation within the horn. Our body temperature is 98.6 degrees, normally. At a comfortable room temperature of 68 to 72 degrees, that's quite a difference. Obviously, as the temperature difference increases, the amount of condensation inside the horn increases, too.

The other factor to consider is the fact that most of the newer horns being produced have amado water keys. The function that the amado water keys play is to allow a less interrupted movement of air through the horn than a traditional water key, by providing less area for water to collect. When removing water from the horn, a very gentle "blow" is all that's needed. Blowing air forcefully through the horn moves water past the amado water keys, and into the valve slides, thus the need to empty the second valve slide, and occasionally, the first. Depending upon how often we use the third valve combination for playing notes, we'll also need to empty it. However, as it travels beyond the first valve, it's in the bell bow, and a simple rotation of the horn will remove water that collects there.

I think that water in a horn is a good thing... it shows that you're practicing/playing!

Best always,
Bruce
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