"Worn-looking" slides on "new" trumpet?

[ehammarlund]

I have never bought a brand-new horn before today. I promptly opened my package and pulled everything to inspect it. I had expected that everything would basically look like shiny brass, including the slides. There's a decent difference in price between "new" and "store demo," and I want to make sure I didn't pay for one and end up with the other.

The first valve slide ain't "shiny brass". Obviously this would happen anyway, the horn will still work. But is this normal for a purportedly brand-new horn? Should I care?

[roynj]

It kind of depends on the manufacturer. Some will clean up the slides and apply a slide grease, which is probably what you expected. In this example, it appears that the slides were ungreased and just got some oxidation from storage. A store demo horn will usually have visible finish wear and small blems from being handled by others (sometimes many others, such as a horn that was used at a major trade show).

If you are happy with the playing quality of the instrument and it is good in all other respects, I'd suggest applying an appropriate slide lube. Slide grease for the main tuning slide and a bit 'slicker' lube to slides 1 and 3 (Hetmans 4 or 5).

[ehammarlund]

thx

[Brad361]

Just my opinion here, but unless the slides don’t work smoothly, I would not use steel wool or anything else that removes traces of metal on them. (And I am aware that silver polish, for example, removes traces of metal, which is why I don’t use it very often).

I would just make sure the slides are clean, and greased. Shiny brass slides are going to darken eventually anyway.

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

[Nonsense Eliminator]

I guess it depends on your definition of "shiny," but I don't think I've ever bought a new horn with slides I'd describe that way.
_________________
Richard Sandals
NBO

[JoeLoeffler]

To the OP... You do not mention the manufacturer or the place where you purchased the instrument. Manufacturers do vary in their fit and finish. Who knows how long the instrument sat before sale or if it was tested in the store, etc. Do the slides work well? Then don’t worry about it and just play the horn.

To everybody else who has and will chime in in this thread or others who will just read the following:

Slides should not be “shiny”. They should have a relatively even, matte appearance. (Piston surfaces should also). Shiny, smooth surfaces do not retain lubricants. They also have a tendency to gall. A clean, well adjusted, well fitting slide will function nicely and feel great with a matte finish that retains lubricants.

Please do not use steel wool on your brass instrument. It removes material in an uncontrolled fashion. It is very difficult to remove any dusts or residues in the home workshop. There is a possibility that the harder stainless material could imbed in the softer brass tubes.

Do not buff on slide tubes with Tripoli or other compounds to make them shiny. This removes material and is difficult to remove residues with home cleaning techniques. Again, smooth surfaces do not retain lubricants.

Do not use aggressive brass polish to make the slides shiny. Smooth, shiny surfaces do not retain lubricants.


If you wish to brighten the appearance of your inside slide tubes, use Lava bar soap on a rag. (Soak the bar in warm water for a bit to soften the soap and rub some on a strip of cloth. Use this to rub down your slide tubes.) Be advised: this will scuff up plated finishes on the rest of your horn. Be careful and pay attention to what the cloth is touching. Be sure to rinse everything very well in the warmest water safe for your horn's finish.

[ehammarlund]

[shofarguy]

The inner slide tubes' outer surfaces should not be shiny like the outer surface. The outer surface is highly buffed to a mirror shine. The inner tubes are sized to fit inside the outer tubes and would become smaller in diameter if they were buffed. This would cause your slides to leak air and condensation, reducing the resonance of your horn and causing it to have less defined slots. The surface of these inner slide tubes should be a nice even satin luster showing care in hand-fitting, so the tubes slide evenly and reliably. There is no good reason for them to be shiny.
_________________
Brian A. Douglas

Flip Oakes Wild Thing Bb Trumpet in copper
Flip Oakes Wild Thing Flugelhorn in copper


There is one reason that I practice: to be ready at the downbeat when the final trumpet sounds.

[shofarguy]

One more thought: A satin surface will hold grease better than a shiny surface.
_________________
Brian A. Douglas

Flip Oakes Wild Thing Bb Trumpet in copper
Flip Oakes Wild Thing Flugelhorn in copper


There is one reason that I practice: to be ready at the downbeat when the final trumpet sounds.

[zaferis]

Another point, a "new" trumpet very well could have been on the shelf for a very long time.. raw brass inner slides could easily discolor. Wipe them off, lube them up and don't worry what they look like.
_________________
Freelance Performer/Educator
Adjunct Professor
Bach Trumpet Endorsing Artist
Retired Air Force Bandsman

[Crazy Finn]

If you're talking about the inner slide - the part that fits into another slide - it looks perfectly normal, even for brand new.
_________________
LA Benge 3X Bb Trumpet
Selmer Radial Bb Trumpet
Yamaha 6335S Bb Trumpet
Besson 709 Bb Trumpet
Bach 184L Bb Cornet
Yamaha 731 Bb Flugelhorn

[Turkle]

That slide looks 100% fine.
_________________
Yamaha 8310Z trumpet
Yamaha 8310Z flugel
Curry 3.

[Brad361]

Here’s what Doctor Valve just posted on Facebook regarding slides:

“Today I wish to show the trumpet community what properly cleaned slide surfaces look like.
On the left are the slides for a Schilke Bb that we have in for chemical cleaning and silver polishing.
On the right are the same set of slides post cleaning.
After the chemical process the outer surface of the inside tubing was cleaned up with Lava bar hand soap on a piece of cheesecloth.
Please note the matte appearance of the cleaned slide tubing.
Slide surfaces should not be mirror polished!!!”

He has before and after pics on his FB page; my Photobucket account isn’t working or I would post them here.

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

[Dennis78]