Best valves ever made?

[Big Dave88]

I started thinking about this a while back, after I acquired a Besson 2-20 with microbor valves. They are AMAZING valves...

I was just wondering what some of your opinions were on the best valves ever manufactured are.
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"Bud didn't worry about this..."
-Barenboim

[trumpaholic]

Schilke
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Have horn, will travel!

[scipioap]

The Bauerfeind SS valves on my Adams A9 are absolutely superb!

Likewise, my pre-War French Besson flugel valves made by Aubertin were exceptional (for their time), and have held up exceptionally well.
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1963 Martin Committee #3
1962 Martin Committee Cornet #3
1961 Martin Custom Committee C
1941 Martin HC Committee #2
1945 Martin Committee #2
1942 Martin HC Committee Cornet
1941 Martin IBICO Indiana
2012 Kanstul 1525 SLB
1977 Olds CT Flugel

[Crazy Finn]

[Adam V]

I've heard nothing but great things about Bauerfeind and Getzen. Kanstul also seems to be widely used for custom and boutique horns from smaller companies.
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1970 Bach 37 Strad
Yamaha 635 flugel

Marcinkiewicz E3/3C

[ChopsGone]

I'd put Bauerfeind, Selmer (Paris), Olds, Aubertin, Holton (through the 1950's), Reynolds, and Kanstul at the top of the list. Some Conns probably deserve a place up there, as well. Having an Aubertin's pistons replated was a real revelation. For short stroke, I like the Buescher 400 (cornet), but they've never seemed quite as fast as some of the others of comparable quality and short stroke. The CarolBrass valves seem very good so far, but I don't know how they'll hold up over a few decades. While they've varied over the years, current Calicchio valves are exceptionally good, as are Marcinkiewicz. Getzens have always been very good; I'd love to experience them in one of their better grade instruments, as they've seemed wasted in some of the low-end horns I've tried.
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Vintage Olds & Reynolds & Selmers galore
Aubertins, Bessons, Calicchios, Courtois, Wild Things, Marcinkiewicz, Ogilbee Thumpet, DeNicola Puje, Kanstuls....

[VetPsychWars]

[ebisson]

[codyb334]

About 1980's Yamaha.


Just kidding. But I got a 1971 Strad that just has amazing valves, it is a real player and the valves are just right too. Doesnt even show wear, I sort of suspect a valve job but they are just amazing.


Getzen too, never owned one but played plenty of Getzen Horns and a few Flugels.
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-Cody
1970 Bach 37/7
1988 Yamaha 6340ST
Olds L12 Flugel
GR 67L
Monette Prana BL2 S3 XLT

[VetPsychWars]

I would like to submit, also, "any valve rebuilt by Anderson's." I've never heard of any of their valve jobs not turning out wonderfully. All of mine that were rebuilt (a bucket of Bueschers and one Holton) have been fantastic.

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

[TrentAustin]

IMO the Bauerfeind valveblock is my absolute favorite, including my newest treasure trove find with the DEG Signature piccolo (with a short stroke 4-valve BF block).

Amazing!
-T
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This acct will be deactivated as of March 2021. email info@austincustombass.com

[James B. Quick]

Too bad about the Yamalloy valves used in the Schilke MI and MII series horns. But, they are part of the balance of things, I guess, the Ying, the Yang, The Light Side, the Dark Side of the Force, etc....

Worst valves I've ever been associated with...*

jbq

*not counting 'Cecelio' valves....

[royjohn]

You know, I got a YCR-631 cornet last year and supposedly it has the Yamalloy valves, but I haven't had any trouble with them. The valves work fine. Of course, these may have been redone at some point, I don't know. As I recall from my reading, only some folks had trouble with these, BICBW. I certainly would not seek them out. This 631 cornet is a really nice player, though, and it is from the first line of Yamaha horns, which Old Man Schilke designed, so I would look one of this vintage over before saying no.
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royjohn
Trumpets: 1928 Holton Llewellyn Model, 1957 Holton 51LB, 2010 Custom C by Bill Jones, 2011 Custom D/Eb by Bill Jones
Flugels: 1975 Olds Superstar, 1970's Elkhardt, 1970's Getzen 4 valve
Cornet: 1970's Yamaha YCR-233S . . . and others . . .

[oliver king]

Olds, Getzen, Bel Canto, Kanstul ...

[etc-etc]

Definitely Stoelzel - the grad-grand-daddy of all trumpet piston valves. It was the first, and without it, the history of trumpeting would have been that of a Klappentrompete (keyed trumpet).

[Fred Cantu]

Schilke!!!!

[Sustained note]

[Dayton]

I've been fortunate in that the horns I've owned over the years -- Bach, Benge (LA), Getzen, Harrelson, Holton, Lawler -- have all had valves that consistently worked well. I'd define "working well" as fast, smooth and not sticking. That said, Getzen valves (Getzen, Lawler) are, by far, my favorite, and have my vote for "best."

[Sustained note]

[James Becker]