Water in trumpet: Condensation or spit?

dutch-trumpet · Regular Member Joined: 27 Aug 2013 Posts: 62

When playing I regularly need to use the water keys on my trumpet to let out some water.
I noticed that I empty my trumpet more often then my fellow trumpet players in our section. If I don't do this the water will eventually get in the way and change the playing characteristics way before the typical crackling / sputtering sound would emerge.
That is why I preemptively use the water keys to prevent a situation where I might make a mistake due to water in my trumpet.

Compared to my fellow trumpet players it looks like I have to dump more water from my trumpet judging by the wet spot on the floor.
Is this normal condensation or am I perhaps blowing more spit into my trumpet then them?

veery715 · Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2014 5:35 am Post subject:

Don't worry about it. It's better to do it preemptively than to wait for the gurgle. You may have more moisture in your breath from being better hydrated, it may be diet related, or it may be that your instrument is more prone to accumulating condensation. It may also be that your horn is cooler than the others for some reason.
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roynj · Heavyweight Member Joined: 19 Oct 2002 Posts: 2065

MJo · Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2014 6:48 am Post subject:

I've always assumed -- bolstered by a former teacher's comments -- that high condensation in the horn is not a bad sign at all. The production of warm, moist air is caused by an open, relaxed throat and unrestricted passage of air in large quantities -- something that is conducive to good sound and relaxed playing. One of the things this teacher did at my first lesson was to give me an approx. 1.5" diameter piece of pvc pipe to breathe through in order to get the feel of the unrestricted passage of air. I still use it from time to time. And yes, I produce a lot of moisture in the horn -- nothing I can do about it, and I don't try.

Nonsense Eliminator · Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2014 7:53 am Post subject:

Give your trumpet to a four-year-old to play with for a while. When he's done, you'll see exactly what it looks like if what you're blowing out of the water key is spit... if it doesn't look like that when you play, you're good!

(Obviously you don't actually need to conduct this experiment. If it's mostly spit you'll see it.)
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trombahonker · Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2014 1:05 pm Post subject:

Sometimes it's whiskey.

shofarguy · Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2014 2:14 pm Post subject:

If you're using Al Cass Fast valve oil, try something else and see if it helps.
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VetPsychWars · Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2014 2:17 pm Post subject:

dutch-trumpet · Regular Member Joined: 27 Aug 2013 Posts: 62

dutch-trumpet · Regular Member Joined: 27 Aug 2013 Posts: 62

dmb · Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2014 4:29 pm Post subject:

No big deal. Empty the water keys often and just play.
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razeontherock · Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2014 4:40 pm Post subject:

Leon Merian played incredibly loud, but with control and musicality. You could see the vapor come out of his bell as he played. If you generate more condensation than the other trumpet players around you, it's quite possible it's because you play better than they do. Don't get the big head about this, but don't consider it a problem. Just play as well as you can, and enjoy the music.

Dan O'Donnell · Heavyweight Member Joined: 01 Jan 2005 Posts: 2287

Now that I give it some thought...You guys are making a lot of sense related to the wrapping of the tubing and condensation build-up.

I've been playing a Carol Brass Pocket Trumpet (which is crazy great!) and I find that it collects moisture faster possibly due to the tighter wrapping of the tubing in relation to the (2) spit valves versus my other Bb Trumpets???...It does not take long to get the dreaded "gurgle" sound...I make a water dump...it goes away and not too long later..."GURGLE"!!!

Does this make sense to anyone out there?

Please help me better understand this...

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Branson · Heavyweight Member Joined: 26 Jan 2011 Posts: 503

Dumping condensation more often means that you are doing the right thing.

You want to relax and blow warm air into your horn when you are playing and the warmer the air, the better the sound. The more warm air means you will have to dump more often.

Sounds like you are doing what you should do and the others aren't.
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shofarguy · Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2014 8:26 pm Post subject:

etc-etc · Heavyweight Member Joined: 19 Jan 2008 Posts: 6187

This has been addressed from the thermodynamic point of view.

In short, increase of condensation in horn occurs when you are playing more resonantly, leading to cooling of the airstream exiting the bell.

percivalthehappyboy · Heavyweight Member Joined: 05 Mar 2010 Posts: 731

If it was spit, there would be stringers hanging from your water key.

If you were playing trombone you wouldn't need to blow the condensation out--just open the valve and watch it pour.

mahorst · Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2014 7:33 pm Post subject:

When I jump from trumpet to trombone, that spit pours out. I think some may have more active salivary glands - I feel like mine tend to over produce and I empty more than some.
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lb324 · New Member Joined: 22 Apr 2014 Posts: 5

kalijah · Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2014 3:41 pm Post subject:

Mjo wrote: