Any Blue juice fans here?

[improver]

I know a bunch of professionals going back to blue juice saying its fast and last long. Dont need to oil that often? Anybody here dig it?

[Brassnose]

My tech swears by it but it’s been hard to get in Europe. Just discovered a source, may try it.
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2019 Martin Schmidt eXcellence
1992 Bach 43GH/43
1989 Kühnl & Hoyer Model 15 flugel
1980/2023 Custom Blessing Scholastic C 😎
1977 Conn 6B
1951 Buescher 400 Lightweight
AR Resonance, Frate, Klier

[abontrumpet]

I love it! Used it forever despite the bullying. Recently swtiched to Monster Oil Eco Pro (first time an oil swayed my opinion).

It's fast. Does NOT last long. I re-oiled every night.

[Rhondo]

I switched from Blue Juice to Yamaha regular.

Not sure if it was that or cleaning again more extensively or both that fixed a sticky valve, but I’m using the Blue Juice now for the garage door opener.

[Andy Cooper]

I used it for years - I purchased it in the extra large bottle since my friends would bum it off me - even a trombone player.

I only stopped using it during the pandemic when a lot of my playing opportunities went away. I just stopped playing.

Upon the beginning of the recovery, I found that my valves, like the economy were a little slow to return. Seems like you can't just abandon a piston instrument with Blue Juice on the valves. Rather than correct my sloppy storage practices, I've switched to synthetics and Denis Wick.

If you are playing the instrument frequently, I still think Blue Juice is great stuff. I always oiled up at the beginning of a session so I can't say how long it lasts - it just does not last 2 years.

[Rhondo]

There are a number of negative comments about Blue Juice on other threads, though many seem to favor it.

One of the things I did before switching was to look at the pre-owned horns for sale on the Josh Landress site, where they list the valve oil of each horn they’ve serviced. With few exceptions they use one grade or another of Yamaha valve oil, and I haven’t seen any listed with Blue Juice.

I was also told by a TH member they were allergic to Blue Juice to the point if other people in the orchestra were using it, they had an allergic reaction. I have noticed a mild reaction to Yamaha oil when I apply it, but my nose is pretty sensitive in general.

[Manuel de los Campos]

Indeed very hard to find Blue Juce in The Old World. I ordered one bottle and used it to my satisfactiory but actually I found it not any better than Hettmans, Holton, All Cass, Getzen, Yamaha, etc.
It's a decent valve oil, nothing special although it smells better than Holton oil
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Technology alone is a poor substitute for experience. (Richard Sachs)

[LittleRusty]

[huntman10]

I am not as "fastidious" with little details on all my instruments as most players that post on this topic. Don't get me wrong, for my "good stuff" I am very picky; Hettmans on my Srads and Schilkes and Getzen, and La Tromba on several CaroleBrass horns.

But on some of my favorite "vintage" horns, I use Blue Juice, or on a few more worn valves, a mixture of Al Cass and pharmaceutical mineral oil. I also use the mineral oil for Amado water keys.

The Blue Juice smells just like the Doc Severinsen oil I got and used on my 72 Doc Severinsen trumpet, and all my horns back then. For me, it seems a fresh coat of the Blue Juice will cut through some of the gunk these older valves get from sitting in the cases (I do thoroughly clean them when needed, and let them dry a few days before they are cased). I assume there is some organic (organic chemistry, not "eco-organic) that gives that odor.

I also run a few drops down the lead pipe and blow it through the horn. Keeps the insides shiny.
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huntman10
Collector/Player of Fine (and not so fine) Brass Instruments including
Various Strads, Yammies, Al Hirt Courtois, Schilkes,
Selmer 25, Getzen Eternas, Kanstuls (920 Pic, CG)
Martin Custom Large Bore, Lots Olds!, Conns, etc.

[Rhondo]

Heard a tech saying put about a teaspoon of oil down the leadpipe. That brought to mind a small spoon you might use at the dinner table as opposed to a measured teaspoon used for baking. So I put 10 or 12 drops down and instead of tipping the horn around to distribute it, I blew it through and opened the water key. Kind of a mess.

I think it was this same guy who said he liked to use WD-40 in the leadpipe. Not what I’d expect.

[Croquethed]

Bought a bottle when I got my first comeback horn. Didn't particularly like it. Had to re-oil a lot. Then tried All Cass. Same thing more or less.

Been using Monster for at least 5 years now.

[huntman10]

[MalinTrumpet]

Years ago I worked as a clerk in the Woodwind and Brasswind on 23rd St. Phil Smith came by and bought a couple of bottles of Blue Juice. I figured if it was good enough for him it’s good enough for me.

I still use it!

LCM

[Crazy Finn]

makes sign for warding off evil lubricants

* Years ago, I tried it and it gave me a fair bit of trouble.

* Started teaching, my students who had it tended to have trouble.

* Talked to techs, they thought it was terrible.

* Worked in a music shop. If a horn came in with sticky valves, odds were good it had a bottle of Blue Juice in the case.

* 25 or so years after my initial experiences with it, I still think it's kind of garbage

That said, some people seem to use it successfully. I had one student who had a baritone with problematic valves that didn't respond to the usual suspects but worked well when I gave them some Blue Juice to try (out of desparation). So, there's always a use, somewhere.
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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

[Dale Proctor]

It makes the valves fast and evaporates fast, and over time, leaves blue gunk in the valve passages. I used it for years, but I now use 5 Star oil.
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"Brass bands are all very well in their place - outdoors and several miles away ." - Sir Thomas Beecham

[abontrumpet]

[ldwoods]

[Crazy Finn]

[thejoed]

I didn't like the blue gunk in the valves or the smell. Switched to Ultra Pure.
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72G MLV
Gen IIRL
239
Eterna

[txharp3]

I have been a Blue Juice user for several years now. No plans to switch any time soon.