flugelhorn cleaning

davo · Posted: Sat Apr 17, 2004 8:41 am Post subject:

Can anyone recommend a product or a procedure for getting moisture out of my flugelhorn after playing it? I swab out my trumpets after every playing, but the flugel has proven to be problematical as I can't seem to get all the moisture out through the water valves and I don't like the idea of moisture remaining in the bottom tube from the bell to the third valve.

Any solutions or ideas would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance,
Dave

rafterman · Posted: Sat Apr 17, 2004 9:12 am Post subject:

Remove MP, use the tilt and blow out method, use a spit ball, and repeat tilt and blow out.

bdev · Posted: Sat Apr 17, 2004 9:47 am Post subject:

Use an air compressor to blow and dry out all the moisture.
_________________
Schilke B1L / GRe65M/e65S
Yamaha B.Shew Flugel / GRe65FD
Olds Super Trumpet (LA 1946) GRe65MX
Reynolds Emperor Trumpet (1961)
Bach Strad 37 Trumpet
Holton 25 Cornet / Bach 6
MDT Morrison Trumpet (wind controller)

davo · Posted: Sat Apr 17, 2004 9:59 am Post subject:

Thanks guys. Not having an air compressor, I wonder if a can of air as used to clean PC keyboards would work? Probably not.

What are spit ball? Are they those sponge balls that fit throught the tubing and valve ports? Do they actually work? Where are they available?

Thanks again,
Dave

TimBrown · Posted: Sun Apr 18, 2004 8:29 pm Post subject:

I'm with rafterman....

When I flush my kanstul out, I just blow through it till most of the water is out. THen, I just drain through the water keys. If there is a "gurgle", you know there is still water in it.

Tim

Mlockman · Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2004 4:09 am Post subject:

Sometimes if you coat the inside of the slides with valve oil it makes the water easier to get out. Sometimes,sometimes not.
_________________
Bach Strad 37/25
Bach Strad LT 43 /25
Bach Strad C 229 25H CL,
Couesnon Flugelhorn 1970
Warburton WCC mouthpiece
Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia
AFM

jhaysom · Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2004 8:34 am Post subject:

My Sandoval flugel has Amado spit valves and it's always quite problematic in terms of getting all the spit out of it, so I figured out a flugel derivation of the Trumpet Gearhead technique (http://www.dallasmusic.org/gearhead/Emptying%20Water.html):

- hold the horn in the normal manner but with the bell pointing downward about 20degrees below horizontal
- blow as hard as you can, holding down each valve in turn in the order 1-2-3
- rotate the horn end-over-end back towards you about 290 degrees so the bell is pointing vertically downward

The water should flow out of the bell. This is not dissimilar from what you see French horn players doing.

If my description isn't clear enough, just envision the air and water path through the horn from mouthpiece to bell and you'll figure out what to do.
_________________
John Haysom
Ottawa, Ontario
Canada
Yamaha 8310ZS trumpet
Yamaha 6310ZS trumpet
Courtois flugel
1941 King Silvertone cornet
1941 King 2B valve trombone
Kanstul 920 piccolo
etc.