Fuzzy sound unless 1st valve is used.

[Too Loud]

Dear tube-netters,

Last week, I played a tuba at the local high school. At first, the horn played okay, but after a while, the sound coming out of the bell sounded fuzzy as if the water key was open. the The weirdest behavior was that the fuzzy sound would only clear up when the first valve was used.

I checked the water key and it was sealed. I oiled the rotor valves, thinking that maybe one of them was sticking, but that didn't help. The bottom bow was dented in many places and the nickle guard/trim on the bottom of the horn was beginning to desperate from the tuba. I could detect no cracks around the valves or any other place.

After searching this forum for an answer to my question, the closest I found was the thread linked to here: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=54567&hilit=valve+sound+clogged

Has anyone heard of any problem like this?

Thank you,

Christopher

[Dan Schultz]

I agree with 'tuben'. The 'home' position on the rotor is off.