Do you like the piston valves on your tuba?

[Elbee]

my Conn 5j pistons are really smooth and quiet, had them replated in pre Tubenet days so I have no Idea who actually did the work. Harry Siverly in Fresno did the dent work and "sent the valves out"... Strangely enough, the best I have ever seen are on my Weril Euph, which is ex-middle school via eBay... go figure!!

PS forgot to add...Blue Juice may be responsible LB

[tubatooter1940]

The valves on my 1940 King Eb are worn. I find that adding 20 drops of 30 weight automotive oil to a bottle of ultra pure lamp oil gets 'em working their best.
I oil up every time I play the horn.

[sousaphone68]

The valves on my 1940 King Eb are worn. I find that adding 20 drops of 30 weight automotive oil to a bottle of ultra pure lamp oil gets 'em working their best.
I oil up every time I play the horn.

Hi I am not a doctor but I thought I read somewhere that engine oil is a carcinogenic it may be worth your while to have a look at the material data safety sheet.
In my own experience I can't use any Selmer oil products as the fumes from them leave me short of breath and nauseous BlueJuice works fine for me.
For worn out valves I think some posted a suggestion for lamp oil and a medicinal lubricant.

[toobagrowl]

I'd probably love the pistons on my tubas if I had the money and time to have them re-plated/re-built. As for now? Ehhh.....ok with thicker valve oil.

[ckalaher1]

I am very fond of the valves on my Gronitz PCK. Much better from my viewpoint than those on my old 2145. Very fast with Hetman's. Faster than that with Blue Juice.

[bearphonium]

The VMI 201 has really quick, short throw pistons. The York Master has a longer throw, but they're still pretty nice (quick as I need them to be. ). Valves on the Conn 19I are OK; all suffer the sticky first valve syndrome which causes lots of mouthpipe and first valve cleaning.

Interestingly, I have used two different King sousaphones the past several years. The one that I used this year has sluggish valves, which I have just oiled as needed...then when I took the horn in to clean it, discovered tootsie pop wrappers in the springs. Who knew?

[SousaSaver]

The vast majority of sticking with front-action pistons is with the first valve.

- It collects the most sludge from the mouthpipe.
- It is under the most stress, as the mouthpipe (which can act as a "lever") is soldered directly into the first valve casing.

bloke "Tubas should always be picked up by their outer body parts."

Thank you for this. You have made my day!

[Amilcare]

I have the very heavy Willson EEb in the 3+1 configuration. In spite of considerable weight and throw, I have never noticed them to be particularly disadvantaged for fast passages.

[SousaSaver]

Yes -

King 1241 and King Eb Sousa with WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY worn out valves that I won't shell out the cash to rebuild.

I also have a Besson 4 valve compensating Euph that I got from Schlepp with pretty good valves. He thought they were worn out, but there was a sani-mist bottle stuck in the bugle. Took it out and it played great, even with a hole in the bell...

[Dylan King]

The Yorkbrunner valves have always been fast and reliable, although now that I have the Bloke rubber "felts", they have never "felt" better.

My 621 has nice valves as well, but they are quite tight, and require regular oil and cleaning to keep in good order. I also have the Bloke "felts" on this horn, and it makes a huge difference. They are quiet, and have just the right amount of bounce for me.

My Bruckner (as with most new Miraphones if not all these days) came from the factory with a hard rubber upswing and a cork back-swing, neither of which I liked much. I recently took the horn to my local repairman in Charlotte (Tommy Boyd), who contacted Joe about the bumpers through my recommendation. Whatever bumpers Bloke recommended work GREAT. Very quiet and just the right amount of bounce each way. I am very pleased with how it turned out!

[Mark E. Chachich]

I have an old E flat York Monster and I like the valves. The valves work very well with any valve oil that I have used (meaning anything that is at hand). I sometimes look at the valves and wonder how they still work with the lack of plating, but the tuba sounds fine.

Mark

[J.c. Sherman]

All the yamaha valves I've owned worked very well with Yamaha oil. That's probably intentional.

Both the tubas I've owned with stainless steel valves were amazing; my Kalison DS and my B&H Imperial Eb. Lightning fast and eternal wear.

My Conn 52J gave me heartburn and nightmares.

J.c.S.

[TheHatTuba]

Both the tubas I've owned with stainless steel valves were amazing;
My Conn 52J gave me heartburn and nightmares.

J.c.S.

I agree with the 52j thing
But the stainless on ALL the Jupiters i've tried have been just as bad (probably a company thing).