ed wrote:Hi, I'm getting a wierd smell from my tuba. it's not the usual bad breath smell, and it's not like sewwage or anything. it kind of smells like bo. from the bell and mouthpiece seides.
is this normal? the tuba is quite old, and I don't know if its ever been cleaned. I've washed it out with a garden house but the smell is still there. I asked the local guy how much for a chem-clean and he said $400 - I can't afford that.
Try some dish soap along with your garden hose.
The going rate for a chem clean is a lot less than what you were quoted, too. Call around.
Rick "who thinks brushes and snakes may be needed to scrub out the green slime" Denney
Dish detergent is a good idea. I'd suggest Dawn because it is a good degreaser. The accumulated valve oils and general funk can really stink up a horn. An even stronger degreaser I've used is Gunk hand cleaner from an auto parts store. Just be sure you don't get the abrasive type.
While you're in the auto store pick up a bundle of cotton terry cloth rags. Cut into strips and use cotton string at each end for the smaller tubing or leave them whole for the larger sections. That will really help clean out places where the brushes don't reach well or are too small for. I prefer this method over brushes myself because then I don't have to worry about the springs on the brushes binding or damaging the tubing.
And when you're done cleaning it, including snaking the leadpipe, valves and valve slides, a final splash of disinfectant mouthwash down the receiver and lead pipe wouldn't hurt.
My high school sousie began to smell strange and giving it the "King Spin" caused a dead bat to fall out.
You don't store your old underwear down your tuba do you?
tubahippie wrote:I don't ever clean my horn, as residue builds up it softens the tone. I cleaned out my horn once and I'll never do it again. it ruined years of "ripening", it took me about another year to get it back to where it was. Some people think it's "gross" but it's a small price to pay for better tone.
You must be really good to play the repertoire with all your valves stuck halfway down.
Rick "who thinks if a tuba needs years of gunk to function properly, it's the wrong tuba" Denney
