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My worst water experience with the Kings is water accumulating in the upper inner tube of the 1st valve. You've gotta give the horn about a 45 degree shake to the right to get it to dump on down the open bugle.

While in use, my 4/4 Rudy Meinl five rotor CC requires just a little tilt to the left and DRIP! out it comes. So far I have not played a tuba other than the Rudy that makes dumping spit so easy.

My band's super PT-605 BBb requires you to hold the horn almost parallel with the ground in order to release spit from the main slide. However, it doesn't require you to do the 'ol spin move. Oh, if you haven't played this tuba, you're missing out on an awesome BBb.

When you talk about "spin", is it on the...for want of a better term, equitorial axis of the horn? (it's middle) The only way I can get water out of my York Master is to rotate it end over end, the long axis, and have the agua drain out the bell end.

Ally"who in the cold weather, drains the horn about 3 times a practice session"House

Grooving for Heaven wrote:that what I take the term "spin" to mean

I started this post so people who are playing 2341's can stop doing it. there's a better way.
Can't speak for other horns though.

You are correct. The easiest way to remove the condensation is to simply rock the horn around in your lap so it runs through to the main tuning slide. But... as others have already mentioned... there are venues where there isn't room to lay the horn down in your lap... much less do much 'rocking'. King (Conn-Selmer) really should address the issue. That would be the very best solution.

I've seen some posts about having to spin the 2341 to get rid of water in the 4th valve slide. I can assure you that I've never had to spin a king, even with the poorly designed 4th valve.

I teach privately, and I probably spend 20 hours a week with these tubas. All you have to do is push down the 3rd and 4th valves, and then LEAN the horn over to the right, across your lap, until gravity brings the water out of the leadpipe.

no spinning needed and it just takes a couple seconds.

What you describe is exactly the "king spin" that many of us already do. It's certainly nothing new, and it's been posted here before many times. Maybe you've just invented new terminology to tell us that we've been wrong all these years ...

Just spin the bell of the horn 90 degrees to your right while holding the 4th valve down. Water drains out the lead pipe. You get extra credit if you remember to remove the mouthpiece first.

Bill Anderson

Ok, I'll bite.

I've used a King 1241 for 5 years. During this time I had very little problem with the water that collected. As mentioned, I could "tilt" the horn and get water to the point it would come out the spit valves.

Now I have a newer King 2341. It collects water more often. I've tried various combinations of holding valves down and opening spit valves while tilting without success. The only thing that works effectively is to remove all of the slides and spin the horn around the center of its body. I usually do not get water out the leadpipe in the first spin. The second time around and the third I get moisture.

I appreciate your guidance in how to eliminate the need to spin, but what has been suggested so far has not worked. I've thought about when accumulation occurs, and am currently leaning toward the fact that I carry the tuba in a gig bag (hold it bell upright most of the time).

I certainly will read and try any suggestions that people might have.

Now I have a newer King 2341. It collects water more often. I've tried various combinations of holding valves down and opening spit valves while tilting without success. The only thing that works effectively is to remove all of the slides and spin the horn around the center of its body. I usually do not get water out the leadpipe in the first spin. The second time around and the third I get moisture.

Wow. What a pain. I never have to do that, even after a 3 hour chop-busting rehearsal. My horn is completely stock except for the addition of a water key on the 3rd valve slide so I wouldn't have to pull the slide to drain it.

My main slide water key/spit valve was plugged for a while this summer, and the horn suddenly started acting the way you describe until I gave it the roto-rooter treatment. Make sure that water actually drains from all of the valves when you open them.

Bill Anderson

Normal wrote:Ok, I'll bite.

I've used a King 1241 for 5 years. During this time I had very little problem with the water that collected. As mentioned, I could "tilt" the horn and get water to the point it would come out the spit valves.

Now I have a newer King 2341. It collects water more often. I've tried various combinations of holding valves down and opening spit valves while tilting without success. The only thing that works effectively is to remove all of the slides and spin the horn around the center of its body. I usually do not get water out the leadpipe in the first spin. The second time around and the third I get moisture.

I appreciate your guidance in how to eliminate the need to spin, but what has been suggested so far has not worked. I've thought about when accumulation occurs, and am currently leaning toward the fact that I carry the tuba in a gig bag (hold it bell upright most of the time).

I certainly will read and try any suggestions that people might have.

Another method is to take out the 4th valve and you can dump the water right out the valve case. It usually collects in the little knuckle coming right out of the 4th valve.

ken k

I've never had to spin a King either. All i do is take out the slides and dump them about every 10-15 mins.

we march kings at IUP, most people thinks it is wierd, i think they are old bell front somethings. we strap them to ourselves and march. but yeah all the spit always ends up in the 4th valve slide. and the only way to get it out is to take out the valve, and do the spin because it is just that much all over the place..

I would LOVE it if I could find an alternative to the King Spin. Frankly, I was just happy that I could figure out a way to drain it at all!

I will try your technique and report the results.

tubashaman wrote:IN a middle of our wind ensemble brass + Choir on the Christmas Cantata by Pinkham, my third valve on my miraphone 1291 filled up (as with everything else). I had to do a turn....

My 1291 collects a lot of water in the 1st valve slide. Same story though -- pull, tilt, pour, puddle. Just part of the job, right? (Though it makes me kind of miss the simplicity of a rotary valve set.)