My Tuba.... HELP!!!!

[Richardrichard9]

I went to play my tuba (Dalyan Apollo CC tuba, bought in November) today in school and it sounded a little "funky". It became increasingly funky with a large buzzy or air sound throughout the day. My band teacher contributed it to a major air leak in the tubing. I checked it all out, and it doesn't seem to be coming from that..

What else could it be???

[The Big Ben]

I went to play my tuba (Dalyan Apollo CC tuba, bought in November) today in school and it sounded a little "funky". It became increasingly funky with a large buzzy or air sound throughout the day. My band teacher contributed it to a major air leak in the tubing. I checked it all out, and it doesn't seem to be coming from that..

What else could it be???

Still could be an air leak- maybe one of the solder joints.

Jam a roll of paper towels in the bell and fasten a vacuum cleaner hose to the mouthpipe. You could make an adapter out of some plastic hose and duct tape. Get a piece of plastic hose from the hardware store that will just fit over the mouthpipe. Buy about two feet of it. Put one end of the plastic hose over the mouthpipe and about one and a half feet of the hose down the vacuum cleaner hose. Seal it with duct tape. Turn on the vacuum cleaner and feel around the joints to see if there are any leaks. If you find some, temporarily seal them with some of the duct tape. If the horn plays better, you've found the problem. If it is still under warrantee, have WWBW fix it. If not, have a repair guy solder 'em up.

If that doesn't help, maybe someone else has a suggestion. Maybe a broken brace if it buzzes.

[Dean E]

I went to play my tuba (Dalyan Apollo CC tuba, bought in November) today in school and it sounded a little "funky". It became increasingly funky with a large buzzy or air sound throughout the day. My band teacher contributed it to a major air leak in the tubing. I checked it all out, and it doesn't seem to be coming from that..

What else could it be???

If rotary, check your rotor bumpers to make sure they're intact.

Also, a rotor could have become misaligned. An instrument technician can diagnose and correct that problem for someone inexperienced with rotors.

Good luck.

[brianggilbert]

Bent water key/spit valve?

Foreign object inside?

I don't know the specifics of your horn, but if the buzzing sounds generalized in the area of your valve block it could be something there...

[Richardrichard9]

If that doesn't help, maybe someone else has a suggestion. Maybe a broken brace if it buzzes.

No, it def. isn't a broken brace, not that type of buzzing, more like lip buzzing.

I was actually thinking that it was a Rotar mis-aligned. I have been playing it for about 2 hours a day recently, so that could be the problem.

It sounds simular to when a piston gets turned somewhat in the casing. Like it is between notes.

Re-aligning is something a tech. would HAVE to do right?

About how much does that cost. Because right now I will only have about $30 to throw at it.

[Richardrichard9]

Bent water key/spit valve?

Foreign object inside?

I don't know the specifics of your horn, but if the buzzing sounds generalized in the area of your valve block it could be something there...

Hm.. I didn't think to check the water key. But I do know the buzzing sound IS coming from in or around the valve casings.

Come to think of it, there was water on the floor when I was playing, and I hadn't emptied my horn. Not trying to jump to conclutions, but I will check tonight-horn's at school.

[brianggilbert]

I had a similar "a-ha" moment many moons ago when I was playing a Miraphone 186. The water keys sometimes tend to be in exposed places - which makes them prone to bumps and smacks that can bend them (doesn't take a whole lot if the blow is well placed).

See if someone can help you generalize exactly where the buzz anamoly is originating from. If it's a valve realignment, you might be headed to the shop.

[Richardrichard9]

Take a look at you slides too, one of them may be out too far (that is if you have to do some major slide pulling on some of the slides).

The slides were the first place I looked. That isn't the source of the problem.

How long have you had the horn and have you ever had it recorked....ive had mine a year and probably should do that...since they wear down fast

I have had the horn since the last week of November, 2007, so only a couple months.

[Lee Stofer]

I'd suggest getting yourself, the tuba and someone with a good ear into a quiet setting, where they can listen and look while you play.

Also, instead of the vacuum cleaner-and-paper towel roll bit, just pull out the main tuning slide, and reinsert it on the valve side only, so that you can stop the other end of your tuning slide (maybe as easily as with your thumb), and blow through the leadpipe, and see if the leak is in the leadpipe/valves/water key area.

FWIW, I have a Dalyan in the shop now where one of the rotor knuckles was not brazed together completely, and the horn is leaking there. If you have a leak like that, it should go in for warranty repairs.

[Richardrichard9]

I'd suggest getting yourself, the tuba and someone with a good ear into a quiet setting, where they can listen and look while you play.

Also, instead of the vacuum cleaner-and-paper towel roll bit, just pull out the main tuning slide, and reinsert it on the valve side only, so that you can stop the other end of your tuning slide (maybe as easily as with your thumb), and blow through the leadpipe, and see if the leak is in the leadpipe/valves/water key area.

FWIW, I have a Dalyan in the shop now where one of the rotor knuckles was not brazed together completely, and the horn is leaking there. If you have a leak like that, it should go in for warranty repairs.

I actually bought the instrument on closeout for very cheap, so it only had a 45 day warranty, which is now over. How much would that cost?

[Lee Stofer]

I'll remove the rotor from the valve casing on this one, and if I can get in there and heat the area and braze it without having to take a lot of things apart, I may be able to do it pretty inexpensively. That is what I'm hoping for, because the owner of this Dalyan is also on a budget. If I need to remove the rotor casing from the valveset and it turns into something like rebuilding the valveset, then it will not be cheap.

You may have nothing more wrong than a banged-up water key. And, even if a rotor knuckle or something of that type is leaking, a little bubble gum in the right spot can keep you going for a while (did I just say that?!) until you can afford to get it fixed right.

[Richardrichard9]

If I need to remove the rotor casing from the valveset and it turns into something like rebuilding the valveset, then it will not be cheap.

I sure hope mine has to be rebuilt. It is only a few months old and just randomly stopped working.

[Tubaing]

If I need to remove the rotor casing from the valveset and it turns into something like rebuilding the valveset, then it will not be cheap.

I sure hope mine has to be rebuilt....

What an odd thing to say.

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Have someone else play it to make sure it's not you.

[Richardrichard9]

Opps, I meant NOT have to be rebuilt .. I was rushing on my way out the door..

I did get to school today, and I found the problem Thank you all for your help! It was the water key. It must have gotten stuck on something, and was bent about 45 degrees... I fixed it..

That's a big relief