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If you don't want to spend money on repairs, electric tape solves air or water leak problems.

Is this the guard supposed to protect the bottom bow? If so I am very puzzled that there is a hole in the bow metal as well as in the base plate of the guard.

The bow metal will be thin on the outer semicircle from being stretched during the bending process. Cracks can occur. Even “invisible” cracks are vulnerable to corrosion, but the base plate should have ensured tightness.

Closing off the holes with tape only will make water accumulate and speed up corrosion, as the water cannot drain away between playing sessions.

Hopefully you have a good and responsible repairman, who can help you out without recommending repairs at a level of costs disproportionate to the value of the tuba.

Klaus Smedegaard Bjerre

Well it seems there is a dent right on the "corner" of the bow which is why I can see how a hole may have occurred. (For the future you may want to consider using a stand to soften the surface the Pete is against. It's pretty thin, so any extra ding action can really affect this horn. Believe, I know..I used to own one).

Anyway, yes, find a repair person. I wouldn't reccomend tape because it's a temporary fix. The water will still collect because of dents and then sit there.

If you CAN'T find a repair person and have NO money, then you MAY be able to *gasp* solder the hole if it's small enough. If it's pen point sized, then this may be an option. I suggest you call Vince at Tuba Exchange and ask him if there is a "remedy" or beanything is particular he may suggest.

Best of Luck.

WOW! If there is water coming out from under the bottom bow guard, there must be a hole through both the bow cap AND the bow! I'll bet that bow guard has been off that horn before for some dent work on the bottom bow & cap. A split in the factory seam in the bottom bow would not be a great surprise to me but the cap was originally formed from a single piece of brass and therefore should be seamless. The bottom bow on the St. Petes (and most other tubas for that concern) are usually much thinner on the outside of the bow as opposed to the inside since the metal is stretch greatly during the forming process.

Chances are if you have your tech pull the bow guard and cap off the horn, he may find that there are cracks in both the bottom bow and the cap. These things can be fixed as long as the cracks aren't too extensive. New bottom bows, caps, and guards should be available from The Tuba Exchange.

All that being said.... unless you have a great passion for this horn and want to have it restored to new condition, I think I would simply solder up the hole and be done with it. Condensation at that point in the horn is just condensed water vapor and is not as corrosive as what might be found in a leadpipe.

FINAL COMMENTS... are you certain water is coming out of that hole?.... or is you waterkey leaking and letting water run around the bow and onto your pants? Get that horn out of your lap and onto a play stand. You will be much more comfortable, the horn will be more resonant, and you'll eliminate the risk of damaging the horn on the edge of a chair.

DP wrote:frankly, I think this post is just b.s., if condensation was dripping from a hole in the bottom bow (as the original post-er described) the horn would be constantly backed up with water in the rest of the horn long before water in the bottom bow would be a problem. How likely is that?

Condensation can form anywhere inside a horn as long as the horn is cooler than the 98% humidity air flowing through it. It won't happen so much playing outside during the hot summer, but it's certainly likely to happen when playing inside air conditioned rooms. I've had water run out of my bell when putting the horn down on it's bell to change music.... not a lot, mind you. But, I wouldn't want even that small amount on the front of light-colored slacks.

What Dan said. The first gig after I got a souzy up and running was a Memorial day gig where the mode of dress for the band was white shirt and black pants. I still have the black pants. The shirt went into the trash the moment I got home from condensation leaking around the somewhat worn valves and out the bottom valve caps, taking all 75+ years of accumulated green gunk with it right onto the shirt. And this was after a complete cleaning, inside and out, including soaking to get the gunk out and drying the horn in the days before taking it to the gig.

Do you have any "airy" or "stuffy" notes that might also be an indicator of how bad the leak is?

I still wouldn't rule out water somehow getting out of the area where your waterkey is and running around the bottom bow into your lap. It could be a loose solder joint where the outer slide tube joins the dogleg. Or... the brace between the outter slide tube and the bottom bow looks a little funky and could have a split behind it. There is a very quick way to check for leaks in that area... pull out your main tuning slide and reinsert just the end that fits into the outer tube coming off where the waterkey is. Put a wine bottle cork or some other form of stopper into the open end of the tuning slide. Blow into the mouthpiece receiver and look for leaks. A little sudsy water might help spot a leak. While you're at it, you can perform the same test of all of your tuning circuits by removing the tunings slides in a similar manner and pushing the individual finger paddles down.

pretty simple test to know for sure if water is running out of the bottow bow. Hold it upright ( preferably not in your lap ) and pure a cup or 2 of water in the bell. If it comes dribbling out of that hole, well then you know for sure that is definately where the water is coming from.