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The answer is "it depends."

To do a high quality, careful, and complete rebuild of the valve set, it would not be unheard of to spend $1000 or so even on a 3 piston horn. Somewhere in the range of $300-$400 per valve to get them absolutely better-than-new that would include work on the pistons and the casings. If you don't want to spend that much, there are some who might do a basic piston replate at about $100/valve, but that won't include any repair or fixing a piston that might be out of round, etc.

In my opinion, if you're valves are bad enough to need a replate, the whole valve section is probably so worn that what you really need is a complete valve job in which the casings are worked on, too.

Tom wrote:The answer is "it depends."

To do a high quality, careful, and complete rebuild of the valve set, it would not be unheard of to spend $1000 or so even on a 3 piston horn. Somewhere in the range of $300-$400 per valve to get them absolutely better-than-new that would include work on the pistons and the casings. If you don't want to spend that much, there are some who might do a basic piston replate at about $100/valve, but that won't include any repair or fixing a piston that might be out of round, etc.

In my opinion, if you're valves are bad enough to need a replate, the whole valve section is probably so worn that what you really need is a complete valve job in which the casings are worked on, too.

What he said...

After the charges for our work, then Andersons, you'll be out $800 - $1,000 in the end. Can't be helped.

J.c.S.

If the valves are terribly worn and you don't want to rebuild them you might try an oil to help fill the space like Hetman Classic. That seems to work alright with older horns. It isn't a permanent solution, but it might help in the short term.

Travis Stone OTE wrote:I tried the horn out with a shallower, smaller mouthpiece and suddenly it sounds a hck of a lot better. The pitches center much easier. The valves are still worn but it is now playable.

That is what these horns were designed for; modern mega-mouthpieces throw them completely out of whack. Look up "Blokepiece" and check out the #1 sellmansberger solo. IMHO, that is the ideal mouthpiece for these horns - the perfect size to give a good sound and decent intonation, but the different backbore and throat Joe put on these mouthpieces opens up the sometimes tricky low register far more than a run-of-the-mill solo mouthpiece.

The mouthpiece sold with the Yamaha 621 F (67 B 4) is also excellent on these monsters...

J.c.S.