TubeNet

Now that I've spent all that money on a great tuba... it's time for some upkeep...

How hard is it to replace the valve guides on the 2000? I had my horn cleaned and the repair guy replaced all the pads and such but didn't touch those plastic valve guides. No.1 and 3 are hanging up and with all the auditions coming up I am having nightmares of having one of them hang up on me on stage. so.....

1. How hard is it to replace them and if not too hard how?

and

2. Where might I get my hands on the guides?

Thanks
Jim Langenberg

I know I know I know... go to a qualified repair guy... and I might depending on the responses but it seems kinda hard to screw something like this up if you have the right parts.

You can get new guides from a number of sources, including Matt Walters at Dillon. I replaced the guides on my 2145 before I sold it, and it wasn;t too hard. They just unscrew. If they are stuck, heat up the tip of a small jewelers screwdriver and stick it in the middle of the old guide, then unscrew. The new ones screw in. BUT, if the horn is going through guides too fast you may want to take it to your local guru and have them clean out the channel it slides in with a fine file or the official MW slot fixing tool.

My MW 2145 has metal guides. They screw in. I've not seen one with the plastic guides.