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Tom N. wrote:It is like it is plugged up. I've checked and everything is clear

So it's plugged up, or it's clear? Neck, bits, and all?

Does it play when you push the valves? Are the valves on the right order? Are the valves lined up correctly?

As a fellow sousaphone player, I would strongly suggest that you take it to a repair shop that you know and trust and let them see what the problem might be. Best for the experts to know than to do something that might make the situation worse.

Hank74

I know you say they're in the right order, but I don't know what lengths you went to to be SURE they're in the right order. I got a bargain on a baritone horn several years ago because it was "all stopped up". Sure enough, a couple of valves were switched.
______________________________
Joe Baker, who knows how easily this can happen.

Do the valves have a serial number on them? Is it the right serial number? Pull the second valve slide. Push down the second valve. Can you see if the tubing lines up with the valve? Same for the first, although you'll have to look in a little bit further. (If the valves seem the correct height when up, chances are they're not far off at full height)

Pull out the main tuning slide and see if you can blow through the after-valve part of the sousaphone. Also see if you can blow through the valve section. That way you can see which half of the horn has the problem. (That is assuming that the tuning slide is after the valves on that instrument, and not in the lead pipe.)

Just because air will pass through the instrument doesn't mean it's not plugged up. It's not uncommon to find pennies and dimes wedged in the main tuning slide that allow air to pass, but mess up the way the sousie plays.

Run a snake through all of the main tubing.

Also, check for leaks--a leak can make a horn seem stuffy.

Tom N. wrote:There are no obstructions in any part of the horn. When I put it in its case it was one year out of overhaul.

I found a plastic bottle of valve oil wedged in a used horn. The only way I knew there was an obstruction was that a magnetic dent eraser ball would hang up. I wasted many hours trying to get that plastic bottle out with water and a plumbing snake. The plastic bottle finally came out using small lead weights.

Sousaphones make great targets for everything--from pennies to cotton candy balls.

Maybe something from the case itself go stuck somewhere in there?

Tom N. wrote:My Conn Sousaphone sat for 14 months in its case. I took it out to play at an outdoor performance our community band had last month and it just flat won't play. It is like it is plugged up. I've checked and everything is clear. It was fine when I put it in its case when I bought my tuba.
For six months it sat at the store where I got my tuba as they said they would try to sell it for me.
Can someone please offer a clue as to the possible problem.
Thanks

Well, Tom... what have you found out? The "freak jury" is on the edge of its seats wondering what was causing the problem with your Suzy.
_____________________
Joe Baker, who mostly hopes you have found and corrected whatever the problem was.

bloke wrote:Ship me the instrument along with $1000. I promise to (at least) diagnose and (possibly) repair the problem. I'll also (if appropropriate) return any portion of the $1000 not required for the diagnosis/repair and return shipping.

Yeah, me too, but I'll do it for $950!






...all sales final.

hey, i'll do it for $850!!! No wait, only $700

tubaribonephone wrote:hey, i'll do it for $850!!! No wait, only $700

Ah, the Earl Scheib of tuba repair:

Ah, the Earl Scheib of tuba repair:

But I bet Bloke's repair won't flake off in a year.

bloke wrote:

Six months of the dorment period was at the music store that was "trying to sell it for me".

Please do not name this music store!...

...but I would hate to think (as Conn model 14/36K valves are no longer made) that you were the victim of a "valve swap".

This certainly seems to be the only reasonable explanation for this kind of "change" in valves sitting in a horn in a case. Valves don't spontaneously wear down from lack of use. Very Fishy.

bloke wrote:

Six months of the dorment period was at the music store that was "trying to sell it for me".

Please do not name this music store!...

...but I would hate to think (as Conn model 14/36K valves are no longer made) that you were the victim of a "valve swap".

I can't imagine the store where the sousa is now being fixed being able to correct .008" in piston wear with a lathe Someone please find out what kind of attachment they have for their lathe that ADDS material. I wanna buy one

bloke wrote: You just aren't up with the latest developments in instrument restoration technology (IRT). If you had made it to the last NAPBIRT convention, you would have been introduced to the NEW Ferree's "valve swedging lathe".

Dang I gotta get out more. Who is this Ferree's person, anyway

Git 'er done

TubaTinker wrote:[ Someone please find out what kind of attachment they have for their lathe that ADDS material. I wanna buy one

Dan, Dan, Dan. That's what the "reverse" switch is for on your lathe. Dint nobody teach you nothing?

I tried it with some threaded rod. Danged if it didn't fill those threads right in, smooth as a baby's bottom! The rod was a little smaller afterwards, but I figure that no process is perfect...and it hardly made a dent in the swarf I'd piled in to feed the cutter...

Chuck(G) wrote:

TubaTinker wrote:[ Someone please find out what kind of attachment they have for their lathe that ADDS material. I wanna buy one

Dan, Dan, Dan. That's what the "reverse" switch is for on your lathe. Dint nobody teach you nothing?

I tried it with some threaded rod. Danged if it didn't fill those threads right in, smooth as a baby's bottom! The rod was a little smaller afterwards, but I figure that no process is perfect...and it hardly made a dent in the swarf I'd piled in to feed the cutter...

I'm thinking more along the lines of a time machine

Hold on! You esteemed gentlemen seem to have already discounted the most obvious explanation... that the tuba got bigger!