Mack Brass Valve Section Swap
Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2018 1:45 am
Howdy folks,
First post on the TubeNet! Here goes:
My current horn is a Mack Brass 410 CC. It's great, I like it, it's a tuba. However, the valves are unsurprisingly Chinese. They work, albeit very loudly and tend to unwork themselves frequently. I quickly replaced the synthetic bumpers with neoprene a month after puchase, as I sort of sliced them in half by just using them. Never had that problem before.
Anyway, if I can avoid it, I don't want to invest in a new instrument. I happen to really like the way this one responds and how well intonated it naturally is. I just get frustrated any time I practice because the valves clank and unwork at least once a week. I want to upgrade this instrument with a set of German Miraphone 186 valves.
My questions are:
Does anyone have experience with this?
How did it turn out?
Which year of a 186 swaps most easily?
Did you swap an entire valve section, or just the likages?
Are the valves interchangeable between casings?
Should I bother?
Am I crazy?
How do you get better at low notes?
But really, if there is some other forum, or if I'm better off saving up for a used 186, I'm all ears. Thanks a bunch!
First post on the TubeNet! Here goes:
My current horn is a Mack Brass 410 CC. It's great, I like it, it's a tuba. However, the valves are unsurprisingly Chinese. They work, albeit very loudly and tend to unwork themselves frequently. I quickly replaced the synthetic bumpers with neoprene a month after puchase, as I sort of sliced them in half by just using them. Never had that problem before.
Anyway, if I can avoid it, I don't want to invest in a new instrument. I happen to really like the way this one responds and how well intonated it naturally is. I just get frustrated any time I practice because the valves clank and unwork at least once a week. I want to upgrade this instrument with a set of German Miraphone 186 valves.
My questions are:
Does anyone have experience with this?
How did it turn out?
Which year of a 186 swaps most easily?
Did you swap an entire valve section, or just the likages?
Are the valves interchangeable between casings?
Should I bother?
Am I crazy?
How do you get better at low notes?
But really, if there is some other forum, or if I'm better off saving up for a used 186, I'm all ears. Thanks a bunch!