Unsoldered bottom bow

Rick F · Post by **Rick F** » Sat May 27, 2006 10:58 am

What effects could you expect from an unsoldered bottom bow on a euphonium?

A good friend of mine discovered that his bottom bow on his 50 year old Besson euph is loose enough that the end which connects to the bell flair piece is loose and can be moved about 1/8 inch. The brass technician that he would normally use just started a 2-week vacation so immediate repair is not possible. Where the solder came loose, the diameter of the tubing is about 2" - so I wouldn't think an air leak would necessarily be a problem. Wouldn't any effects be more to vibration not being transfered to the bell? Are there any temporary repairs he could do before the tech gets back from vacation in 2 weeks? Or... is it not all that important?

Thanx.

Chuck(G) · Post by **Chuck(G)** » Sat May 27, 2006 11:09 am

There's always this:

Chuck(G) · Post by **Chuck(G)** » Sat May 27, 2006 3:12 pm

Scooby Tuba wrote:]I'm sure Chuck (G) was just kidding and he knows this, too

Only partially. I'd much rather take some mineral spirits to clean off duct tape residue than battle with someone's home-grown epoxy or superglue repair.

Chuck "who's seen much worse stuff than duct tape used to hold a horn together"(G)

Dan Schultz · Post by **Dan Schultz** » Sat May 27, 2006 10:14 pm

Loose joints, braces, and other parts on a horn that are free to vibrate will sap energy from the horn. However, as others have stated, leaks in joints that are in the larger tapers will have little impact on performance... as opposed to leaks in the smaller tubing in the valveset.

Chuck(G) · Post by **Chuck(G)** » Sat May 27, 2006 10:40 pm

montre8 wrote:Chuck,
I once saw an actual organ repair done with "chewing gum and bailing wire". Well actually, it was wax that looked like gum....

but one of our fav phrases was that F. Noack could do major repairs with a Swiss Army knife.

Well, there's always this stuff when you're not using it on fiberglass sousaphones:

iiipopes · Post by **iiipopes** » Sat May 27, 2006 10:47 pm

Yeah, cleaning off the tape gum, even with a product made for the purpose, like Goo-Gone, is a b...., so just snug it up until you can get to your tech for a proper solder job.

Dan Schultz · Post by **Dan Schultz** » Sat May 27, 2006 11:18 pm

Chuck(G) wrote:
montre8 wrote:Chuck,
I once saw an actual organ repair done with "chewing gum and bailing wire". Well actually, it was wax that looked like gum....

but one of our fav phrases was that F. Noack could do major repairs with a Swiss Army knife.
Well, there's always this stuff when you're not using it on fiberglass sousaphones:

I snagged a beat-up European rotary flugelhorn off eBay a little while back that had Bondo covering a serious dent in the bell bow.

Rick F · Post by **Rick F** » Sun May 28, 2006 10:36 am

Thanks guys. I'll pass this info along (sans the duck tape and bondo suggestions).

Much appreciated.

Rick Denney · Post by **Rick Denney** » Tue May 30, 2006 2:42 pm

Rick F wrote:Thanks guys. I'll pass this info along (sans the duck tape and bondo suggestions).

Much appreciated.

Actually, I have this same problem on my old Besson, and I've been too lazy to resolder it.

I just wrapped the joint in electrician's tape for the time being. The "time being" has lasted for well over a year now. Chuck's advice was intended to be funny, but that doesn't make it bad advice if all you want to do is get through the next coupla weeks.

When mine was leaking, though, it did make a difference in the sound and I could hear a little air hissing around the joint. This was the bottom-bow joint upstream from the bell ferrule on the small side of the horn.

Rick "who thinks vinyl tape is an acceptable quick emergency repair for something like this" Denney

iiipopes · Post by **iiipopes** » Tue May 30, 2006 6:34 pm

Hmm. Yes, electricians tape is made to stick to metal, and in my experience it has less residue because as originally intended, you may have to take it off to rewire/resolder, and you can't afford any gunk that will prevent solder flux from doing its job. Just don't stretch it too far putting it on, or it will pop off at the most inopportune moment. I'll have to remember that if I bang a solder joint loose in a bow.