Piston Valves & Gig Bags: A Good Idea?

[Jedi Master]

It occurs to me that pitson valves, specifically the valve stems, are in danger in a gig bag.

I know that Donna Altieri makes a little accessory that can strap the valves down in the depressed position, but I find that it is a little awkward, & time consuming to use (for me).

Does anyone else share the concern that the stems may get bashed, damaging the valves, or am I just being a Nervous Nellie?

[chipster55]

I've got a front-action piston valve horn & I use a gig bag all the time. So far, I haven't had any problems. Just be careful to load it in your vehicle and set it down with the valves up.

[Sandman333]

And don't let anyone else move the tuba in the gigbag, it seems like every time someone starts moving mine (before I catch them) they try to set it down on the valves.

[Donn]

Does anyone else share the concern that the stems may get bashed, damaging the valves, or am I just being a Nervous Nellie?

I've done it - bashed a valve stem - if that that helps (but my gig bag at the time was a large cordura duffel bag, and I don't remember doing any real damage - that Olds 3rd valve stem was already ruined when I bought it.)

Most effective remedy would be to tie them down, but bag design plays a role, too. I would put a panel of something relatively stiff on the valve side. If the bag doesn't already have some reinforcement like that, a scrap of "fluted polypropylene" might work, the yard sign material that looks like corrugated cardboard. It won't completely protect anything, it just prevents the stems from snagging a doorframe or something in the worst way.

[DaTubaKid]

Won't tieing down the valves cause the springs to wear down faster?

[Chuck(G)]

I wonder if damage to valve stems happens more often in the "duffel bag" style than the "clamshell" style of gig bag.

[Donn]

I wonder if damage to valve stems happens more often in the "duffel bag" style than the "clamshell" style of gig bag.

Foam padding could easily stiffen the bag enough to avoid some stem snags, depending on the type of foam and how it's secured to the fabric layers around it. I made my own once, in the "jar" style (i.e., lid zips around the bell rim), and I think this form with fairly stiff foam is moderately snag proof. Damned awkward to use, though.

[DaTubaKid]

Find a little plastic box or tupperware and put it over the valves before you put it in the bag.

Um...the valves could still have a force exerted upon them, causing damage. Simply covering them will prevent them from snagging onto the bag or something, but if you were to bump into something, say a door, with it in the bag, the box wouldn't do much.

Compressing the valves is a different story, though I still wonder how that will affect the springs in the long term. Me thinks having them compressed for more time will cause them to wear down faster.

[cjk]

If your concerned about damage, don't use a gig bag. Use a hard case instead.

[djwesp]

If your concerned about damage, don't use a gig bag. Use a hard case instead.

Wise words.

[WakinAZ]

I was extremely paranoid about this when I had a nice horn, so I fashioned a valve guard out of a plastic pan, as the Bobster suggested. I lined the rim of the pan with a garden hose to minimize scratching. Unless firmly held in place by friction or a bungee, etc., the pan did move around a bit. Always made me wonder if I might have been making the cure about equal to the ill...

Now that I have a well-used horn with widely available replacement parts, I am going to try the no guard method. My ProTec bag has a nice stiff insert in the valve area that actually presses the valves pretty much straight down anyway.

Eric "who would buy a used MTS case that would fit his 1240 with up-bell attached if he could find one" L.

[Lee Stofer]

No doubt about it, front-piston tubas' valve stems are their Achilles' Heel. There is no substitute for exercising care with these tubas, unless you purchase and use a hard case.

That is one reason I've advocate the use of top-piston tubas for school bands, for they are much less susceptible to valve damage. During the years I played Conn 2XJ/3XJ tubas, I never had a stem damaged, because they were safely tucked out of the way. In fact, with the 34J, I never even had a case for it, and used appropriate caution when transporting it.

[Chuck(G)]

That is one reason I've advocate the use of top-piston tubas for school bands, for they are much less susceptible to valve damage. During the years I played Conn 2XJ/3XJ tubas, I never had a stem damaged, because they were safely tucked out of the way. In fact, with the 34J, I never even had a case for it, and used appropriate caution when transporting it.

Lee, that makes (only) two of us. The remainder of TubeNet (at least from a recent poll) seems to think that front-action horns for schools are the best.

My nomination for the best 4 valve full-sized BBb tuba for school use was the YBB-321. I've yet to see one with damaged valve stems--or "crumpled like tinfoil" bell or "golly, it just fell right over" dented top bow and guard of the Miraphone 186 that people seemed to think was so suitable for school use.

Sorry for the rant.

[LoyalTubist]

Actually, rotary valves (the linkages and the other parts that hold the stuff together) can get just as badly damaged as front action piston valves in a gig bag. They are just as vulnerable.