Miraphone 1291 slides...???

[Charlie Goodman]

I have a 1291, and I too had the third valve problem. My main slide, too, falls out all the time, unless I take the super-sticky slide grease that came with the horn and put ridiculous amounts on. I tried the stickiest kind of Hetman's, and when I played you could literally see the slide going down.

About the second slide shooting off... I think it's possessed. The pistons should be vented, so there's no logical explaination. I'd check with your priest and have the horn exorcized.

It's the only way.

[zeman23]

i own the 4 valve BBb version of the 1291, and i have exactly the same problem with the main tuning slide being too loose. i use liberal amounts of hetman's ultra slide grease, and it mostly works. i try to keep an eye on it as i play, as it will eventually work its way down. i am amazed at how common this problem seems to be. i had figured myself to be the only lucky one.

-Zack

[adam0408]

Yeah I agree. I think it is possesed. I really just want to play the horn and not worry about it, but this problem is very much at the forefront of my mind everytime I sit down with it. I am kind of miffed that I payed 6,000 dollars for a horn and it has a stupid problem like that. Other than that the 1291 continues to surprise me in a good way.

[bigboom]

In the comunity orchestra I play in all of the trombones have the tuning slide on the slde itself but it uses like a screw and a nut, very similar to the 3rd valve slide on some trumpets, that holds it in position. how hard would this be for a repairman to do to a tuba? You would probably have to get a bit long screw and mad it so you could disengage on end to be able to remove the slide completely for greasing and such. just an idea.

Ben

[Paul S]

I'm surprised nobody said this yet...
In the meantime, how about a piece of string to keep it from falling off...low tech but also low budget.

Rose,

I think it is beacuse no woman had posted yet. We men like to break into over-engineering mode first unless it can involve duct tape or #9 wire.

[MaryAnn]

I'm surprised nobody said this yet...

In the meantime, how about a piece of string to keep it from falling off...low tech but also low budget.

HA! I was getting ready to say that myself, after I finished the thread.
Woman brain.

MA

[zeman23]

the problem with a piece of string is that it requires a small amount of forethought and planning, and really, who can be bothered with that?

on the other hand, a strip of cloth torn from a dirty rag in your case....

-Zack

[Tabor]

Is there is crud built up or in the vents on the pistons? Perhaps a good cleaning could help.

Secondly, I would use a heavy, stickier cream of some kind. If this didn't work, I'd fork over the money to take it to a pro.

I have never had a problem like this with my Mirafone 186 BBb.

The third, and I think the best soloution is to just trade me straight across.

-Tabor

[Charlie Goodman]

My teacher suggested the string thing, the only issue is that there's not a really good way to get it on the number three slide, and I usually use both of them to dump water. Also, with the string on the main slide, tuning becomes a bit of an issue.

[Ryan_Beucke]

If it is a new tuba, shouldn't it have a warranty? You could probably bring it to a shop that deals Mira stuff and they might do it for free under the warranty. Otherwise, I doubt having the tubes expanded would cost very much.

[adam0408]

good news! I think slathering the slide with grease solved the problem. I also very gently and carefully moved the slides outward a miniscule amount, and they seemed to spring back into place. Afterwards the slide seemed to slide in and out at the perfect velocity. Now I can go back to learning fingerings\, and not worrying about slides popping out.

[Tabor]

Ok, but my offer (and the best soloution) still stands.

[tubatooter1940]

My repair guy recommends white grease in a spray can.My slides on my 1940 King are a little too hard to pull.