Eastman 632 bell problems

[Adam Plautz]

Hello all!

Recently I purchased a used Eastman 632, the horn is in really great shape and plays really nice. My only complaint is that the bell is starting to get flattening in some spots. Has anyone had a similar experience with this problem, and if so is there any way to prevent it from happening again?

Thanks!

[tbonesullivan]

Where is it starting to get flat/ dented? Do you keep it in a hard case, or a gig bag?

[Matt Walters]

Has anyone had a similar experience with this problem, and if so is there any way to prevent it from happening again?

No. Never happened to mine still sitting on the bell and I have the very first one made in fact. However I see it often enough when people bring their tubas in for servicing. Most often it is found on the side over the top branch. STOP LEANING THE TUBA TOWARD YOU FIRST, before you actually try to pick it up. I see it happen all the time as people play test horns in the store. It makes me cringe but I keep my mouth shut unless they are being too egregious. I also see idiots use the tuba to steady themselves as they are standing up. You are doing something wrong because; Tuba bells don't bend and dent while resting unmolested.

[Chris Olka]

Has anyone had a similar experience with this problem, and if so is there any way to prevent it from happening again?

No. Never happened to mine still sitting on the bell and I have the very first one made in fact. However I see it often enough when people bring their tubas in for servicing. Most often it is found on the side over the top branch. STOP LEANING THE TUBA TOWARD YOU FIRST, before you actually try to pick it up. I see it happen all the time as people play test horns in the store. It makes me cringe but I keep my mouth shut unless they are being too egregious. I also see idiots use the tuba to steady themselves as they are standing up. You are doing something wrong because; Tuba bells don't bend and dent while resting unmolested.

Matt!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you! I absolutely HATE it when folks rock the tubas on the bell when picking it up. They usually look at me stupidly and don’t get it. Oh well, at least you’re confirming this as someone who has to repair the results! Thanks buddy!

[tbonesullivan]

I tuba player I work with has managed to bend the edge of his bell that faces the body of the instrument, mainly by leaning it over when he picks it up while sitting down. Now it won't stand up without resting against something else. Also, most tuba players I know only put it down on the bell for entire tacit movements, not for 20 measures of rest, like this player does.

Of course even with an instrument stand, over exuberant use can lead to damage, like from the bell of a trombone running into the hard part of a trombone stand due to improperly angling the bell.

[tbonesullivan]

Yeah..., also as his tuba is a bit prone to tipping, I'd think keeping it off the ground would be a good idea, at least until he gets that bell crease fixed. It's a Yamaha YBB-321, which has a pretty thick bell, so it must have taken quite a bit of resting on the edge of the bell to do the damage.

[Jjarma01]

I have the same problem with mine. I’ve gotten it rolled out and it came back. I don’t what to do to prevent it.

[toobagrowl]

Seems the Eastman 632 has either a thin-metal bell, or soft-metal bell or both. Like bloke said earlier, wider bell flares are easier to dent or crease; especially if thin or soft. On some tubas, like Cervenys, the metal is thin-guage and soft, and you can actually deform/dent the bell flare by just applying enough pressure with your thumbs!

Tuba and sousa bells are generally easy to crease/dent if not careful, and many tuba players are not aware and not careful enough. Not only do some players tilt the tuba on the bell flare towards them, warping/bending back the rim section of the bell, but some players just set the tuba down too hard on the bell. This either starts to crease the bell, or bends the rim section of the bell. I've seen more than enough tubas with the bell rim section bent back all the way around the entire rim; some of them severe.
The solution is to be more mindful and careful if setting down on the bell, or carefully set the tuba down on the bottom bow while still holding it upright, or setting it carefully in your lap (watch your mpc though)

[P@rick]

Has anyone had a similar experience with this problem, and if so is there any way to prevent it from happening again?

No. Never happened to mine still sitting on the bell and I have the very first one made in fact. However I see it often enough when people bring their tubas in for servicing. Most often it is found on the side over the top branch. STOP LEANING THE TUBA TOWARD YOU FIRST, before you actually try to pick it up. I see it happen all the time as people play test horns in the store. It makes me cringe but I keep my mouth shut unless they are being too egregious. I also see idiots use the tuba to steady themselves as they are standing up. You are doing something wrong because; Tuba bells don't bend and dent while resting unmolested.

Matt!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you! I absolutely HATE it when folks rock the tubas on the bell when picking it up. They usually look at me stupidly and don’t get it. Oh well, at least you’re confirming this as someone who has to repair the results! Thanks buddy!

+1

[NCSUSousa]

First - I 100% agree with Matt and Chris on this. Don't rock the tuba or put any extra weight and you won't dent the bell.

Alternate ways to prevent bell flattening, scuffs in the finish and dents in general:
https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B00TV8IF6S/ ... et="_blank, https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B000EEJ75G/, https://smile.amazon.com/14940-Tuba-Sta ... 000NTBOBC/

My TE tuba has very soft metal in the bell - I notice that it deforms slightly when I set it down on the bell. Even so, I've never made a permanent dent or deformation by doing this. I use a stand (1st link - yes it fits a 4/4 size tuba) all the time because it's a reliable way to prevent dents and keeps it from getting knocked over when I'm not sitting next to it.

[tbonesullivan]

In case anyone was wondering, the Hercules Tuba Stand easily holds both my Euphonium, as well as my Yamaha YBB-631. It can hole a fairly large instrument securely.