Slide shortening?

[willthetubaguy]

My main CC horn’s 4th valve slide won’t go in all the way. There’s a ring on the outer slide that prevents it from going in all the way, and it prevents me from playing some notes in tune without using alternate fingerings. Should I cut down the inner slide to where it hits the ring when all the way pushed in? Would this effect the sound of the horn?

[Tom]

Are you 100% sure that it is the correct slide and that it is correctly oriented (ie not flipped 180 degrees)?

On many tubas the slides can be inserted backwards unnoticed and will work fine that way until you try to push them all the way in and realize they bottom out before the ferrules sit flush. I think this is what you’re telling us, so my first suggestion is to flip the slide 180 degrees and try it again. Assuming it is the correct slide, it will probably fix your problem.

It could be a factory flaw but I really kinda doubt it. Let us know. I’m curious about it.

[willthetubaguy]

Are you 100% sure that it is the correct slide and that it is correctly oriented (ie not flipped 180 degrees)?

On many tubas the slides can be inserted backwards unnoticed and will work fine that way until you try to push them all the way in and realize they bottom out before the ferrules sit flush. I think this is what you’re telling us, so my first suggestion is to flip the slide 180 degrees and try it again. Assuming it is the correct slide, it will probably fix your problem.

It could be a factory flaw but I really kinda doubt it. Let us know. I’m curious about it.

Nope, it’s the same both ways. I’ll post pics tomorrow.

[tbonesullivan]

That's pretty strange. Almost sounds like they put the wrong slide on the horn.