I would like to thank everyone who replied to my original post (I thought the whole point of this site was to get "free advice.") There are a couple of things that I would like to make as clear as I can:
There are no markings on the horn that I can find to identify this horn other than the 'Knopf stuff' on the bell section. I can find no serial number, or the like, anywhere on the instrument. Is there someplace I haven't looked that I should? The 'stuff' I got out of the horn with the cleaning I did (confirmed by the shop that did the ultrasonic cleaning) was black. Some of it was shaped like the inside of the tubing. I don't know if that was old slide grease that had dried out, or if it was actually part of the horn. For all I know, the black stuff was protecting the inside of the instrument. But, if it is some sort of rot that changed the taper of the leadpipe or the inside diameter of the horn, I'd like to know. The thumb rotor, second and third valves are all, if I'm not mistaken, raw brass. The first valve is nickle plated. When aligned, not just by the marks but by looking as best I can down the tubing, using mirrors when needed, the first valve leaks (quite a bit) and the others don't. This is using simple tests taking out a slide, depressing the rotor, blocking the tube and blowing air. All are tight except the first. Also, the first valve doesn't ever visually 'line up.' So I think it's safe to deem the first valve 'different.' Getting the bell cut will probably wait until the rest of the work is done. I had one individual reply off-line with the idea of having the ring soldered onto the horn without actually cutting the bell to simulate having it cut. That sounds reasonable to me with an instrument like this. But I don't think cutting the bell would have the kind of impact something 'upstream' would. Like changing the leadpipe, a valve or some other component. I expect it will change, but the degree to which it does...? The reason I bring it up is: with a compensating horn there is less tubing than a full double - making the bell more significant. Also the lightness of the horn as a whole and the bell section in particular, adding a ring would certainly be more significant than it would be to the Pax 20L, for instance. I guess the jury is still out on this one. I'll keep you posted.... Doug Life is a terminal disease - live with it. _______________________________________________ post: [email protected] unsubscribe or set options at https://pegasus.memphis.edu/cgi-bin/mailman/options/horn/archive%40jab.org
