Home Repairs & Modifications

Repairs & Modifications

Notes on all sorts of horn equipment problems and fixing them

Ask Dave: How Frequently Should I Lubricate My Slides and Valves?

Ed asks: The Hetman site is far from clear in the use/frequency of its oil range. Could you give us some indication of how often...

Ask Dave: The Value of a Professional Instrument Cleaning

A thrifty customer once asked me why he should have his horn professionally cleaned, when he had been cleaning his horn at home in...

Ask Dave: How Do I Fix the Cork on my Water...

Tyler asks: Hey Dave! The cork on my water key is leaking and needs to be replaced. I'm not seeing anywhere to buy a pre-shaped cork...

Ask Dave: What Can I Do About a Leak?

Ryan asks: I've been using a older, heavily used Conn 6D until I can afford a better horn. It has a few quirks, but it's...

Ask Dave: Where Do I Go to Get a Quality Valve...

Chris asks: I have a Yamaha 667 that I have had considerable work done to. I love the horn and am ready for the last...

How to Clean a Horn Mouthpiece and Sanitize a Lead Pipe

When I regularly taught beginning horn students, a portion of the very first lessons were usually devoted to maintenance of the instrument. This included mouthpiece...

Ask Dave: How do I Re-cork a Mute?

Mathew asks: What advice or tricks can you provide for re-corking a mute, both successful removal of the old cork and application of the new...

Ask Dave: How Can I Raise the Conn 8D Thumb Lever?

Suzanne asks: I have a student with a Conn 8D mechanical Bb valve.  Is there any way I can raise this valve?  His hands are...

Ask Dave: Can a valve be chrome-plated to decrease “slop”?

Steve asks: I am a mechanical engineer- I specialize in machine design... close-tolerance design is my specialty.  I am looking to buy a used double...

Ask Dave: How can I play high notes without squeezing them...

Shane asks: How can I play the high notes without squeezing them out? Dave replies: At first, I was going to overlook this question as a practice...