Newbie with repair question
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I am a beginner. I have a trumpet for which one of the valves does not do anything. You can press it down but it does not modify tone in any manner. The other two seem to function reasonably well. I want to get going and start practicing with all three valves is there anything I can do short of taking it in for an overhaul which may cost as much as a used trumpet in better condition?
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@jessie Can you post a very short video to help us understand the problem better? It sounds weird, but we will try to help.
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If you’re certain that you have the valves in the right holes, then the one that doesn’t work correctly may not be turned correctly for the guide to lock in, which lines all the valve passages up.
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@jessie We need more information from you, but you might try this first:
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@jessie, Technically EVERY valve ALWAYS does something - maybe not what we want, but something. This has nothing to do with being a beginner.
The lips are the tone generator. I will assume that you can play a low C, a second line G and a third space C reliably.
The ONLY choices are: the valves lower the pitch or they prevent air from going through/are VERY, VERY stuffy. If the horn is complete, there is no chance that they have no function.
On an open low C the pitch must change. On an open second line G, no valve and valves 1+3 CAN have the same pitch. On an open third space C, 2+3 can have the same pitch. On an open 4th space E, 3 or 1+2 can have the same pitch. For beginners, we do not need to even talk about higher notes.
If the beginner has no reliable pitch whatsoever (or just blows air through the horn), then the valve makes a difference, but the weak embouchure is not capable of sustaining any tone. In any case I suggest getting a lesson to get the hang of playing resonant tones - and getting the horn checked out. The lesson does not have to be from a virtuoso. A music teacher in school or one of the better brass players in a school or community band can speed up the learning process a lot.
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Hey I just picked up a used Ambassador on CL. WOrks fine. But I have no clue even which youtube lesssons to start with. It's a little embarassing being a complete newbie but I love the tones I get.
Actually I am afraid to play the new one until I figure out whether or not it is properly lubricated. Someone somewhere warned me you can ruin a trumpet that has been sitting if it is not properly lubricated.
So for now I am afraid to touch it. It is just sitting there. I did pick up a sax, but it does not have that same trumpet effect that I enjoyh, using the diagr]phragm and really putting some umph into it as only trumpet acheives. -
Here's a reasonable video about cleaning and lubricating your trumpet:
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@j-jericho Thank you. Interesting experiment here: can an online community guide me into appreciation of a new art form in a way that the Real World (TM) cannot. I suspect so, based upon the kind assistance offered in this thread. And without the condescension one would expect to encounter our there in the so called RW.
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@jessie You've found a community consisting of members willing and able to help. We are also members of the real world.
