Trumpet won’t play
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I bought a no-brand-name used trumpet at an auction. It will play nothing. There was one sticky valve but I oiled it and it is ok but the trumpet still won’t play. I removed all the tuning slides, cleaned and oiled them and checked the body of the trumpet for obstructions and found none. The valves are numbered 1,2,3, and are in their casings also numbered 1.2,3, with the numbers facing toward the mouthpiece. I have tried reversing the orientation of the valves. No sound. I have tried the valves in the “wrong” casing, in all combinations. No sound. When the tuning slides are removed, I noted that the 2 holes of valve #1 were 1/2 open and closed, respectively, when not pressed, and open and open, when pressed. In valve #2 it was 2/3 open and closed when not pressed and open and open, when pressed. In valve #3, it was 1/2 open and closed when not pressed, and open and open when pressed. Can anyone tell from this description what )is wrong? I used to play cornet years ago but can do nothing with this trumpet.
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There are many reasons why this could be happening, but lets assume the instrument should play and you have the right valves for the instrument.
I assume from your post that the air is being blocked somehow so I will address that.
There could be some blockage in for example the ports between the valves.
Let us first try to make sure the valves are in the right chambers.
Remove all the valves.
Now blow into the mouthpipe and see if air freely exits the mouthpipe into the third chamber with no restriction.
If it does place the third valve in its chamber and secure it with valve guide located. Then blow again into the mouthpipe. If the air is blocked then you have a wrong valve or a valve wrongly fitted.
Reseat the valve 180 degrees apart and see if the air now blows through.
If you cannot get the air to blow through then it is probably a wrong valve try the others and see if the air will blow through.
If the air blows through with the third valve fitted then move on to the second.
Fit the second valve and try to blow through, if you cannot blow through then try the valve 180 degrees the other way.
If you can blow through then fit the first valve and try to blow through.
I know it sounds a bit daft but this method should reveal if the air will move through the instrument with no valves pressed, and also will check all ports between valves are clear.
Once the air blows through you can test there is no blockage in the valve slides by blowing through and then as you blow press a valve.
Once you have made sure air passes through the instrument with no valves pressed and with each valve pressed then there is no blockages.
I assume that one of these tests will reveal a blockage somewhere.
If no blockages exists then you should have the valves all correctly fitted and the instrument should then play.
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I tried each step in the order that you instructed and found no blockages. The only thing I noticed is that the cork separator in the third valve is broken in half but is still held in place between the washer and the piston. The trumpet will not play.
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ok so far so good.
What exactly do you mean by it wont play when you try to play a note what happens.
It is unusual for an instrument that appears to be clear of obstructions to make no noise at all.
It could be a strangled sound for example. Or some notes might play and others not play.
Also what markings are on the instrument are there any names or engravings or model numbers
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@stephanurus said in Trumpet won’t play:
I tried each step in the order that you instructed and found no blockages. The only thing I noticed is that the cork separator in the third valve is broken in half but is still held in place between the washer and the piston. The trumpet will not play.
Hey! I just got it to play! But I had to blow quite hard. I used to play cornet 60 years ago and don’t remember the cornet being this hard to play. It requires an almost superhuman effort to sound anything. That can’t be right.
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I am also going to make a suggestion and please dont be upset at this, but remove the mouthpiece and play for a while on that alone.
It has been a long time since you played and perhaps the instrument is introducing some kind or resistance to you that makes it hard for you to sound notes.
If you buzz notes and tunes successfully and strongly into the mouthpiece alone and then bring that technique to the instrument perhaps that will assist you in overcoming any problems that the instrument might have.
I sometimes have difficulty sounding notes myself so it is no embarrassment particularly on an instrument that is unfamiliar to you
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“Reynolds Metalist Made in U.S.A”, serial number 135497 (on the #2 valve casing. “Strangled” is a good descriptive term for how it sounds, and there was only a single pitch that did not change when the valves were pressed.
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Our messages crossed.
I am very happy you sorted it out.
Dont worry the trumpet is a quite different instrument in many ways and the mouthpiece might be causing an issue for you.
I would first of all practice sounding notes by thinking of breathing rather than blowing, but this may be difficult at first.
What mouthpiece is it can you read any markings on it.
And by the way if the instrument is a little bit full of dust and other stuff that can cause it to be difficult to play.
A good internal clean may be called for.
Trumpets play easier the cleaner they are generally.
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Ok first of all dont panic it may be that the instrument is gunged up and needs a really good clean.
I would also suggest that the corks are falling apart, and the water valves corks are probably leaking.
Bad or leaking corks can make an instrument sound strangled. I would take it to a good tech and ask them to make it playable, basically a cork and felt replacement and that should only cost a few dollars and will make a world of difference.
Also they will check the valves are all seated correctly and working correctly.
The instrument sounds like a Reynolds Medalist trumpet these were a premier student trumpet from a great manufacturer and they had many features of professional instruments. It sounds like you have a very good instrument there that is well worth having a tech check it over and it will help you to develop for many years.
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The mouthpiece is silver-colored (the trumpet is brass) and is marked “RMC 7”. It is 3.25 inches long.
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Ive checked the RMC brand it is unfamiliar to me however it appears to be a custom mouthpiece made by Martin to accompany the Committee trumpet.
In other words a specialist high quality mouthpiece.
It may be that your instrument was owned and played by a professional many professionals have played on high quality student instruments like yours.
Some mouthpieces can make it difficult to play, I would look after that mouthpiece as it seems to be a high quality antique, and perhaps get a more usual mouthpiece perhaps a Bach 7c, I would try a few out or get some advice.
Getting a good mouthpiece that suits you and suits your level of play is important so I would look to get a mouthpiece that fits you and that might make playing more pleasurable and easier for you at this stage.
And by the way welcome to the site.
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This is all just speculative. I would take a two-pronged approach,
- Take the horn to a technician.
- Get some lessons.
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@stephanurus said in Trumpet won’t play:
Hey! I just got it to play! But I had to blow quite hard. I used to play cornet 60 years ago and don’t remember the cornet being this hard to play. It requires an almost superhuman effort to sound anything. That can’t be right.
Do you have a friend who plays the trumpet? If so, let him/her try the horn, to see if it's difficult to play. If it is, then take it to a tech.
Mike
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@stephanurus said in Trumpet won’t play:
I bought a no-brand-name used trumpet at an auction.
OK. You bought a no-brand-name used trumpet at an auction and it doesn't work. Why would anyone buy any trumpet without trying it first? But, don't fret. With a few parts from The Home Depot, you can make a lamp out of it. I did that with a cheap trumpet and it is a great conversation piece. Ollie's sells beautiful lamp shades for $10.
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If the horn isn’t stopped up and it’s very difficult to play, your water key(s) may be leaking badly. Of course, if you haven’t touched a horn in 60 years, it’s probably you. Taking a break from playing for that long is like starting over.
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I will defend the OP here.
I know the general advice to never buy a horn without play testing it is good advice but I have never followed it myself.
Almost every instrument I have purchased has been from an auction purchased without playing it and they all turned out to be excellent although some needed a little work.
Let us not forget that the OP is unable to test an instrument and conclude reliably if it is worth buying so it had to be a gamble.
Good vintage instruments are well made and can usually be relied upon to perform well if given a chance.
The OP appears to have a Reynolds Medalist and that is a good horn equivalent to any of Bach Selmer Reynolds Olds Yamaha Holton King etc.
I would as kehaulani suggests place it in the hands of a tech and find out just how good or bad it is before writing it off.
You may be right Bermuda, home depot might be the only option but a good tech will of course help and advise if that is the only option, and an assessment of the horn to find out if it is worth spending money on it might even be a very low cost first step.
It is a risky strategy I know but I have never regretted buying without playing as long as the instrument being offered is a quality instrument from a quality manufacturer and all parts appear to be present.
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Our dear friend Gordon once sent me a gift package with several cornets in it: A Buescher Aristocrat that to this day is my main axe in jazz, an Elkhart by Buescher that's middle of the road but unusual for its pig's tail wrap, and a King Tempo that was absolutely airtight. I tried everything - washing through, snake, spitballs... nothing worked. Finally, in desperation, I gave it to Votruba's. And they put their endoscope inside and as a result unsoldered the bell. What did they find? An ancient wad of chewing gum that someone had rammed down the bell.
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@stephanurus Does water run through it?
