Posted by Matt Walters on September 07, 2000 at 10:37:48:
In Reply to: Problem with an Alexander posted by Ed Franks on September 06, 2000 at 22:01:04:
Thanks for the compliments guys. Yes, this should be a straight forward job. YOU need to do a little detective work FIRST.
With the tuner on, play your 2nd space bass cleff C (if a CC tuba) and let it be wherever it is when the main tuning slide is in. Check the octave below it to see if you are + or - 10 cents. [You need to prove we are not cutting the horn bassed on one particularly flat note.] Record how many cents you are flat. Don't allow yourself to try and lip it in tune. You should know where your embrochure feels right.
Now, with that same well centered embrochure, pull the tuning slide out until the horn is the same ADDITIONAL amount flat when you play the same notes. 100 cents equals a half step so you may have to do a lttle math. i.e. 40 cents flat on a C plus 40 cents flatter will give you a reading of 20 cents sharp on a B natural. MEASURE the slide pull PER SIDE not combined, and record it. Try a couple of times and over a day or two.
Can we shorten your main tuning slide and still leave you enough tuning slide pull? If less than 3" each side will remain, we have to be a little more involved.
WARNING: Did you check for leaks first? The horn can play great and still have a leak which will make it play flat.
Check every inch from mpc to dog leg after the tuning slide. Hopefully there are one or more air leaks that can be easily fixed and save you money. If you have worn leaky valves, well that is a different matter.
That should get you started. Do the research yourself and you can save a lot of money come repair time.
Matt Walters