TubaForum.net

Okay, I am going to open a big pot of worms.

Tell me everything you know about repadding and adding springs to the keywork on an ophicleide.

Or, general ophicleide discussion.

I know people are going to pound on me, but -- Ophicleides: why?

arpthark wrote: ↑Fri Dec 01, 2023 2:21 pm Okay, I am going to open a big pot of worms.

Tell me everything you know about repadding and adding springs to the keywork on an ophicleide.

Or, general ophicleide discussion.

Hi-
You can use sax pads, Kangaroo pads, etc. If the springs are broken, etc, replace them. On ophs and keyed bugles, leaks need to checked on the chimneys to make sure they are sealed.
My Gautrot C needs a repad...just have been lazy taking it in to have it done...
Mark

bisontuba wrote: ↑Fri Dec 01, 2023 4:16 pm

arpthark wrote: ↑Fri Dec 01, 2023 2:21 pm Okay, I am going to open a big pot of worms.

Tell me everything you know about repadding and adding springs to the keywork on an ophicleide.

Or, general ophicleide discussion.

Hi-
You can use sax pads, Kangaroo pads, etc. If the springs are broken, etc, replace them. On ophs and keyed bugles, leaks need to checked on the chimneys to make sure they are sealed.
My Gautrot C needs a repad...just have been lazy taking it in to have it done...
Mark

Thanks Mark. Sending you an email shortly.

arpthark wrote: ↑Fri Dec 01, 2023 2:21 pmgeneral ophicleide discussion.

Sax pads are a great improvement as long as the keys are cupped.

I've added a half-step higher tone hole and accompanying key, repadded (white kid), and new springs (a Gautrot).

Mrs. bloke refused.

I don't remember much about it, other than that.

' not interested in doing it again, nor knowing any more about it. I had to voice it, but the player had to be there for me to do that.

LibraryMark wrote: ↑Fri Dec 01, 2023 2:39 pm I know people are going to pound on me, but -- Ophicleides: why?

Why do people still ride on horseback? Or keep steam engines running? -- If the love bug will bite you...

I know nothing of ophicleides, but old saxophones sometimes have soldered toneholes. That is, the cylindrical rim of the hole is fashioned separately and attached to the body, rather than extruded from the body. With the passage of much time, the solder can fall out, and you have another place for a leak.

The best thing, in that somewhat unlikely case, is stop it up with some cyanoacrylate super glue, so that if it ever falls into the hands of a real instrument repair technician and he or she puts a torch to it, he or she will be inhaling some nice cyanide compounds! Ha ha! No.

(By the way, Martin saxophones, from later in the 20th century, with soldered tone holes, that's the good stuff. I never heard of any problem with that, I'm talking about an old French sax from the '20s.)

Are the springs on ophicleides more similar to sax springs or water key springs?

Very close to pulling the trigger on a mid-19th c. Schmidt. Wish me luck!

arpthark wrote: ↑Sat Jan 06, 2024 11:01 am Very close to pulling the trigger on a mid-19th c. Schmidt. Wish me luck!

I believe there's one made under the supervision of French technicians called J.N. Beau.

arpthark wrote: ↑Sat Dec 02, 2023 8:50 am Are the springs on ophicleides more similar to sax springs or water key springs?

Yes.