TromboneChat

Never considered a convertible horn as a maintenance plus but took the valve out of my Shires Q to make it more convenient to clean some gunk that was starting to live in my F attachment. Made it much easier to clean the F attachment tubing without any chance of damaging the bell. I was somewhat surprised how easy it came apart and went back together too.

Just a thot....

Modularity was initially added due to the way that Thayer valves are shaped. To do regular maintenance on them, you have to disattach it from the bell!

Definitely less of a hassle to clean/service valves on a valve section only.

Matt K wrote: ↑Wed Sep 11, 2024 12:47 pm Modularity was initially added due to the way that Thayer valves are shaped. To do regular maintenance on them, you have to disattach it from the bell!

Interestingly, Thayers were not modular originally. It was necessary for the top to be removable, but the bottom was permanently attached to the bell brace.

I wonder if anyone ships (or baggage checks) bell sections disassembled. Seems to me it would lessen any impact damage on the bell flare because the valve weight is detached.

The way the bell is packed makes much more of a difference than if the valve section is attached or not.

AtomicClock wrote: ↑Thu Sep 12, 2024 12:42 am I wonder if anyone ships (or baggage checks) bell sections disassembled. Seems to me it would lessen any impact damage on the bell flare because the valve weight is detached.

We did not ship this way when I was working at Shires, but for personal travel it is something Steve Shires has recommended. If you're flying in such a way that you must check a suitcase and a trombone case, you can reduce the risk by packing the valve section (and maybe the main tuning slide) in the middle of the suitcase and immobilizing the bell in the trombone case by packing clothes around it.

Also, Matthew is right.

From a construction/assembly and buffing perspective, open wrap modular bells are much easier to prepare. When the bell is removed, it is much more convenient to buff almost every spot of the F-attachment with a buffing wheel…… same for the bell when it is not attached to the valve section. Other wrap designs and non-modular bell sections require hand wicking because the design creates more nooks and crannies.

Modular instruments are great for the maker's bank accounts as the design entices everyone to try virtually everything they make so see if it makes a difference in our playing. Most of us will admit that it really makes relatively little difference compared to what we spend.