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December 28, 2005
Good News and Bad news
I took apart this horn today. Some good things and bad things I've noticed:
Good:
It came apart. I actually had bought some penetrating oil for this thing thinking that I would have more trouble. Luckily, all the screws came loose with just about no issue at all.
It still has the Buescher snaps.
This horn has what is called "Snap-In Pads. The pads were designed to snap in with a metal resonator snap. You lift out the snap and take out the pad.
Bad:
A couple of rods are seriously bent, but that's really no big deal. Just means an excuse to buy another piece of equipment. Maybe I can find a used bench motor.
Worse:
Somebody in their infinite wisdom used an enormous amount of shellac on the pads. So, when I heated it up to get the shellac loose, the snap came out with the pad. It looks to have been re-soldered at some point, so I think someone just did a bad solder job. I'm heating pad cups up with a mini-butane torch, I wouldn't think it's enough to make those come un-done. I think I'm going to drop a line to another tech and see if perhaps I should have it silver soldered back in.
These pads should have little to no glue. Ideally none, but perhaps just a tack to keep it from spinning around. These have a TON of glue in them. It won't be pretty.
Posted by amy at 2:23 PM | Comments (0)
December 27, 2005
Buescher True-Tone Alto
I recently obtained this Buescher True Tone Alto circa 1922-1924. It is a low pitch model in need of a total restoration. I will update the entries on this with pictures as I work on it. I have not attempted any disassembly yet as I wanted to document its condition before I did so.
More pictures in the extended entry. . .
As you will see from this picture, someone shoved a mouthpiece or something on this poor workhorse and couldn't get it off. They ended up breaking the mouthpiece and leaving the shank. I will probably have to take a saw to this.
Posted by amy at 11:44 AM | Comments (0)
December 1, 2005
End of Semester headaches
I have several performances coming up and no time to really focus on what I am working on. I feel like I'm just going around in circles. Working on the next up and coming thing and not getting any further ahead on anything else coming up afterwards. I'm anxious to get through the semester so I can start to focus on my recital material.
Posted by amy at 9:49 PM | Comments (0)