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Thread: 4th valve cover

  1. 4th valve cover

    Most 3+1 compensating euphoniums have a swinging cover that can hold down the 4th valve. I don't know what it's for; I just assume it is there to protect the valve when not in use. But is it ever used while playing? With the 4th valve depressed, the instument is effectively a small F tuba. But with only 3 valves, some slide pulling would help. So the valve lock could hold the valve down, freeing up the left hand to pull slides, finally allowing an in-tune low B.

    But that seems awfully fussy and complicated.

  2. #2

    4th valve cover

    I have fooled around with the valve locked down, but it is not very comfortable to play that way - pretty stuffy feeling and sounding. My opinion is that the lock is there strictly to protect the valve stem (and the inside of the instrument case, too).

    By the way, I just put up a blog post about a maintenance tip for this lock mechanism:

    4th Valve Lock and Valve Noise
    Dave Werden (ASCAP)
    Euphonium Soloist, U.S. Coast Guard Band, retired
    Adams Artist (Adams E3)
    Alliance Mouthpiece (DC3)
    YouTube: dwerden
    Facebook: davewerden
    Twitter: davewerden
    Instagram: davewerdeneuphonium

  3. 4th valve cover

    a little bit of sticky tack on the branch (where it contacts when open) can help alleviate buzzes.

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