I wonder if anyone on the forum has switched from felts and washers on their valves to Alan Baer's PVAK (permanent valve alignment kit). The PVAK is expensive at $180 but is supposed to last for years and a perfect alignment. They're only avail for certain model tubas and euphoniums so far. A tuba friend of mine (who plays the G50 or CB-50) has installed the PVAK on his valves and likes it a lot - but says they're a bit noisier.
Rick Floyd
Miraphone 5050
YEP-641S
Giddings & Webster Kadja or
DE 102 rim; I-cup; I-9 shank
"Don't play the notes, play the meaning of the notes." - Pablo Casals
Symphonic Band of the Palm Beaches
Some audio excerpts:
"A bit noisier" is an understatement.Originally posted by: RickF
A tuba friend of mine (who plays the G50 or CB-50) has installed the PVAK on his valves and likes it a lot - but says they're a bit noisier.
Had a set installed on my Sterling a couple of years ago. Knew I had a problem when folks out in the congregation who don't even play brass instruments started asking about the clicking sound whenever I played.
Pitched 'em and switched to Viton o-rings. Haven't heard a peep since then.
Alan Baer mentions that the o-rings have a smaller contact area than traditional felts. This means that the force/area impulse from the spring action is higher. Combine that with the brass washers, and it seems reasonable that they would be relatively noisy. Perhaps sandwiching the brass washer with two o-rings would solve it, but then there would be 6 pieces per piston. The simple felt system is very appealing. The question is, does the PVAK system really make the horn sound better?
- Carroll
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote