Holding Your Horn & Spit Valve on Main Tuning Slide

[ChristianeSparkle]

Dear all,

Would like to tap into your collective wisdom on this. I use a left hand strap on my horn because it is easier for me to hold the horn, and I usually hold it at a slight angle to have it be more comfortable. The issue I have is that if i try to have the horn against my body, whether it is standing or sitting,I would eventually have my tummy press against the slip valve, opening it and screwing with my sound. Does anyone else have such an issue?

Aside from maybe losing weight and have a flat belly, is there any other easy workaround for this? Short of actually holding the horn away from my body (which I do, but it's so taxing on my hands). I have yet to find a good fix for this, even when sitting down.

[John Morgan]

I can see how that might happen, that is, to have the spit valve opened by you pressing against it. Do you have a main slide trigger on your Neo? I'm thinking you don't. Even though this may be a little bit inconvenient, you could wrap something around the spit valve to keep it from opening (rubber band, better yet a zip tie colored to match your horn). Then just pull the slide to empty the water like you have to for some of the other slides.

[davewerden]

I have Amado keys on my Adams. For the main tuning slide I specified that the key be installed "backward" to the plunger/button is on the front side of the slide. That way my stomach can't accidentally push it open and is it still quite easy to reach the button with a left-hand finger to empty it. A repair shop could do this modification for you.

I also considered Saturn water keys, but, aside from appearance I consider awkward, the tuning slide would have had the same vulnerability.

[ChristianeSparkle]

I have Amado keys on my Adams. For the main tuning slide I specified that the key be installed "backward" to the plunger/button is on the front side of the slide. That way my stomach can't accidentally push it open and is it still quite easy to reach the button with a left-hand finger to empty it. A repair shop could do this modification for you.

I also considered Saturn water keys, but, aside from appearance I consider awkward, the tuning slide would have had the same vulnerability.

Wanted to check, are there different sizes for the amado keys? OR are they all 1 size fit all (for all instruments)

I was considering the Saturn key, but good point about having the same vulnerability, since it can be pushed anywhere!

Also that's a good tip about installing the Amado key the other way to avoid accidentally pushing it open!

[davewerden]

My first horn had standard Amado keys. I had my repair tech drill them out so the hole was more practical.

Now Adams is using their own version, so the size is correct for the horn they put them on.