Does anyone have experience comparing spitballs to blow dry brass for on the fly instrument cleaning? If so, do you have a preference?
Does anyone have experience comparing spitballs to blow dry brass for on the fly instrument cleaning? If so, do you have a preference?
I hadn't heard of BlowDry Brass before this post. I looked it up. Seems that product has a bit different purpose. Spitballs for cleaning out gunk, and BlowDry Brass for "drying" your horn after playing to prevent gunk. Or did I get that wrong? And I wonder if you can reuse the BlowDry gizmos as there doesn't appear to be many in the package. I would be interested to hear more from folks who have used both as Roger asks above.
John Morgan
The U.S. Army Band (Pershing's Own) 1971-1976
Adams E3 Custom Series Euphonium, 1956 B&H Imperial Euphonium,
1973 F. E. Olds & Son Studio Model T-31 BaritoneAdams TB1 Tenor Trombone, Yamaha YBL-822G Bass Trombone
Year Round Except Summer:
Kingdom of the Sun (KOS) Concert Band, Ocala, FL (Euphonium)Summer Only:
KOS Brass Quintet (Trombone, Euphonium)
Rapid City Municipal Band, Rapid City, SD (Euphonium)
Rapid City New Horizons Band (Euphonium)
I contacted the Blow Dry folks a while back after I saw an Instagram post from Trent Austin about them. At that time, they only made them for trumpet. Given the larger bore of a modern euphoniium, I would not expect them to do anything substantial for cleaning. They would probably absorb some of the water on their way through, but I doubt it would get the horn "dry" in any real sense. I decided it was not worth the effort to buy some and try them.
If anyone has tried them on euphonium please let us all know!
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
I didn't realize they were only for trumpet, but that answers my question. Thanks, David and John.
I noticed as per this YouTube video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QL8g5AcT7E) that you (Dave) have been using this system (blowing it through the leadpipe and out the tuning slide).
I have picked up one of these, but have modified how I use it slightly. It seemed to me that if you blow this through your horn, you are still putting some moisture from your mouth back into the horn (behind the foam as it goes through the horn). So, I use one of these (see attached image) to blow the foam through. Completely dry air.
Groups
Valley City Community Band
Valley City State University Concert Band
2024 North Dakota Intercollegiate Band (you're never too old!)
Larry Herzog Jr.
All things EUPHONIUM! Guilded server
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
Of course, this is even more of an ordeal when dealing with a trigger (disconnecting that as well as part of the process).
I'm guessing with the air compressor, I could just blow it through the entire horn...probably end up in the bottom bow and then just dump it out. (heck, if that is the case, that might be PREFERABLE to having it go flying out the horn...definitely need to test that out now!)
Groups
Valley City Community Band
Valley City State University Concert Band
2024 North Dakota Intercollegiate Band (you're never too old!)
Larry Herzog Jr.
All things EUPHONIUM! Guilded server