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Thread: Red rot... Or not?

  1. #1

    Red rot... Or not?

    Hi Guys,

    I bought a second hand euphonium . I only discovered a few spots now, hoping it is not red rot. Could you take a look at the image to examine? I am really curious to what you guys think.

    Thank you!
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails IMG_20230522_193609_HDR.jpg  

  2. #2
    No rot. Just normal tarnish from what I see.
    Dave Werden (ASCAP)
    Euphonium Soloist, U.S. Coast Guard Band, retired
    Adams Artist (Adams E3)
    Alliance Mouthpiece (DC3)
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  3. #3
    Thank you for your fast response, and from the maestro himself . I was a bit anxious about the reddish dots. But that is quite a relief if it is just tarnish, because it doesn't come off with polish.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
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    Hidden Valley, AZ
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    Red rot usually sets up shop where tubing enters a valve casing.

    Seems to come from the acid flux used in soldering not being rinsed away completely during manufacturing, leaching the zinc out of the brass and leaving the reddish copper.

  5. #5
    Join Date
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    Larry Herzog Jr.

    All things EUPHONIUM! Guilded server

  6. #6
    Thank you for your responses. I did find that site too, however unfortunately it is quite hard (at least for me) to distinguish tarnish, acid bleeds and true red rot. So I am very grateful for your thoughts on this matter.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Apr 2014
    Location
    Summerfield, Florida Sturgis, SD (summers)
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    1,867
    Here is a picture of red rot on the leadpipe of my Adams E3 (which Adams replaced).

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    Yours does not look like red rot.
    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 Baritone
    Adams TB1 Tenor Trombone, Yamaha YBL-822G Bass Trombone
    Year Round Except Summer:
    Kingdom of the Sun (KOS) Concert Band, Ocala, FL (Euphonium)
    KOS Brass Quintet (Trombone, Euphonium)
    Summer Only:
    Rapid City Municipal Band, Rapid City, SD (Euphonium)
    Rapid City New Horizons Band (Euphonium)

  8. #8
    surface corrosion. red rot starts on the inside at places where gunk tends to hold moisture, and by the time you see it on the outside it's pretty extensive. Also, it typically only happens on yellow brass and not on red brass or across nickel silver parts like you have in your photos.

    It does look like it may have started underneath the lacquer on your instrument, which could suggest that the lacquer failed or the instrument wasn't perfectly clean in that spot when they lacquered it. That's why it's not just polishing off. It's ugly but it's not going to ruin the instrument.
    --
    Barry

  9. #9
    Thank you for all of your reactions. I am relieved it is not red rot. I agree with you bbocaner that it is ugly. Luckily it is not really conspicious for the viewer. I just know where it is. The instrument (a Geneva mentor) plays really well and sounds really good to my ears :-). So I am happy it is just cosmetic damage.

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