Blurpy, raspy sounding low note.

[4to5to6]

My large Gbass Aeola has the plastic reinforcing strips supporting the larger valves.  I think David Robertson did the work.  I have seen small wire springs run down the center of the valve supporting the tip.

 

I always thought the plastic or wire was there to keep the valve closed and to prevent the large valve from curling up.  I never considered a flutter problem while the valve is open.  I wonder if this is what is happening???  

 

Interesting.

.

[Chris Ghent]

16 hours ago, 4to5to6 said:

 

I was searching as well and could only see CDL in extra heavy duty.  Screen capture below.

 

I never got to the check out level or even to the prices but not sure Columbia Leather is an option as I don’t need 6-10 sq ft typical hide size and need to get a number of thicknesses. I am sure this would be very expensive.

 

Is there another source in smaller quantities?  Say about 1 or 2 sq ft of 3 or 4 thicknesses?

 

I own everything from a piccolo to a G bass (leather with mylar supported valves) but mostly play my amboyna tenor treble.  The immediate need is for a few low notes in a very very nice golden era tenor treble Aeola that I want to soon sell but need it to be perfect first.

It is easy to find CPL on the site but I can’t find it in small squares, which I have bought from there in a spread of thicknesses many times. They are about 12” x 8”. Might be worth giving them a ring. Hair sheep is also know as Cabretta, though that spelling could be a little suspect. Used for gloves and wallets. 

[Jake Middleton-Metcalfe]

This is quite an annoying problem sometimes, I have had that sound caused by both valves that are too thick.... Or too thin. It's the low notes that are the hardest to get right. Usually it's caused by them being too thin on those bass notes

[4to5to6]

Chris, I’ve sent Columbia an email requesting small quantities in various thicknesses.

 

Jake, what is the most common type and thicknesses used for valves?  I have a piccolo, TT, model 14 and G bass.  I am going to hopefully put an order together for Columbia Organ leathers.  I’ve never purchased from them before. What is the best leather to use for pads?  I should also get some pad leather as well.

 

Thanks for all the help.

.

[Don Taylor]

Columbia's web-site is not operational:

 

[Chris Ghent]

On 9/28/2024 at 11:46 PM, Don Taylor said:

Chris:  I don't see this one as an option.

@Don TaylorIt can be very frustrating when a long term supplier changes their range! The website looks a little different since I last ordered from them, maybe three years ago. 
 

The leather I mean can be seen here https://columbiaorgan.com/product/cpl-hairsheep-skins/ In the drop down box it mentions the complete range of thicknesses inc. Extra heavy.  
 

They mention the 6”x12” smaller pieces but only with a comment “ does this need to be here” as if someone has been editing the site and not finished and so perhaps they have discontinued them. 
 

Not long ago you had to ring and speak to Darlene Pruitt to order but they seem to have made it into ecommerce.  The great thing about them is the quality. 

[4to5to6]

Thanks Chris.  I sent Darlene an email a few days ago but never pursued it.  I’ve been a bit distracted.  I just received an amazing little gold ended piccolo EC and can’t set it down even though unrestored and in lower A435 French pitch.  I’ve been playing Bach’s Little fugue in G minor on it or at least learning it.  Simply amazing instrument!  So much fun.  I’ll pursue the pneumatic leather early next week and let everyone know.  Hopefully they will sell me some smaller quantities so I can try making valves in assorted thicknesses to sort out the lower notes of my tenor treble.

 

I was just tweaking my double action Aeola G Bass last night and noticed some valves have one and sometimes two layers of a reinforcement mylar laminated on top of the leather to reinforce them.  Brilliant idea.  Lower notes sound full rounded, rich and powerful, no pops or blurps at all.  I’ll attach a photo hopefully tomorrow.  I may try this out on my TT and see if it helps.

 

Thanks again for everyone’s help.  

.

Edited October 4 by 4to5to6

[alex_holden]

5 hours ago, 4to5to6 said:

I was just tweaking my double action Aeola G Bass last night and noticed some valves have one and sometimes two layers of a reinforcement mylar laminated on top of the leather to reinforce them.  Brilliant idea.  Lower notes sound full rounded, rich and powerful, no pops or blurps at all.  I’ll attach a photo hopefully tomorrow.  I may try this out on my TT and see if it helps.

 

When I built a bass G/D Anglo recently I made accordion-style helper springs from stainless steel shim stock. It took me a couple of days of experimenting to figure out how strong to make them and what shape to bend them to. I found it didn't work well to set them such that they were actively pressing the valve down against the reed pan, because that could cause the valve to vibrate and make a weird burbling sound at low playing volume. Also if the spring is too strong it mutes the volume of the reed. I found the spring should be barely enough to bring the valve almost fully closed.

[4to5to6]

Thanks Alex.  Good idea!  Stainless steel shim stock.  Do you have any photos? How did you attach them?

 

 

 

[alex_holden]

7 minutes ago, 4to5to6 said:

Thanks Alex.  Good idea!  Stainless steel shim stock.  Do you have any photos? How did you attach them?

 

I can't take credit for the original idea as I believe it's a common practice on accordion basses.

 

 

They are held on with squares of leather glued over the spring at the root of the valve. I used a mixture of 0.15mm, 0.1mm, and 0.05mm thicknesses, though the 0.15mm is probably too thick for all but the biggest valves. I've since bought more shim stock in intermediate thicknesses.