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[UWBone]

Hi all,

I'm encountering a problem with my old peashooter (2B from the 50s/60s? It still says HN White on the bell). The counterweight is too heavy and pushes in the tuning slide, which I like to keep well-greased. I removed it a few weeks ago for a show, but of course the balance is out of whack. Today I played a set without it, got annoyed with the slide heaviness, so I slapped it back on for the remaining two sets, but on the lower brace. Looks kinda silly, but then again, I'm playing trombone so it'll look silly regardless.

Has anyone had similar issues? Did you do anything to correct it? Hollowing the heavier piece a bit comes to mind, and I have the means to do it, but I don't want to majorly screw something up.

Thanks!

Kevan

[WaltTrombone]

Try a heavier grease, or have a repairman expand the tuning slide a wee bit so that it stays put.

[UWBone]

By expanding the tuning slide, do you mean boring out the tubing, making it wider?

[WaltTrombone]

Not really a "boring" operation, since that would take off metal. There's a tool that repairmen have for making flute head joints tighter, and these can fit the large side of the tuning slide. You put the end into the tool, give it a 1/4 crank, and it flares/stretches out the head joint/slide a bit wider. It's real easy to do it too much, so you should find someone experienced with this type of stuff.

Alternatively, a really tight fitting o-ring slipped over a tuning slide leg might provide just enough oomph to keep your side in place.