TromboneChat

Pretty much as title suggests, I own an early 50’s King 2B Silversonic but every time I play it it leaves me throat and airway burning like crazy. I know that sometimes that comes down to technique, but my Conn 88HT has never given me this feeling and I play it for hours every day. I am slowly gaining concern that I might be inhaling something toxic causing the reaction. I am not allergic to any metals, and the horn has been chemically cleaned multiple times and the issue still occurs. Any help would be GREATLY appreciated. I love the horn, and I don’t want to get rid of it, but I can’t justify the sickness and pain I feel when I play it.

Hmm....wow...I had this problem once after I wanted to re-visit a horn for comparisons, and it had been sitting in its case for about 2 unattended years.

I guess that I hadn't wiped the horn down back then, and over 2 years some bacteria had eaten away on the areas of the horn where I put my hands and other unlaquered areas.

I could barely touch the horn and the metal without feeling sick and 'allergic' to it. Do you have any un-laquered area on your horn that may be causing an allergic reaction?

Ok, you said "chemically cleaned". What kind of chemical?

The neck pipe has completely worn down to the raw brass, but none of the feelings I get are skin reactions. It all feels very internal as if I am inhaling something. Originally I thought it was something getting in it from sitting in the falling apart coffin case, but I have exclusively kept it in a Marcus Bonna brand new double case for almost a year now.

etbone wrote: ↑Wed Feb 12, 2025 7:07 am Ok, you said "chemically cleaned". What kind of chemical?

I wish I could tell you, it's whatever chemical was used by the shop I took it to. I don't know if there is something in the composition of the horn that may react to the chemicals, but I get my orchestral horn cleaned at the same shop so I'm not certain it's me reacting directly to the chemicals.

First, check out the slide crook, in case some classmate has put some "funny stuff" in there.
(It happens.)
After that, a couple of zero cost, low risk things to try......
The chem clean was most likely acidic.
Couldn't hurt to soak the inners and outers, and the bell section, with a baking soda solution, in case some acid has not been fully neutralized. Follow up with an alcohol soak to kill any possible bacteria.
The key word is "soak," because sometimes old slide tubing can be porous.

CharlieB wrote: ↑Wed Feb 12, 2025 10:58 am First, check out the slide crook, in case some classmate has put some "funny stuff" in there.
(It happens.)
After that, a couple of zero cost, low risk things to try......
The chem clean was most likely acidic.
Couldn't hurt to to soak the inners and outers, and the bell section, with a baking soda solution, in case some acid has not been fully neutralized. Follow up with an alcohol soak to kill any possible bacteria.
The key word is "soak," because sometimes old slide tubing can be porous.

Any suggestions on the mix I should let it soak in? Willing to try anything. Baking soda idea sounds worth a try

CharlieB wrote: ↑Wed Feb 12, 2025 10:58 am First, check out the slide crook, in case some classmate has put some "funny stuff" in there.
(It happens.)
After that, a couple of zero cost, low risk things to try......
The chem clean was most likely acidic.
Couldn't hurt to to soak the inners and outers, and the bell section, with a baking soda solution, in case some acid has not been fully neutralized. Follow up with an alcohol soak to kill any possible bacteria.
The key word is "soak," because sometimes old slide tubing can be porous.

Above, is a good plan....
Here's something to be concern about. The brazing material, at this time was probably "lead" based. (So dependant on, how well it was put together...i.e. solder weep.) A chemical clean, can be reactive to this exposed solder/lead. New horns, don't use as reactive brazing material. Most current music repair stores, don't use chemical cleansing. (various reasons) Also. the chemicals could be reactive to the sterling silver, its self (I'm not a chemical engineer)

Your symptoms, can be biological (mold/mildew/bactialical), or a chemical reaction.
So... do the above neutralization recommendation. Go from there. Good luck.

BigBlueTrombone wrote: ↑Wed Feb 12, 2025 12:00 pm

CharlieB wrote: ↑Wed Feb 12, 2025 10:58 am First, check out the slide crook, in case some classmate has put some "funny stuff" in there.
(It happens.)
After that, a couple of zero cost, low risk things to try......
The chem clean was most likely acidic.
Couldn't hurt to to soak the inners and outers, and the bell section, with a baking soda solution, in case some acid has not been fully neutralized. Follow up with an alcohol soak to kill any possible bacteria.
The key word is "soak," because sometimes old slide tubing can be porous.

Any suggestions on the mix I should let it soak in? Willing to try anything. Baking soda idea sounds worth a try

Probably, table spoon per cup of water. I would snake the bows 1st, then pour in solution let stand, for awhile.

I know you said that you are not allergic to metals but as an experiment maybe try a plastic mouthpiece. A friend of mine who plays tuba started getting sores around her mouth. As it turns out there was a small area where the silver plate wore off exposing the nickel that the mouthpiece was made from. She found out that she’s allergic to nickel. Now using a plastic mouthpiece with no problems.

I'll take that horn off your hands

Have you tried washing the horn out with regular dish soap and a flexible snake? Do you use the same slide lubricant on every horn you own?

tbonesullivan wrote: ↑Wed Feb 12, 2025 8:02 pm Have you tried washing the horn out with regular dish soap and a flexible snake? Do you use the same slide lubricant on every horn you own?

I use Yamaha slide lubricant on all of my horns, just tried snaking it all out so we will see!

Doug Elliott wrote: ↑Wed Feb 12, 2025 3:07 pm I'll take that horn off your hands

I will keep you posted. Not much sense in keeping a horn I can’t play.