Amado style water key

[Nolankberk]

Recently, my high b flat has been a very bad note. Lots of vibration and it has trouble slotting, usually hitting the c above it then coming back down. The weird thing is that when I press open my water key and play the note slots fine. Does anyone have a temporary fix for something like this while I wait for my tech to get a replacement 2b key?

[Doug Elliott]

A small clamp to hold the Amado open?


Try turning your slide over to change the position relative to nodal points in the resonance. That usually has some effect, for better or worse.

[Matt K]

Have you oiled it recently? Amado keys need to be oiled somewhat frequently

[Nolankberk]

Have you oiled it recently? Amado keys need to be oiled somewhat frequently

No, I wasn't aware of that. I'll try it.

[timothy42b]

Does that happen if you use other positions for the note?

[Crazy4Tbone86]

I’m not quite following your original question. Your title mentions an Amado water key. Yet, your post implies that you have a standard King water key and you are waiting on a King replacement.

Do you still have a King water key? If yes, the depth of the nipple (yes, that is the proper term) actually creates the turbulence. The King nipples (same for all of the King models) are on the deep side compared to many other brands. The nipple can be filed/sanded down to create less turbulence. The problem is that the water key saddle will need to be moved farther away from the nipple and the water key will need to be slightly bent/reshaped to have the cork centered on the nipple. Fortunately, the King water keys are very flexible and “bendy.”

If you are looking at replacing the original water key with an Amado key, the acoustical advantages come with some hassles. The Amado requires a longer arm/hand reach. The Amado empties the condensation at a much slower rate. This can be improved by drilling out the barrel by several thousandths of an inch, but if you go too far the key will leak. Standard Amado water keys tend to bind frequently. There are two things that help prevent this: 1. Oil it frequently (rotor and bearing oils are more effective than the thinner valve oils because they are not diluted by the water as quickly). 2. Replace the original steel springs) they rust and stop working) with stainless steel springs.

[ghmerrill]

Have you oiled it recently? Amado keys need to be oiled somewhat frequently

They also come apart -- so cleaning and oiling it might help a lot. I've never had trouble with one (and put 3 on my 1924 tuba), but I do oil them regularly and do my best to flush them when I clean slides they're in. If it needs to be replaced, you might think about replacing it with a standard water key, if possible. I do think that a standard water key works better -- if there's room for it.

Also -- just a thought -- it's common practice to open up an Amado key slightly (redrilling with a very slightly larger bit) in order to increase it's flow. Again, I did that with mine and had no problems. But it's possible that on yours this has resulted in a minor leak -- if it was done.