Common faults & repairs
Visit the Skwiix Outlet to find repairers, tools and accessories that can help with your instrument repair requirements
Stuck mouthpiece
Mouthpiece shanks can vary from narrow to wide, making it easy for them to get stuck over time. When the mouthpiece is first placed in the Trumpet, it fits comfortably, but if it gets accidentally bumped or pushed in further, it can get wedged and won’t come out. Most new Trumpet players assume they can unstick the mouthpiece with a pair of pliers or vice grips, but these are the wrong tools to use.
Trumpet brass is soft and bends easily, so don’t try to fix this on your own: repair technicians have a unique tool they use specifically to unstick stuck mouthpieces without damaging the instrument.
Trumpet brass is soft and bends easily, so don’t try to fix this on your own: repair technicians have a unique tool they use specifically to unstick stuck mouthpieces without damaging the instrument.
Air leakage
Sometimes your trumpet could suffer from leaking valves. It is usually the result of normal wear and tear. Air leaking between the valve and casing can affect your trumpet’s response. To reduce air leakage, you can try using a heavier valve oil. If that doesn’t work, take your trumpet into the shop for the valve to be fixed or replaced. Even if you are to come across replacement parts on the websites, leave this repair to the professionals. Not only do they know exactly what they’re doing, but they have access to the right parts and tools to use.
Sticky valves
Occasionally, the valves of your trumpet are sure to stick. While valves usually move up and down to facilitate the act of playing, the valves may get stuck at certain places. In addition to ruining the sound, sticking valves will make it more challenging to play. If you think your valves are sticking, using a good quality valve oil to lubricate the valves is the way to resolve this. Suppose you play or practice the trumpet every day. In that case, you should oil the valves of your trumpet at least once a week, while you’ll need to oil your valves less often if you only play the trumpet a couple of times a week. Your music teacher should be able to advise you on how often you should oil your valves and which valve oil you should be using.
Broken solder joints
Broken solder joints happen when a Trumpet is twisted or dropped, and you can fix this by straightening whatever is bent. You do this by heating the joint with a gas torch until it’s hot enough to melt the solder but cool enough to prevent damage to the finish. From here, the repair technician will solder across the whole joint, and when the solder cools, the repair technician will clean all around it. Since the repair technician cleans the area surrounding the joints, this part of your trumpet should look as good as new once the repair is complete.
Stuffy sound
A clogged or stuffy sound from your trumpet is a common problem usually related to the trumpet’s valves. To find and eliminate the problem check the valves to ensure none of the corks, felts, or spacers are worn down. If this isn’t the issue, the water key could be broken or leaking, or you have mixed up the valves after cleaning the trumpet. The valves are numbered 1 to 3; the first should be closest to the mouthpiece. If the valves are in order and none of the mechanisms is worn down, check for air leakage and ensure a foreign object isn’t stuck in the trumpet. Suppose none of the above seems to be the issue. In that case, your teacher or a qualified repair technician may be able to provide more guidance.
Stuck slides
Although stuck slides can be caused by an accident or bump, they’re mostly caused by the chemical bonding of impurities left on them. For this reason, it’s essential to keep your trumpet clean and well-maintained. Sometimes the stuck slides will come apart with pressure, but don’t apply the pressure with any tools of your own as they may be too harsh for the soft metal of a trumpet. Repair technicians have a variety of tactics they can use, including heat application and complete disassembly and reassembly of the trumpet. These may sound complicated, but a qualified repair technician will get your trumpet looking and sounding the same way it did before.
Dents
When your Trumpet gets dented, a qualified technician can fix this using special mandrels and other tools to rub and pound out the dent until the metal is smooth again. Suppose the dent didn't damage the Trumpet's finish or lacquer in the accident. In that case, you'll have to look closely to see where the dent originally was.