by Steve Cook
The Problem at Hand
The braces that hold trumpets together can sometimes crack loose, which can affect the instrument’s sound quality. Parts can even fall off making the instrument unplayable. Here are two non-damaging ways to temporarily hold the brace in place until you can take the broken trumpet to a qualified repair technician.
Required Materials
- Solution 1: Teflon plumber’s tape, also called threaded seal tape, can be purchased at your local hardware store for about a dollar ( Harbor Freight, Home Depot, Walmart ).
- Solution 2: Zip ties can be purchased almost anywhere and you can get a pack with over 100 for cheap ( Walmart, Home Depot, Walgreens ).
Both items fit easily into your instrument’s case, so you can have them handy for a last-minute emergency.
CAUTION: Never use glue or adhesive tape on your trumpet. Both items can damage the finish. Additionally, glues such as Super Glue and Krazy Glue contain cyanoacrylate which can endanger your repair tech because harmful gasses can be released when your technician applies heat to properly fix the brace. Additionally, these instructions are only meant for an emergency and temporary repair. As soon as possible, take your instrument to a qualified repair technician for a longer lasting repair.
Broken Trumpet Brace
Repairing a Broken Brace with Teflon Tape
Broken Trumpet Brace
Steve’s favorite method uses Teflon tape also known as plumber’s tape. It’s a non-adhesive tape, so it won’t damage your instrument. Start by wrapping in front of the brace and then around the brace as shown in Figure 1.
bh roken trumpet brace
broken trumpet brace
Repairing a Broken Brace with Zip Ties
broken trumpet brace
Zip ties are also a viable method for getting your instrument through a performance until you can take it to a repair tech. Simply add these around the brace with just enough pressure to hold the brace in place as shown in Figure 2.
broken trumpet repair
What’s Next?
Once you have completed these steps, you should be able to make it through your event. Remember this is a temporary repair. As soon as possible, you should take your instrument to a qualified technician for them to complete a long-lasting repair and provide any other necessary services.