Posted by Bob on September 20, 2000 at 16:00:53:
In Reply to: Help! posted by KT on September 20, 2000 at 15:46:23:
If you can see the ball, get a good vacuum cleaner with a hose and an extension wand. Place the end of the wand against the ball with the vacuum cleaner on. If you get the wand on the ball and form a good seal, you might be able to get sufficient suction to pull the ball out.
If that doesn't work, place the tuba on the bell and remove the tuning slide. Put water in the tuning slide on the side away from the valves until it won't take any more. Then rotate the tuba such that the water will pass through the tuba and collect behind the ball. Hopefully, when the bell is pointed down, the pressure of the water will force the ball out the bell.