TromboneChat

One of my grandson’s horns, a Bach 42AF has a detached water key. Aside from not understanding such a peculiar fault, re causality, wondering what might be a reasonable fix and cost to reattach and also recork. Needs to get it turned around for an upcoming college gig in Wichita, KS.
Bought from a specialty brass shop, used. He is in Topeka.
— Lost in the Wilderness, slidehand47

It is probably a simple solder joint. Any local shop should be able to get a waterkey functioning again.

It might even be one screw and a spring.

I took one off a 42B once to change the cork pad. It was a pain getting it back on, and I've been able to change the pad without doing it since. But a tech can pop one back on in less than 30 seconds I would think. You might could do it yourself but 99% likely when you have it almost on, the spring will shoot across the room and be lost forever.

Or if the saddle has detached, then yes a solder job for the local tech shouldn't be that expensive.

If it is a solder joint, it should be relatively quick and easy for a music shop to repair