Removing Yamaha Torpedo Counterweight

[nateaff]

I have a Yamaha 645 that I love, but it's so front heavy I can hardly stand to play it for more than a few minutes.

The plan is to remove the torpedo weight and fill in the cavities in the torpedo clamshells with a lead putty.

But for the life of me I can't seem to figure out how to remove the weight, I've seen that the screws are under the circular logos but I'll be damned if I can pop those little covers off.

Has anyone out there actually managed to remove their torpedo counterweights?

[Matt K]

Yeah, you have to poke holes in the cover. It’s adhered way too strong to yank it off any other way I’ve tried.

Unfortunately, there are absolutely zero cavities in the counterweight. It’s a solid piece of nickel as far as I can tell. There is actually no cross brace. There are two little nubs on the end of the tuning slide and the counterweight rests on those with friction. I can get a picture…

[Matt K]

The screws are under the Yamaha logo. Good luck getting them back on without glue though…

I love the design. I had this taken off a 645 years ago with the intention of adding it to something like a 356. Never ended up happening!!

[CharlieB]

The Kanstul Company is long gone, but ...............
https://hornguys.com/collections/trombo ... e-weight-1

[Matt K]

Ah! Very clever, I've never seen one on the neckpipe itself before.

[hyperbolica]

I've got a solder-on Olds weight that can be soldered on to the cross brace or the inside curve of the tuning slide bow.

[DougHulme]

Mick Rath does ones that can be added to the main tubing on the tuning slide, in various sizes, wouldnt take much to balance the Yamaha as the torpedos already have weight... Doug

[MiBrassFs]

Offering an inelegant solution… lead golfer’s tape!

[BassJim]

There is no brace under the torpedo counterweight. The screws are under the logo. I found the replacement slide for a ysl882 will fit. I put one in my ysl646. To get a counterweight that will fit I found I needed the ysl882 style. You can get the parts at mouthpiece express. The replacement slide is finished and should have no problem fitting. Part number D3430011. Here is the link https://mouthpieceexpress.com/catalog/p ... s_id=30157

[Bonearzt]

Instrument Innovations has a balancer that might work...

https://instrumentinnovations.com/blog/ ... -balancer/

[BrooklynDad]

I've had a couple of these vintage Yamahas with the torpedo counterweight. I like more mass on the weight, so I have had a tech remove the torpedo and install a brace where I can connect a modern Yamaha counterweight, either the round silver one (classic) or the Batwing that they use on the Custom Z horns.