Musical instrument, and parts and manufacture thereof

A wind musical instrument having a player end and a sound output end, comprising:

• a valve block comprising a monolithic structure having a plurality of parallel and linearly spaced apart valve bores extending at least partially therethrough and for receiving a corresponding plurality of valve pistons therein;
• an air ingress port extending through the valve block from external of the valve block and providing fluid communication between external of the valve block and a first valve bore;
• an air outlet port extending through the valve block from external of the valve block and providing fluid communication between external of the valve block and a further valve bore;
• transverse connecting passageways for providing fluid communication between adjacent valve bores;
• and
• a plurality of pairs of tuning section ports with each pair extending through the valve block from external of the valve block and providing fluid communication between external of the valve block and a valve bore;
• wherein the valve block further comprises an engagement surface for engagement with at least one manifold for providing fluid communication and passage of air from at least one of the pair of tuning section ports;
• and
• wherein said manifold includes a plurality of threaded mounting holes for affixing said at least one manifold to the valve block;
• a plurality of valve pistons, each of which is disposed at least partially within a valve bore of said valve block;
• a lead pipe in fluid communication with the air ingress port of said valve block;
• a bell pipe in fluid communication with the air outlet port;
• a tuning section in fluid communication with each pair of tuning section ports;
• and
• at least one manifold affixed to said valve block, wherein said at least one manifold includes a wall plate for engagement with the engagement surface of the valve block having mounting holes extending therethrough, wherein said at least one manifold is affixed to the valve block by a plurality of fasteners extending through said mounting holes in the wall plate and engaged with said plurality of threaded mounting holes, and wherein said at least one manifold includes engagement ports for receiving at least one tuning section.