Tuba Damage

Please comment and pass this one along. Every band teacher and student would appreciat this. This is a tuba "pull apart" job using various techniques. I remove the bow to access dents in the branch, bow and bell, install new guard wire and buff and lacquer the area. This is not a full overhaul, but many of the same techniques are used.

[porthole]

Hopefully when he repairs a drum set we will be treated to non stop tuba music

[illitrait]

...an absolute master craftsman at work - I could sit there and watch him all day. Salute.

[pauljenkins]

Amongst all the dross on the internet, you occasionally come upon something like this. So much skill, it leaves me stunned. Thank you for a fascinating video.

[MrKitty-zvdl]

As a custom sheet metal fabricator I can really appreciate the patience, finesse and skill this type of work requires....this man is an artist.

[bassmithbassist]

He reminds me of a wind instrument tech I knew in high school. Peter McFarland. A soft spoken old gentleman with an infectious laugh and an infinite amount of patience for a noisey high school tuba player who was constantly badgering him with questions. Old Mr. Mac as we called him was a brilliant brass and reed tech and was very supportive of me and my high school band. All the players at my school went to him for repairs. He also periodically worked on the school's instruments, many times just for the cost of parts and materials. RIP Mr.Mac!!!!

[haydenthompson]

I personally believe that dents add character. Although I think this Tuba had a little too much character.

[brentthibault]

I’ve taught high school band for 30 years and I’ve always hated how these beautiful instruments get abused. I think every kid who dents one should have to work at your shop and learn how much work it takes to restore the instrument.

[monicawichgers]

Thanks Jim so much for fixing my tuba and showing us how you did it. You do excellent work!

[farquell]

I've restored quite a few tubas and I learned some nice tricks from this. You are very generous to share your knowledge with us.

[bigwhig]

Awesome work! I just hope it doesn't end up falling off the bleachers again come next High School football season. If I were a director, I would make every kid who turned in a tuba looking like that sit there the next summer and watch it being repaired for 2 days. This was truly a lot of work. Well done!

[randalljames]

as a kid (mid 60's) I would sit in my dads music store and watch "Mr Schnabel" fix brass and woodwinds.. He was from the "old country" and moved here sometime in the late 40s..
I would be content watching him pound, beat, shrink, stretch and polish countless dents.. Those shops have a rather unique smell to the.. sort of really old leather with some funk lol

This level of skill is unparalleled. Only so much of it can be taught by trial and error. I am in awe. Thanks for showing us.

[ronnieboucherthecrystalcraftsm]

The Master Craftsman here and wow what a great job well done sir .your restoration is a true gift .

[glines]

Living in Madison, I've had Jim work on two baritone horns and one French horn. Even though I could sense that he had plenty of work awaiting his attention back in the shop, he always took time to explain our options before filling out the work order. Every job came out beautifully, and he even remarked with appreciation about the unique sonic character of the funky 80 year old Wurlitzer baritone. It was a remarkable and somewhat humbling experience to be treated with so much courtesy by a person of such intelligence and skill.

[harrisonblake]

Never be new again, but an absolutely masterful job of bring this instrument back to peak performance. They become better as they age and produce a mellower sound as it and you become used to each other. Play Baritone and Sousaphones in High School, and later I joined a Community Band. Salute.

[marcoblanco]

I played trumpet and valve trombone when I was young. My first trumpet was a LeBlanc and it was a wreck.
We took it to an instrument repair place and they let me stay there while it was being fixed. 
Dents do change the pitch and tone.
It came out like the tuba you did here. Great job brother...

[kenolson]

Old fashioned Master craftsmanship, is just old-fashioned hard work. Wonderful restoration.

[FACELOWNER]

I think I can say without fear of contradiction, that this gentleman has done this before..!!!! Brilliant.

[ustinman]

I'm an old school sheet metal worker, spent most of my working life In copper shops. Your work is very impressive I can't believe You brought that train wreck Back to life Bravo! Nice job!

[brentbarnhart]

I never thought that was possible and I was a professional trumpet player for 30 years, you are INDEED a master.