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Hey all,

In about a month I'll be purchasing a new to me Willson 3200 F tuba. This is the older, large model from the early 2000's. NOT the compact model or the new XL. Similar to the Kurath horn but with some updates.

The seller doesn't have the thumb ring. I'd like to find one. I was quoted $120 and several month's wait from Getzen, as they don't have that ring in stock and it would have to be a custom order from Switzerland. That's not ideal. While this isn't an urgent thing, I detest horns with no thumb ring. I can never feel comfortable. Strange? Maybe. That price also seems a little high for a metal ring... But I've never had to order parts before, so maybe that's normal.

Anyway, I've reached out to my repair tech for some options, but thought I'd post here as well.

What would you do? Is there a cheaper option out there, or should I just bite the bullet and order a ring and hope it comes in quickly? Would a custom ring be cheaper?

I have a Willson 3400.
On this horn the thumb ring is not a sophisticated piece of engineering.

I'm sure someone could make one up for me if it went awol, may be using an OTS ring (https://www.houles.com/PT-en/product/pl ... 9-16-66711) and standard fixings brazed together.

I would also consider contacting Thomann (https://www.thomann.de/gb/thomann_thumb_ring_tuba.htm) or Adams Music to see whether they could source something that would fit (both businesses speak fluent english).

Hope you get sorted.

I think if you look around, you should find something cheaper that will fit and work fine. Your tech may be able to source something from Allied. Thomann has a thumb ring on line for $15.90. If all else fails, find a screw that will fit and have a local welder weld on a brass ring. You can then lacquer it and install it. Even this option should come in at less than half of the $120 figure you quoted...

I love the thumb rings on my 3200 and 3050. A decent repair tech could take an old mouthpiece rim and make a good thumb ring out of it. Scott Sweeney did this for me as a #2 slide pull ring on my 6/4 CC.

The Willson thumb rings are hollow tubing, though, like Cerveny, and are super lightweight. (At least the one on my early 3200 is.) A mouthpiece rim would be quite a heavy addition to an already very heavy tuba.