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Anyone have any experience with any of the repair shops in the Charlotte, NC/Rock Hill, SC area? I'm not in need of any major work... just a chemical cleaning, and I'd like to have my leadpipe lowered a little.

All suggestions are greatly appreciated!

Thanks,
-Brett

tubashaman wrote:Maybe Tuba Exchange

Um ... with gas at $3.20/gal, that's going to be one heck of an expensive chem cleaning, 'cuz Tuba Exchange ain't 'zac'ly in the Charlotte/Rock Hill area (Charlotte to Durham is 150 miles one way; Rock Hill to Durham is 180) ... and I can pretty much guaran-dam-tee it ain't gonna be finished same day, so plan on staying (at least) overnight or making a return trip to pick it up when it's done. And Tuba Exchange already costs a durn sight more than other music stores in the area to begin with.

Check with the Music and Arts Center in Charlotte (it's in the Aboretum shopping center). If they don't have a repair tech on call, they should be able to refer you to one.

The repair guys at MAC in Charlotte are actually pretty good, as their regional supervisor, Jon Mills, is the manager of the shop there, and he does good work.

EuphoniumPlayer87 wrote:
Call up Music N More in Concord and see if Ray Petro still works there. Genius.

Unfortunately it looks like Ray petro is no longer there. I spoke to their brass repair tech, and his experience with rotary valved instruments is limited to french horns.

After making phone calls to a couple other local music stores I found out that they send their instruments out to a "secret" location that is not open to the public.

I did find a store that supposedly frequently repairs the local middle and high school tubas and sousaphones. I'm waiting for a return phone call from their brass repair tech.

Is it silly of me that I'm hesitant to just drop my horn off to some guitar/drum music store and let them send it off to some location (that is so secret I apparently can't even be told it's whereabouts) for 10 days or so?

I'm only having the horn cleaned and the lead pipe lowered... is this a simple enough task that you guys would trust just about anyone to do it? I know it sounds simple, but my Tuba is like a child to me!


Let me know what you think!

-Brett
Early 80's Rudolph Meinl RMC45 4/4 CC

willbrett wrote:

EuphoniumPlayer87 wrote:
Call up Music N More in Concord and see if Ray Petro still works there. Genius.

Is it silly of me that I'm hesitant to just drop my horn off to some guitar/drum music store and let them send it off to some location (that is so secret I apparently can't even be told it's whereabouts) for 10 days or so?

I'm only having the horn cleaned and the lead pipe lowered... is this a simple enough task that you guys would trust just about anyone to do it? I know it sounds simple, but my Tuba is like a child to me!
-Brett
Early 80's Rudolph Meinl RMC45 4/4 CC

No, it's not silly to be hesitant to drop your horn off to be shipped to some mystery repair person.

I'd think that you'd want to be present to have the lead pipe lowered. When I had it done to a euph it took about 3 tries before the repairman and I were both comfortable with its placement.

I agree with Jim.

Lowering a leadpipe may not be difficult to do, but it's real easy to do wrong. How is the mystery repair person supposed to know how much to lower the leadpipe and whether and how much to adjust the angle to fit your build and the angle you hold your horn at if you're not present for him/her to take measurements?

Contact Fred Boyd (tuba/euph instructor) at UNC-Charlotte and ask where he sends students for repairs.

Let me chime in here.I'm planning a 12hr round trip to Bloke to have my f linkages changed and a few other things.And I work for the largest music store in the state.Now let me clarify.If it were a chem clean and lp lower,we have people who can do that.But I would be involved.I used to go to Lee Stofer in Atlanta but he is a traitor and moved toooooo far away.Some very fun and educational times can be had getting your tuba repaired.Find a tuba friend and make a trip of it.Go to Baltimore and get a lesson with Mr.Fedderly and try horns.I'm going to try to learn to play the low register on my B&S f from Bloke(he doesn't know this yet...)I may even get to toot the uberfamous helicon...

Last fall I purchased a China BBb in a scratch and dent sale on ebay.

It arrived with a crushed bell and a forth valve stuck solid shut.
I took it over to Howren Music Music and Sound, 4209 Park Road Shopping center in Charlotte.

They have a repair man on site, he works in the basement, and if you ask he will come upstairs and help you.

In my case he did an excellent repair, had the horn only a few days. The bell looks like new, and the stuck rotor valve was cleaned of corrosion and now works smooth.

I was very pleased with the cost of repairs, and quality of the work.

By the way the made in China Horn is very good quality, sounds great and I am very happy with it.

DustyTuba wrote:

It arrived with a crushed bell and a forth valve stuck solid shut.
I took it over to Howren Music Music and Sound, 4209 Park Road Shopping center in Charlotte.

It's funny you mention it... Howren Music is the store I was waiting for a return call from. I spoke to the repair guy there (Benjamin, I think????) and I have an appointment to meet with him on Thursday Morning. He says he has worked on several members of the Charlotte Symphony's instruments. It is good to hear that someone here has actually dealt with him before and been pleased.

I'll let you know how it turns out!

Thanks,
-Brett

By the way, Dustytuba, are you the one with a couple of horns for sale on Charlotte Craigslist?