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This is just for my own curiosity, really.

Say, for instance, that you had a nice rotary tuba in rough shape. And say, in the case of this tuba, that you needed to rebuild the valve linkage for the four valve cluster. This assumes that the fifth valve is just fine. But you have to get a whole new thing on there. Bracket, linkages, everything but the paddles. And say further that you probably have to modify the paddles, even, to get a modern linkage to fit on there.

Assuming that all else is fine, there aren't any dents in the way, and it's a quick install...

What would YOUR estimate be?

Bonus hypothesis: say now that there IS a dent, so there isn't a clean place to solder the bracket on. Now you have to get pretty deeply into the fourth valve slide and clean it up before you can install. How much now?

Again, I'm not looking for a repairman, I don't need the work done, I'm just curious. No need to warn or qualify, you can just blindly spout figures and ramble into topics that this thread takes you.

KiltieTuba wrote:40 bucks, I know a guy who knows a guy who knows a guy, he can do anything as long as its out of cardboard.

Seriously though, even with hypothetical questions like this you'd be better of telling us what the model is, what linkage is being switched to and from and some other stuff. Most of the time a repair tech needs to see the instrument in person before making any real claim to how much it will cost.

Fair nuff. Of course, it's a hypothetical tuba, so it's probably made by Hypothefone or something. Let's say it's a 186 from the 1970s for now, that had been pretty badly hacksaw-modified with model airplane parts, so it needs a full rebuild, and it barely worked before someone got frustrated and kicked the front of the dang thing.

I did not do that.

I'm honestly mostly curious, and curious about how someone might make those decisions that you referred to in your post. I'm also trying to figure it out for economy's sake, since I'm debating buying a damaged beater and sending it to an interested craftsman - but not if it ended up costing more than a horn in better shape. And seriously, it's all hypothetical.

Does anyone have any questions about whether this is a real-world situation or just a hypothetical one? Let me know and I'll clarify.

If this is your Rudy, just go all in and make it right. I don't have much data to support it, but if you totally rebuild the linkages, it could be over $1,000 pretty easy. And complications aside, I'm sure most anything can be done, for a price.

bort wrote:If this is your Rudy, just go all in and make it right. I don't have much data to support it, but if you totally rebuild the linkages, it could be over $1,000 pretty easy. And complications aside, I'm sure most anything can be done, for a price.

It also depends if your repair dude can just fix the original linkage and make it work right. That will save you a load. (Yes, "S" linkages can be made to work smoothly and quietly. They came from the factory that way.) That, along with a full rebuild and refitting of all four rotors AND a new mouthpipe, a minor fix on the main slide and water key as well as a few bits of this and that around the horn came in at about $1k. It was a 186 BBb, took about a month and the time frame was about a year and a half ago.

It's *nice* living in Seattle.

Jeff "Then, again, it has gotten over 70 F only five times so far this summer" Benedict

Of course it's my Rudy. Got it back from the cops today. The Insurance company knows about it but has done nothing to claim the instrument, which is why this thread is all hypothetical and cagey. I'll hold off until I hear from them and tell them that the horn is totaled before I do any work. But I figured around $1k myself, plus some niggling detail work like a dent or two. Great to have it in my hands again, at least for now!

Hypothetical and cagey???? On an open forum like this?!?!?! Could get REAL cagey.
Didn't know entries for joke of the year were submitted here.

Ken Herrick wrote:Hypothetical and cagey???? On an open forum like this?!?!?! Could get REAL cagey.
Didn't know entries for joke of the year were submitted here.

I have no idea what this means. Have a great afternoon!

Hypothetically, YOU ALWAYS HAVE TO SEE THE HORN BEFORE GIVING AN ESTIMATE!!!!

When you have to rebuild that much stuff, there is likely something else that will need to be done.

Just my opinion, I might be wrong.

Post some pictures, and you might get some more helpful advice. Also post the items make, model and serial number. That will help too.

Like a very wise man once told me "you can't fix it over the phone."

I LOVE living less than 2 hours from Seattle!
Plus there's a qualified guy an hour and a half the other direction too!
Surely (no, I'm NOT calling you "Shirley") you aren't 1000 miles from any one of the several other fine Craftspeople on this site?

Good Luck,
Al

bloke wrote:What if there were no hypothetical situations...??

For what it's worth, this really IS a hypothetical. I should be able to save most of it, I just need new push rods and linkages, and possibly some intense dent work depending on how clean the broken solder joint is.

Rambling now between the two topics of a full rebuild and the condition "my" (and hopefully soon, with quotation marks removed) tuba, in more or less random order:

Let's now say that the rotors are in new shape, the linkages, push rods, and bracket are altogether missing, it's a one-off tuba (no stock parts to keep it fun), but the paddles are sitting there in the case.

My main concern with the Rudy is what looks to be some pretty nasty dezincification on the bottom bow. It doesn't seem weak, so I hope it's just on the surface and not genuine red rot. I can only guess that someone spilled a pitcher of margaritas (hopefully before they drank them) on the tuba and just left it there. Any thoughts on a way to see if it's red rot? Or should I do a quick clean to keep it from corroding further? Or any advice along those lines?

Dear forum,

I am a real, live, pro tuba player. I can dress myself, and I can tie my own shoes. I look both ways before I cross the street, I have never eaten broken glass, and I am aware that you can't fix my tuba from your desk.

Won't you.please let me talk about stuff without having to qualify what I'm NOT saying? Because I'm not saying a LOT of stuff. Just asking a couple opinions. Thanks!

Love,
GBM