TubeNet

First off.... the tech who messed up your horn should fix it.

Secondly.... a proper fitting thumbring is a very important feature. I think you would find it well worth the money to have a GOOD repairman just make you one that works for you.

russiantuba wrote: I got the horn back, and the metal rod had been smashed (I didn't notice this until later), and a dent on the side that was not there when I dropped it off in the shop. Bad lacquer damage and scarring on the bell. I sent pictures of the dissatisfaction and he said he couldn't fix those nor the thumbring. I will not say where I took the horn to (PM me if you wish to know and are concerned taking it there), but 5 tubists strongly recommended his work.

So it goes. Some quality repair guys seem to really focus on making quality repairs for their friends and "big names" and just completely dropping the ball for others.

I once drove to a certain BBQ mecca to get my tuba repaired, from someone who (at the time, now not so much) many held in high regards... It took Jeff Stelling almost $500 to fix their butcher job. Which included two broken braces, a bullet hole looking thing in the bottom bow, and a broken valve guide.

Lesson learned. No matter where I am, I stick with MY GUY unless it is an absolute emergency. The only exception being Bloke, who hopefully I'll do business with someday.

No PM, bloke, but I am "curious."

Todd "who apparently fits the description in bloke's link all too well" S. Malicoate

russiantuba wrote:Bloke, how much should the job cost to weld it onto the bar/rod?

No matter how little or much it might cost, there's no monetary replacement for the satisfaction of getting that bar removed and beating the "repairman" with it until he coughs up the dough to get his issues fixed by a competent guy.

russiantuba wrote:I got the horn back, and the metal rod had been smashed (I didn't notice this until later), and a dent on the side that was not there when I dropped it off in the shop. Bad lacquer damage and scarring on the bell. I sent pictures of the dissatisfaction and he said he couldn't fix those nor the thumbring. I will not say where I took the horn to (PM me if you wish to know and are concerned taking it there), but 5 tubists strongly recommended his work.

Why not? I have several people I can recommend against. In my case, I don't feel I have been screwed enough by them to make it an internet blowout. Yours appears to be worth of such!! On the plus side, I can also recommend a few people who have done nice, affordable work on my horns (Kenton Scott, Rod at Quinlan and Fabish in Valparaiso, IN).
Suggested conversation-
Tuba guy- I'm here to pick up my tuba. (waits for it to be brought up). Ok. Wait, WTF?!?!?
Repair guy (choose your own adventure)- Oh ****, my assistant dropped it after I did whatever! I will fix it to as it was or better on my (assistant's ) dime as soon as possible. Mr. Tuba guy, I am very sorry but I will make this right.
2nd possible Repair guy response- Oh. Well, I didn't think you'd notice either/or give a frig. Whatever dude. Gimme da money.

I thought a custom thumbring (like the size of a willson) mounted on the bar, so it can't move. If it is a little high or off place, that would be fine. The other concern is the time I would be without a tuba. The next nearest repairman, one I actually trust, is over an hour away, and he normally takes 2 weeks. I don't have enough money to have him fix all the other mistakes, but with my busy playing schedule, it might be hard to go 2 weeks without the big tuba.

Unless you're subbing in some big orchestra where the tuba players past and present have seemingly made it their job to enforce the big horn first big horn only dealie, send it to a TRUSTED repairman and spend the time without it learning how to play your new, slick (badass, even!), expensive F like a tuba and not some funny bass euphonium that you only pull out when internet folks say you can.