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I'm really enjoying the thread about Dutchtown Sousas repair woes. Some of the comments lead me to think that there might be a few folks on the forum who need to be taking their horns to a competent repairman rather than trying to do things themselves. The following image is a classic example of the sort of damage a well-meaning student, a dad, or a teacher can do. I have a very nice Marzan 'Solo' model on the bench right now that someone has tried to pull the slides and damaged most of the crooks. I can fix things but it sure as heck would have been easier for me to just pull the slides (no matter how stuck they were) than have to spend the time it takes to fix this.

There's not a week goes by that I don't see slide crooks that are flattened on the inside of the bend.

They just needed to use a bigger hammer, is all....

bloke wrote:Can't you just use your Ed Myers "Automatic Crook Tubing Reopener" on that, Dan?

You know... I bought one of those things a few years and have never figured out how to open the box. Much less how to work it!

DP wrote: x 2 ...

having been in the Denver metro area for a few years I have no interest in "trying" to find a local, competent repairshop. The one universally-recommended single source shop I went to for a simple chem clean decided to "fix some dents, no charge" for me. Nice. They put my horn on a buck and ovalized the bell stack while putting this wonderful hammerite-like finish into the top bow with some of those magnet things. "for me", one bad experience with a repair shop botching a job means "never again", and I will never find myself going to Flesher-Hinton again for ANYthing

Yes, I've had unsatisfactory work from them too. The place to go with all your tuba repair needs is Dan Parker at Colorado Institute of Musical Instrument Technology in Castle Rock. I've been happy with his work on my horns. He also comes highly recommended by Kathy Brantigan who had some custom work done by Dan.

I'm glad I live in an area with great repair people. I have rush's music down the road and While I'm at school joe is only about a two hour drive away

bloke wrote:

Colorado Institute of Musical Instrument Technology in Castle Rock

catchy name...wish I'd thought of it first.

Tennessee Technical Tuba Institute

bloke wrote:

Colorado Institute of Musical Instrument Technology in Castle Rock

catchy name...wish I'd thought of it first.

Well, they are an instrument repair school. http://www.ciomit.com/" target="_blank

You could always add a repair school and be the Tennessee Institute of Musical Instrument Technology !

Mark wrote:

bloke wrote:

Colorado Institute of Musical Instrument Technology in Castle Rock

catchy name...wish I'd thought of it first.

Tennessee Technical Tuba Institute

University of Southern North Dakota at Hoople

I haven't studied Schikelian musicalology in many years, but I have to admit recognizing the U of SND at H without your caption. Even without the student body.

Rick "a serious scholar" Denney

David Richoux wrote:]

University of Southern North Dakota at Hoople

the-campus.jpg

I have been to Hoople a few times. My mother-in-law is actually from Hoople

Chadtuba wrote:

David Richoux wrote:]

University of Southern North Dakota at Hoople

the-campus.jpg

I have been to Hoople a few times. My mother-in-law is actually from Hoople

Looks like Tatertown is a "MUST SEE" attraction! One of those notorious border towns?

Hey David, That's my back yard and market area, Do they have lights yet in the out house?

Tundratubast wrote:Hey David, That's my back yard and market area, Do they have lights yet in the out house?

Not me - ask Chadtuba! I have only been to ND once in my life and that was enough. The state motto is: "The Wagon Broke, So We Stayed Here" (but now there is oil and things are a bit better...)

bloke wrote:

Sorry, bloke -- but that haggis needs a Younger's Tartan Bitter instead of a shandy, and a good single malt to reflect upon it in the drawing room or the corner booth of the pub after dinner.

I guess Tinker was referring to my comments in the sousa repair thread. Whatev'

LJV summed it up very well:

LJV wrote:

TubaTinker wrote:...there might be a folks on the forum who need to be taking their horns to a competent repairman...

Unfortunately, that is sometimes easier said than done, Dan.

Most repairmen think themselves "competent." Many fewer actually are.

I live in the Bermuda triangle of instrument repair. You just never know how things will turn out.

When it has been absolutely necessary, I've loaded up the car and driven a long way.

I have been MUCH happier doing repairs myself instead of wasting a lot of money & time getting some "certified" brass tech to do a crappy/half-assed job. Had way too many of those experiences and just got fed up with it all. And even the good brass techs were always busy or didn't want to take on the job. I'm sorry, but I just got tired of driving my car, using up my gas, and leaving my horn at some shop for two or three weeks, only to pick it up, not be satisfied, and spend $100-$300 on repairs I could have done myself in 2-3 hours...
The vast majority of those repairs were for old beat-up school horns I bought or custom work I wanted done. That's why I started buying my own stuff and doing it myself. Yes, I have made mistakes (hell, the "pro certified" brass techs do too), but at least I have enough sense and know-how to fix my "repair blunders". Much happier doing my own repairs, and I am saving a lot of money and time over the long run.

tooba wrote:I guess Tinker was referring to my comments in the sousa repair thread. Whatev' ....

I wasn't referring to anyone in particular. Just simply stating that fixing repairs gone wrong is often more expensive than taking care of the original problem.

TubaTinker wrote:

tooba wrote:I guess Tinker was referring to my comments in the sousa repair thread. Whatev' ....

I wasn't referring to anyone in particular. Just simply stating that fixing repairs gone wrong is often more expensive than taking care of the original problem.

"A man has got to know his limitations." -- Harry Callahan

I fix my own items around the house. I fix my own problems with my guitars, electric guitars and basses, including upgrades to wiring and setup. I have rebuilt Jaguar XK motors (SU carburettors are really fun - really!). But when it comes to fixing my tubas, and having the repairs look presentable as well as functional, I call one of my techs.

I've had a fairly prestigious local repair shops return my instrument in no better, or even worse, condition. Leaving me to do it myself.

That's nothing new, I've talked to others who've had the same experience, but just wanted to add - it's especially ironic when the shop people scoff at the evidence of amateur repairs when you bring it in.