!!!!!!!!!!!
Does anyone have one they removed that they would sell to me? I bought this 3050 from an old friend who bought it new in 1992. He removed the ring and then lost it. My hand needs the ring to be there. I also have a Miraphone 188 from the 1980s that has the thumb ring removed. (I did this, and I sold it to some guy about two hours away from me back in 2010.) I suffered an injury to my left shoulder in a way that means I will never be able to hold my horns like I used to. So I need the thumb rings to help me out.
I wasn't sure what to do. I tried to epoxy a big brass ring to a bolt of the correct thread pitch, but it snapped off the first time I used it. The other day I read an ad seeking one of these same rings and a story about a guy trying to order one from the Willson guy, but that it was really expensive. I looked into that, got a quote, and realized that I should be looking for a used one, too, because yeah, it is expensive. But my skills at making one are lacking pretty badly, so hunting down a used one that I know will fit the threads on the socket thing on my horn is what I am hoping to do.
No hurry. I need it cheap, not fast. I don't have anything to trade, so if you have one of these, let me know how much you want for it.
Also, I keep reading that you can use euphonium springs to lighten up these heavy pistons, but I got a set and they are terrible! Do I need to get some specific euphy springs? I tried to stretch them a little and that helped, but they are too light for these heavy valves. Any suggestions? I want my old Willson to play good. I have a really good community band near me that I wanna join, and I like the Willson better than the old 188. It is LOUD in the low register!
EM