Summer 2012 News

[Lee Stofer]

I have finally updated my website with some new ads, and will be updating the price list shortly. The cost of doing business has gone up, so I'm having to make some adjustments.

I am quite thankful for the support of many loyal customers, without whom this would not be possible. For you military bandspersons out there, I am a contractor for the US Government, who may be able to make your life a little easier. Thank-you for your service to our Nation - I am honored to serve you, and the Canadian military as well.

I am willing to pay a reward to the person who can deliver documented evidence of who Beverely June, the young lady pictured on the Holton raincatcher sousaphone, was.

Repairs - we are only doing the minimum run of school band instrument repair this summer, as I'm really trying to "bear down" on finishing restorations projects, some of which have been here too long. As soon as the backlog is eliminated, I will take on a few new selected projects.

Shop-owned Projects - if you contact me and let me know that you are looking for a certain horn that I happen to have in the loft, waiting to be repaired/restored, we can come to an agreement and I'll put this instrument into the qeue in the main shop for you, and will notify you when it is done. The estimated time of completion would vary, depending upon the condition of the instrument and the complexity of the restoration. If you "buy a project", then you get to pick the finish, and any number of other details to make it just as you want it.

For example, I have a satin/bright silver Naked Lady Conn 4-v. sousaphone that is essentially in playing condition, but mainly needs a cleaning/servicing. The holdup has been (aside from other repairs), that the former owner covered the instrument in clear lacquer, so it needs to be stripped and polished, but it is a complete work of art that could be turned-around in a week or less for a purchaser. But, if there is no call for it, it will stay in the loft for a while longer.

On the other hand, I have an 1894 Cerveny stovepipe BBb tuba that is virtually dent-free, but has many very old patches. The valves have been plated, but the instrument needs a lot of loving care, repairs and reassembly to make it the player it once was, and could be. It will not be done in 2 weeks unless someone comes in with the funds to pay off the mortgage on the shop (!)

Mouthpieces - my stock of Geib model mouthpieces is getting low, but Jim Kelly is making more right now, so both American- and Euro-shank mouthpieces in both silver and gold-plate will be readily available in the near future. Feel free to call for availability of the Stofer-Geib mouthpiece, Rudolf Meinl mouthpieces, Mike Finn mouthpieces, Kelly lexan mouthpieces, and Bach mouthpieces.

Hetman Synthetic Professional Lubricants - I am a dealer for Hetman products, both in small and large quantities.

Schlipf mutes - I have most sizes of Schlipf tuba practice mutes in stock, and have more on order at present. It is oftentimes rather complicated for me to maintain a stock of Austrian mutes that are not cheap, but those who have them love them, because of the performance of the mute and their convenience, fitting inside the bell, in the case for easy transport and additional protection for fragile bell flares.

MTS Cases - I am now an MTS case dealer, as well as continuing to provide players with the Altieri bags, and also Humes & Berg cases and accessories. In fact, feel free to contact me if there is anything for tuba and euphonium that you are looking for. We're happy to help.

Schedule and Contact - I do not post a rigid schedule for several reasons. I want the flexibility to take a pay job when one becomes available, to take time off for personal needs when I need to, to bale hay if I need to, etc. Also, for 22 years, full-time in the active-duty Army, I was a slave to the schedule - maybe I've just had enough of that! Feel free to call or e-mail at any time. If I can answer then, I will. Otherwise, I will return your call or e-mail when I can. Suffice it to say that I spend a lot of hours in the shop, so you are more likely to reach me than not.