Trombone Slide Repair & Philosophy- Band Instrument Repair- Wes Lee Music
2022 ж. 2 Ақп.
64 618 Рет қаралды
Been chasing this trombone slide for awhile to get it "right", tips for straightening, polishing, soldering, and developing personal philosophy.
Thanks for watching.
As a professional trombone player from a family of professional trombone players, I can tell you have a real love and passion for what you do. Your description of how the slide should feel is spot on. And I love what you had to say regarding the player and his instrument. I play a Bach 36B with F attachment trombone that I hand selected at the Bach factory in Indiana back in 1973 while I was on the road with my band, The Gringos. I eventually had the horn dipped silver to match the sound of the two trumpet players in the band. That was the single best decision I ever made in my life. The sound of that horn is rich and smooth and fits my style of playing perfectly. Love how you are keeping Instrument repair (a real art form) alive with these great videos, and when you have a moment to relax, give The Gringos KZhead channel a look and listen.
I shared some of your trombone repairs (this one included) with my sister. She's a professional trombone player (and teacher) who I think will be very interested in your band instrument repairs. If you remember, from my previous posts, I'm a euphonium player. We both played together in the Montgomery County (Maryland) Symphonic Band for several years during her senior year in high school and for several years after, and I played with them during my junior and senior years in high school and for several years after (she is one year older than I). Thank you so much, for producing these wonderful videos. We horn players really enjoy them!
Hi Wes from the UK. I love watching you work. I'm not a repair man. Just a retired teacher, with time to watch you! I play the cornet in three English brass bands. I used to teach woodwork, metal work and technical drawing. I use to teach silversmithing, including hollowing, raising and planishing. Many od your tools, were in my workshop. Your Mini Z and Big Z would be known as English wheels over here. They are still used to make hand built cars such as Aston Martins. I'm so pleased to have stumbled across your channel. I really love watching you work. If you could here me commenting on your videos, you would probably blush!
Also just discovered you. I appreciate your work immensely. I'm a pro bone player, tons of studio, etc, played with just about everyone. I'm fussier about my slide than anyone, and I've been so fortunate to have had as good as a slide man as exists! But, he's retired now, the jerk! Ha! Anyway, I really like what I see in your vids! I'll be calling you soon, thank you!!
What slush pump addict is not fussy about their slide? :-D Naught but the focus of all life huh? :-)
Not a whole lotta folks have that high standard you have. In a world full of mass-production, permissive levels of deviation from standards set is a QA inspectors' personal call. On decades old instrument I would guess that many might say close enough is good enough, but a persons' livelihood depends on just how close to ideal we must come in our efforts. Great philosophy you have. Wish more folks felt that way.
Good stuff. You are right, as a player, that "minor" drag is the difference between an instrument you want to play and one you don't. Great repair.
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Straight lines on the slide! Awesome! Great work and great video. Too many techs just don't understand that extra mile for trombone slides. This is the craftmanship needed on these instruments!
I must say Wes, I am extremely impressed by you
I have a horn that I would like you to work on
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Not even a musician but enjoy watching restorations. Nice videos, I've watched this and a French horn series of 3. I enjoy your work.
Thank you for the care and respect you showed that horn! It is a pleasure to see a master craftsman at work.
Your attention to detail is incredible a true artisan craftsman. I love your videos
Definitely shows your pursuit of the best care for each instrument/player.
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Man, YOU are the guy I would want working on my horns. You clearly care a lot about getting it right.
I used a vintage narrow bore trombone, I received from my sax playing grandfather, in high school band in the 1980's. It was a great looking horn. With a plastic mouthpiece, I could play (the lower 2/3 of the treble clef) trumpet parts for great effects. A local instrument seller said it was a 1909 Conn. I went to them for another tuning slide and he had ONE in a box he had to locate. I don't remember what key the first one was, but it was a lot shorter. Sold the horn to a collector years ago, and wish I still had it. I am spending a lot of time going through your videos. Thanks for them, and attention to detail that you have.
It seems simple but isn't. Needs a lot of patience, talent and love to do the best possible. Congratulations and thank you.
Hi Wes, so inspiring to see you aiming for perfection, and how very close you come!
Fun Fact: On German trombones (especially older ones) the Support of the outer slide is only soldered to the lower slide tube to compensate for bad parallelism in the past. So the support is always going in and out while playing. Some manufacturers still do this. Also great video! :)
fun fact : if someone says "fun fact" the word fun is irrelevant
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Hi Wes, greetings from a UK brass band Eb tuba player. Only recently discovered your channel but I am now an avid subscribed viewer. It is food for the soul watching a master craftsman like yourself restore life to a damaged instrument. I also love how to treat us viewers with respect and explain things clearly and reveal your personal philosophy in your work. Total respect and thank you for posting.
Man, I'm glad I found your channel. I have a Conn Constellation trombone that my parents bought for me in 1964. It has a small rough spot on the inside slide near the sock. I've dealt with it for years. Can't find anyone I trust that could fix it. Now I have hope! The horn is in great shape. Would love to communicate more about getting it fixed. Great video.
great skills, I think I'm going to bring my Silver Bach 42B trombone to you, I haven't seen or played it in 40 years, but it has been passed around through the family many times and I'm sure it could use some work to get it back in tip top condition, you being in MS is an added plus, so am I.
My grandpa is 92 and has bought newer trombones, but still has his original trombone that he got in 1938 when he was 8yrs old and still has it in good playing condition. I guarantee if he had to choose just one of his trombones that’d be the one! Sentimental value and being a horn player definitely go hand in hand most of the time.
I played a Bach stratt trumpet, A Selmer Mark Vll Tenor, a Getzen Slide trombone Tenor, A Getzen Flugal horn Bb, A king Corenet, A C melody CG Conn, A selmer Bundy, Tenor, A Buffet Bb Clarinet, Many many more! The love of playing was more than anyone who does`nt could know! I miss playing more then anyone could know! Yes I also play keys but not as personal!
Tanks again for your super instructive videos and for spreading your philosophy of making the best job possible. I love to see long, detailed videos like this one
I like the longer videos, they feel more intimate!
Thank for sharing this. really shows that you care for your craft and that of others that you are helping.
I have an old king 3B in the shop right now that is kicking my butt. I guess I should watch this video every time I have frustrating tbone slide. Gonna go get it done!
Although we are in different restoration venues, we share the very same philosophy. "Good enough"....is not. There have been sleepless nights when confronted by an unresolved issue. Resolution can be accomplished by taking a step back, clearing your head, research, then returning to the project with fresh insight. There remains an issue that I have little control over. The issue is working to attract a new talent pool to join my industry. People can make a good life in a technical environment. A good life has many facets. Far more than just money. My greatest joy is looking at the face of my client when they first see their project. Many of my projects take hundreds of hours. I send my clients update photos monthly. It is fun to hear their excitement. It is a very different experience when the finished project is presented. I find as great, or better, satisfaction at the moment that client is first united. You build videos that are far more than a technical overview. Thanks Wes. It is 01:15. My mind is now ready for rest. You are a talented, cerebral, and calming force.
good enough is never good enough, the next will always be better.
Love that leather apron, Mate😄🙌
Great shop, Wes. Thank you for the great video.
I really enjoy watching you work.
Nothing is as personal and rewarding as playing wood winds and brass!!
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I bet Fred Westley Jr would play the heck outta that thing! It is kinda cool his trombone was donated to the National museum of African American History and Culture by him. The trombone is one of my favorite instruments and you did above and beyond to save a beautiful horn, thank you.
I understand you are mostly a dent and brass man. That is actually an unfair statement I have been watching your videos and am very impressed! I played and serviced my own horns like a Selmer of Paris Mark 7 back in the day. 40 years ago. I had a 72 last year of production, as far as I know. I lost my natural teeth and have not played anything in years. I bought some cheep stuff just to see if I can still play! I have not lost much except for the crisp, sharp, and snap! I`m not looking to win awards I just enjoy Playing so much I intend to invest in 4 upper and four lower implants just to continue playing! I have a Buescher 1924- 28 true tone. The horn is in beuatiful condition, unfortunately the mechanics of the keys are really bad. 10 or so years ago I had a pro play it after I re -padded it and only found one leak. Now it is so bad it is un-playable. Can you help? Or I will donate it to see you fix it. If I can`t afford to pay you? You will be allowed to sell it! I will ship it to you at my expense. No expectations from you. I would love to see it play again! Nothing is bent or broken. It just needs a pro to make the keys work right. The corks are wrong, if the keys are too worn or too out of true it is out of my leage! Can you make this old man happy? Give me an assesment and use the horn to make your videos and if I can`t afford your repairs, We can go from there! I will make it right for you! I also have an 1860 eb clarinet with the original leather case. The case is like a holster and completely falling apart. The horn however is intact no cracks, complete, all keys intact, no pads, The joint corks were wrapped with black thread. All the eboney wood is intact no cracks.
Very nice video and great philosophy!
I could watch your videos all day. They make me want to break the horn out again
I don't play any brass instruments, nor do I have any interest in learning. I don't know a French Horn from a shoehorn. I'm subscribed to this channel and watch all the videos. I guess craftsmanship is still king.
Wes I just found you channel about a week or so and have been binge watching! You are fabulous craftsman, probably a magician. I'm glad that you not only take the time to make the videos but do such an excellent job of explaining what you're doing. You are creating a video library of a trade that is probably declining. Thank you! I look forward to your next video.
Fantastic work, as always! That slide works beautifully!
"It's better to be seen than viewed ", took me a min to catch that but got a good "toot" out of it! so glad to find your channel I am a trombone player and have a couple of the " sentimental " type horns that I have played over the years, King 3B silver bell (mid sixties) and a silver Conn 6H 264155 (not sure of the year) that have some slide problems, grabbing in certain places, that I have been trying to fix or get fixed with little results so I was extremely excited upon coming across your demonstration . I was learning to repair instruments back 25 years ago but had to suspend it due to health problems, I learned enough to be at a level of fixing general repairs at maybe a beginner thru High School players instrument's, I lost my tools and the Music store I had been working at has since closed. I have been thinking of picking up on it again although a lot has changed as far as the size of School Bands and instruments, I was wondering if anybody could give me any insight on what tools and education would be a good place to start. Much appreciated!
Great philosophy, great job.
Hey Wes, just discovered your repair channel, and man I'm enjoying the heck out of these videos. Great job man! You are quite the talented and skilled feller!
I recently did a clean up job on a friend of mine's super bone. Your videos are a big help!
Master craftsman. Wonderful, thanks for sharing.
Nice fix on that trombone, my favorite horn yea i used to play one
Hello! I just found your channel yesterday and am really enjoying it! Keep up the amazing work!!
Am looking at fixing a handful of slides now. Trying to absorb each process you have explained.
Funny I can detect the slide tubes are slightly bent at the six position just from watching your camera view. Another tip for really snakey slides some times I rotate the inner slide to match the outer slide to that smooth position after aligning and straightening the outer slide. Mostly it’s done on school horns due to lots of kids mishandling, putting dents and lack of lubricants
very cool. nicely done
You are the best!
Remarkable skills sir
Hi Wes, love your videos I find that the information they give are very helpful . I have a question regarding flutes, if you were replacing a flute lip plate and riser which solder would you use, 70/30, 60/40 or 50/50 soft solder. TIA.
In wish I had known you back when I played!
Хорошая работа МАСТЕРА !!! УДАЧИ !!!!
Wes, you have a rare talent. How do I get me Buffet Clarinet to you for service ?
I have a 60 year old King I can't believe how good shape mine is. Slide is still slick as snot. I feel lucky it doesn't have slide issues
I really enjoy your videos and played trumpet myself (badly) when I was a child. Every time I see a trashed instrument in one of your videos I can't help thinking it represents some kid that has been bullied to the point that they jumped all over his expensive instrument.
Mighty fine words indeed.
Almost 15 thousand subscribers. Congratulations!
Trombones are a special subset of band instrument repair.
Awesome video. I can tell you know your stuff and if I need slide work, I would trust you with my horn.
Wes I play trombone- Silver Bach42B w F attach I’ve had since I was 15 (early ‘70’s). I’m no pro but I can confirm that even the slightest slide drag is totally distracting. My horn has a cpl tiny slide dings I can feel and a small ding on the bell from almost 50 yrs of use that need attention- but is otherwise pretty close to mint. I’d love to get it to you for a revival.
First video I watched of yours, Wes. I have to say, very interesting and informative. I used to play the trombone (poorly, haha) and never really thought of the repair process. You are truly skilled and have a talent for this. You can always tell how well somebody knows their craft by the language that they use and how deeply they explain what they are doing and why. I think even from the first video, you've got yourself a subscriber! Keep up the good work!
Great video! I see you have the polymer bell mandrels, do you find them to be as effective as metal ones?
Hi Wes, I got my 1890's Carl Fischer's Professional model Baritone and to my amazement it plays really well, I am thinking about having some repair done to it , I am not really wanting to have it buffed because of the deep scratches, I am however wanting a piece of brass tubing soildered to the second branch after it is repaired so a rope can go thrrough and add reinforcement, I am wanting a chemical flush and the valves replated, they have heavy wear. the third tuning slide is dented and has came un soldered, the bell has average dents but is still pretty good shape. possibly soilder three small tubes on that edge that usuallly gets the D shape, I like the tone and very happy with the horn, the nuckle tool will have to be used. I am not in a hury to get the overhaul done. I am not interested in having the horn plated at this time but may want it lacquered so the exposed brass won't tarnish.
Watching your videos is fantastic! Educational and entertaining. Do you happen to have any tips for repairing a 2" crack down the length of the inner slide of a 1919 Holton Revelation trombone?
Always awesome to see great slide work being done. I'm curious if you've seen the video from the slide doctors on using wright's brass polish to polish outer slide tubes? I've done this on a few of my horns with great results.
I like the trick with the toolbox drawers. Have you seen the LED line boards automotive guys use? could be helpful.
I'm a tool maker/smith and clockwork technician (vintage watches, clocks, music boxes, mechanical cameras, anything mechanically driven by a clockwork mechanism more or less). There are plenty of times when the part I need would cost more to source (getting a 120-year-old gear, balance wheel, barrel, or even a crystal for a lesser-known watch can be border line impossible) that specific handmade part than family could afford when all they want is their family's watch, camera, music box, whatever it is to work gain. If I can't source the part, or if the price of importing a piece is too high, I offer to replicate the part in question to be exact and get the item working again. I'm not trying to counterfeit anything, nor trying to take away from the original item itself, I just think if it's possible for the person to have the item they cherish to work again then I'll do what I can. Since so many of the things I work on were handmade down to the gears and other parts being hand filed, it's just impossible to find parts without paying a small fortune. Even then it may not work with each piece being made and "tuned" to operate with the others within each item. I use basically the same techniques as the old masters, albeit with a slight upgrade for things like measuring. Even then most of the tools in my shop could be considered antiques or at the least vintage lol.
So that’s what it takes to get that ‘Good Slide’. Wow.
What are all of your pieces of equipment (roller, magnet and ball, that kind of stuff) I’m trying to get into repairing instruments myself. I can take most valves apart in a heart beat, but idk how to do this since I don’t have the equipment
I have a I think 60+ year f attachment trombone, my dad bought it at a pawn shop, the slide has never worked or felt right. Wondering if you could look at and see what it needs?
Sorry, the camera and tube is not inline; but thank you for a very interesting overview of your business practices. I’m a sax and flute player in the UK and Spain, but like so many musicians, regular work is hard to find.
Petal! I know where Petal is. I used to get slurpees from that grocery store at the "y", just up from the bridge on that east-west road.
I have an old trombone that was given to me and i was wondering if you could give me any advice on getting rid of the scratch marks?
Do you ever heat treat parts that you've cold worked? Does the combination of mechanical damage through accidents and the hammer work affect the ductility of the instrument parts?
When you use metal dent hammers, it can cause work hardening. You can anneal the work area, at the cost of the finish. Sharp dents cause hardening, too.
Wes your skill is amazing. Quick question, is brass just an amazing metal that be shaped and retain its strength? Like I've never seen a material that dents/deformations can be worked out with very little if any noticeable residual effects. I've never worked with it but I'm convinced that after watching your videos that you could basically turn a trumpet into a statue if you so desired.
What is the background noise that is heard when the torch is lit? Great work!
My old band director used to repair slide crooks by tossing a bunch of ball bearings that where about the same diameter down in there and patiently tamping them with a steel rod.
Wes - enjoy your channel! Can you show us some damage that is beyond repair and detail why so?
Out of curiousity, where the plating has worn, could you not use brush plating to build up that surface again?
Hello. I live in Puerto Rico, USA. I would like to know if you can do COA on my flute. It is a relatively new student flute and how much and how do I pay you. I would like you to perform this work.
👍👏🏻
Boss, we say, "purr-fekt" when we says words...says we.
Found your content shortly ago and watched a lot of your videos. Got a lot of information out of this for hobby repairs i can do myself, thank you for sharing all this. However, what i ask myself the most, what the hell happen to this poor instruments before they found the way to you. Often enough i asked myself, is this even possible to fix? And I'm always impressed about the results.
I bought this horn from a grade school classmate back in 1967/68, and played it from junior high through early college years. It was beat up when I got it, and I must confess I added to the damage as I played it all those years. It was all I could afford at the time, and I'm so thankful I found Wes Lee to work on it. Its on its way back to me now in Las Vegas, and I can't wait to see how it plays!
@@WDON2010 Hi, for the very poor horns, i meant not especially this one. In this video series are much, much worse conditions from time to time. ... And Wes Lee can fix them, respect!
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Do you make or repair cymbals??
Might have to run 20W50 now.
すごくいい工房ですね！
I need to send you mine.
How are you mr Lee, where are you right now? ( which country and city)?
That Fedora could use a little TLC. A cleaning, steaming and reshaping. The Grosgrain band could use a little work, too. In my book, a Fedora needs as much love as a dented Sax.
"as close as i can get" i always try but when quitting time comes around its close enough. luckily enough in my trade the tolerances are explicit so my choice is whether i make it pretty or not
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I like you, your okay!
How does one get into this line of work?
You never notice how bad your slide was until you get it back from the shop.
I thought guitar players were rough with their instruments so is this damage common or abuse?
Where to source tools?
I would trust you wuth my trumpet, if only i lived closer to you.
😇😍😇
What's with eyeing straightness using the corner of a toolbox? An Indian granite surface plate and a set of feeler gauges is less than $100. Is it that brass instruments aren't made with the precision make even a $100 investment worth it?