Restoring Vintage Trumpet- Band Instrument Repair- Wes Lee Music Repair
2022 ж. 22 Ақп.
2 573 947 Рет қаралды
In this episode we restore a vintage Olds trumpet. Tips on soldering, dent work, layout, plus more.
Thanks for watching.
www.WesLeeMusic.com
That was my sister's trumpet. She passed away in November. High school football games what trumpet went through..
It was a pleasure to restore, I hope you are pleased with it when it’s back in your hands
Proper job.
Are you Tom Cochran from Red Rider?
A beautiful legacy to hold onto.
What a special tribute having your sister’s trumpet restored. Sorry for your loss!
As a trumpet player, I never thought the sort of damage on that bell would ever be able to be fixed. That’s incredible.
When I was doing marching band my friend crushed his bell when he rolled on it. So now we call it Taco Bell cause it looked like a taco
I never thought that much damage was even possible
P?p"p
@@Vegetaa4242 Aye ya, when I was in marching band, my new shiny silver Bach took a tumble off the top row of stands, fell down a gap under the bench seats and landed on concrete some good ways below, was crunched worse than the one in the video, but whoever my parents sent it off to made the resto on it look almost new, these craftsmen are legends at how much they can almost rewind time on these instruments.
Metal is just as able as playdoh in the right hands. If you really want to see additional craftsman at work, check out the masters of paintless dent repair on vehicles and such.
I fully anticipated him to pummel it with a mallet, but he's been incredibly precise and used the absolute minimum of force to persuade the metal into shape. Truly impressive.
as some one who works with metal, steel and some times aluminum, I too expected some pummeling. pretty amazing to see him persuade the brass back into shape with his hands.
"persuade the metal" That's a very poetic way to put it
No, the guy that decided he'll never be a good trumpet player pummelled it with a mallet.
Skillful man.
@@NebachadnezzaR tbh for a metalworker that normally works with steel seeing him using a hammer so little you unironically can count the hits with your fingers. Every time I work with steel the hammer is not far away. Be it on the anvil or the welding table.
I'm not a musician, but a mechanic, I've worked lots of similar dents out of steel pipes and tubing, never imagined you would so smoothly and cleanly iron those dents out. I've played various instruments in my life, not much good, and just stumbled across this video, and found it fascinating. Brass is so nice and straight forward to work with, and you did a beautiful job resurrecting that horn. Thanks for sharing that. I mess around with the violin and the piano to a small degree, but that trumpet came out very well.
"I'm not a musician...I'm a musician " says you
@@fratt-boy6268 "I've played various instruments", "not much good" and "I mess around with the violin and the piano to a small degree" is in some way different from "I'm a musician"
I get it. I play trumpet, piano, guitar, harmonica (harp) and the ukulele. But I dont really consider myself a musician. I just love music. Real musicians can play song after song without any type of mistake. I can barely make a measure. Some would disagree, but not me. Im not really that good. Totally makes sense. Yeah! Insane how well you worked that out. Excellent work! I am considering a Bach TR200 that looks like it was used as a missile in war. What do you charge to do something like this job in the video? Do you take jobs from people like me? I would love to chat with you! The Bach is honestly nowhere near as bad. But its not good!
I've been a machinist for over 25 years. To see someone work metal like this is just amazing. You're definitely an artist.
You truly are a wonderful artist. It's great to see someone so talented practice his craft. Truly a master
A pleasure to watch him work -- so patient and professional.
What does you being a machinist for 25 years have to do with anything? Were you an excellent machinist for 25 years or just someone who operated by rote process, for example. SMH
@@DiffEQ does it hurt your feelings that I know more than you? 🤷♂️
@@DiffEQ Sad, bitter person.
Love watching craftsmen using their skills to restore things that look like it can't be done. Great stuff.
Speaking of, you should check out Engels Coach Shop. He’s good at fixing up western wagons and wheels…
I agree, GSD. Wes did a great job getting that impossible-looking trumpet straight. Amazing skills.
I know I’m late but I’m glad that there is at least one real repair KZheadr
As a journeyman Millwright and Ironworker for 40 years, I am fascinated by fabrication, restoration masters. You should be very proud of your accomplishments. You are at the very top of your craft.
I salute you man. This kind of work requires a lot of patience!
and skills
Patients are for doctors. This is trumpets!
A brass salute
A long time ago, I did repairs at Getzen. Watching you do what you do takes me right back. I have similar scars on my hands from needle springs on saxes. You make it look easy, like they guy who taught me. His name was Wes!
It's so refreshing to have the problems included in a video and not deleted out. I'm so tired of seeing videos where everything goes perfectly, which we know almost never happens.
Whatever you play, you're probably going to mess up an instrument or two over the course of your life, unless you're very careful or fairly lucky. I'm a guitar player, and I've worked in guitar repair, so for me watching you work on brass is a bit like watching an alien mechanic tune up his spaceship--but there's something universal about caring for musical instuments so they can keep making music. I always wondered what a horn-player's repair man got up to in the shop, and watching your videos has been an eye-opening expericence. Many happy returns, man.
Wes. It was aPleasure to watch the truck expert workman
Wes disregard last comment(voice) truck
All that for a mouthpiece, wonderful job and patience
That trumpet looked like mine when it was taken out of the attic after 50 years. You did a great restoration. 👏👏
I believe no matter what instrument you play however sturdy it may be you should always take care of it. Right now I am in my middle school band and I have seen numerous clarinets dropped by beginners and just plain carelessness, but no matter how far of a drop I always winced at it. Not only that but when I was in 5th grade my friend held my saxophone by the neck and dropped it. When i came back to it it was in tons of pieces and since that very day I hadn't ever let anyone hold my instrument without me having my hand on it.
Loved this video. I have an early 60s olds ambassador that I played for 7 years in middle/high school, and still play occasionally 18 years later. Before that, it was my dad’s, and has played taps at many a Veterans Day, and Memorial Day functions, as well as military funerals. Those horns have incredible longevity. Thanks for giving this one new life ✌🏻🇺🇸
I had one too - probably around the same vintage. My parents bought it at a pawn shop for me sometime around 1989 or so. Had an awesome sound, but the valve action was pretty heavy.
What a revelation , that poor old Trumpet goes in looking a real wreck ........and comes out looking great , brilliant skills .
Don't know how the algorithm brought me here, but I'm glad it did. I worked in a family-owned music store with a repair shop in high school and into college. This brought back a lot of memories for me. I mostly did disassembly and dip clean of brass horns, but eventually did a little light woodwind work. French horns were brutal, especially the double valves, and tubas were real heavy pulling out of the dip and the rinse tub. I also did a lot of case cleaning and repair. We had contracts to do work for schools in our area over the summer, so we had plenty of work. We had dent and repair guy who came in once or twice a week. It was always fun to watch him work. I'm subbing now so I can see more of the fun. Thanks for sharing!
Gotta love watching all this fine metal work. As an electronic rework technician, I have done and seen a lot of brazing, but not on finer brass tubing with a torch. This is really impressive work. Different technique from electronics but still require very fine work. Thank you for making this available. I won't ever know anything about music, or playing an instrument, but now I got a much better grasp of how brass musical instruments are made and repaired.
So happy the YT algorithm sent me here, awesome video! Love seeing a master of their craft do what they do best.
Been bending metal all my life and it's a pleasure watching you work
in this "Throw away society" we live in, it's refreshing to watch someone take the time and make the effort to restore something that was built to last. Well done sir!
I would have never imagined bell damage that bad could be fixed! You are master craftsman of brass.
When someone ask me what I would like to do, if I wasn't a surgeon; I show them this videos ❤
My dad did band instrument repair. He was also a trumpet player and instrumental music teacher, band director. In addition to the work I watched you do, he also would remove the old lacquer, burnish the horn and re-apply lacquer, restoring the horn to brand new condition.
Very nice to hear. Yes, things were different before we had to deal with so many EPA regs.
That’s impressive. I can’t believe you got those creases out. You definitely are a master at your craft sir.
Amazing work…I cannot believe you got the dents out of that bell. It was hammered!!
Tools and the shop they work in, are not complete without the skill of the human who operates them. Respect! Aloha
That's a lovely horn, and now it's got its beautiful scars up on that bell. Good work restoring that lovely instrument.
Pleasure to watch a true craftsman/artist work his magic. Amazing.
When an artisan is also an artist, all one can do is admire and respect. Lovely to see this - thanks for all you do.
Great work. The scars and dings are part of the trumpets history.
How enterteining it is to watch a true pro do his thing. Wow, that was so impressive!
Seeing brass instrument repairs makes me feel slightly better about that french horn bell i crushed by accident when i was 11.
Great bell recovery. Never would have imagined it could come back THAT good!
This is what makes KZhead priceless! An up close view watching a master craftsman work. It's almost like free trade school.
I grew up watching my grandmother repair instruments in her store in west Hartford Conneticut. She was amazing!
Your attention to detail and craftsmanship deserved my sub !
Incredible rehabilitation. Those Ambassadors are great instruments. For a horn that was the AK 47 of the high school trumpeter, it's just a terrific go-to axe for any type of job; the company invested a lot of engineering in giving it really respectable sound, which you wouldn't expect from a horn in that market position. This one has a dark, backdoor jazz club sound now, with its brass dulled up and its lacquer mostly gone. I'd be tempted to keep it just that way. Simply amazing restoration. Thanks for the show!
Very well done, and your skill is impressive. Thank you for sharing your patient craftsmanship.
I played my dad's old 1949 Ambassador when I was in the band - my son also played it and my nephew still plays the horn. After 3 generations and 4 players, it still looks and plays good. The Ambassador was a fine trumpet.
wow, does it still work now?
🏆 You're a gem, Sir. This was an education. ☆☆☆☆☆
I think it's great watching the adapting process. That's the beauty of the Bad Chat videos
Love watching a proper craftsman at work. Seeing that bell come back into shape was a surprise and a pleasure. Many thanks for posting this.
From someone who has done this before, WELL DONE!! A brass Pawn would be helpful on the bell dents and folds. I made a set of different sizes years ago. Basically, they looked like a Chess Pawn or a Ball Peen head without the handle hole, with a round knob on one end and (somewhat)flat on the other. There were 12 pieces in the set of 8 different sizes. The smaller ones were great for unfolding and the bigger ones for smoothing the wrinkles. I ended up giving the set to my friend around 40 years ago to use in a Body Shop. He still uses them in his own Custom Body Shop to this very day and says they're his most used tools for straightening out crumpled fenders. I have the School Bully when I was about 11 or 12 to thank for the creation of the set. The trumpet looked much like this one, only the bell was facing sideways and bent like a boomerang. My Dad coached me on my Uncle's machines to make the set and then I worked on the trumpet a little bit each night when my homework was done. About 10 days later the trumpet was back in action and still being used by my Brother's Grandson. I gave it to my Niece when she was in Middle School and her Son now uses it. It still amazes people when I pick it up and start playing a tune. I don't look like the type of person who would even remotely know how to play, but I know all of the Brass from back in the day. My Brother is better than I am, but when we play together...we can definitely entertain! lol Dueling Trumpets is our favorite. 👍 My Dad was a Jack-of-All-Trades and Master Mechanic, so I've been around metals my whole life. I've been to many schools for many certifications over the years, most pertaining to the Metal Industry. Every process involved in metals, from mining to finished product. Even old fashioned Blacksmithing! Brass is an amazing metal alloy. Soft, yet hard enough to get a job done. As with most metals, the thinner it is, the easier it is to work with. As long as it isn't stressed too much at one time, it can be manipulated into any shape. Especially if you have the right tools for the job. Back then, brass on brass was the best option to avoid too much stress and prevent marring the finish.
Fascinating, thanks. It just shows that you need two things: 1) the right tools for the job, and 2) the skill to use them.
This is the most interesting KZhead video I have ever seen! A true artist, I couldn't agree more.
I am impressed with how you worked so hard to try and preserve the one badly corroded part. And you did an amazing job with the bell. In the end you had a great vintage horn, and not a re-manufactured horne. Wonderful! Great work. Thank you!
It's nice to see a skilled metal worker. Excellent content. I can watch this video and block out all the other crap in the world. Thank you
I loved watching this, as it came across my suggested videos. I’ve been thinking about getting back into music for the first time properly since high school. I really miss it.
Anyone keeping things alive and out of the landfill earns my subscription!
Absolutely fascinating, I thought that bell was far beyond repair. You have some impressive skills. Thanks for the video.
Nice work, Wes. Thanks for sharing your skills with us other techs. I recently straightened a severely damaged King 4B T-bone bell that had been beautifully custom engraved along its entire length, so it was worth the effort to straighten it. It had been crunched like your trumpet bell, but had a more severe twist. It took me a lot of time to get it presentable, but it still has some light scars from where the crimped metal from the twisting motion had done its worst damage.
I can't believe what I just saw here - much respect from me! Incredible!
To spend the time to work this soft metal to such a nice finished product this dude has the patience of a saint.
I think you have a really cool job. You get to repair those painfully damaged instruments for a living. It is quite satisfying, watching your hard work remove those dents and dings.
I reall enjoy your work. The narration makes it easy to understand what your doing and why. I like it. Thanks for sharing.
My grand father built and refinished furniture he was especially good at restoring old pianos I worked with him in the summer love to see things brought back to life
Wow... the sounds of taking this apart - the "pop" as the tube slides off. I haven't heard that since I was in middle school. Brings back good memories...
I had no idea that could be worked out. Wow , what a craftsman.
My first time seeing you! As a former brass player, I was totally engaged watching your care and patience! I've subscribed because I want to see more of your work rebuilding instruments. Thanks, I always wondered how this was done!
That was amazing, I never thought you would get it back looking that good. Really enjoyed the video, thank you.
Good morning sir l can watch you all day but l can't afford to .Keep up your great work Sir you are an inspiration to many.
50 + years ago as a student I dropped my French Horn on its bell... after watching what you did with the trumpet, I realize it must have been quite a challenge, but it did get repaired!
One of the most enjoyable videos I've viewed in a long time. The sign of a true craftsman who doesn't need to use, ' too much force'.
The type of work and dedication needed to restore something that looks like its been beat to hell, is amazing. The more I watch how much work goes into making and repairing instruments, the more in awe I am of music as a whole.
Not a musician. Never learned how. Don't know how this came into my feed. But happy it did. I knew that instrument was ready for trash. Never knew someone had such a skill to repair. Thanks.
At last, a master craftsman. Beautiful Work
That canvas mallet is perfect for breaking valve caps loose ✊. Great job, Wes! Thanks for sharing!
I always love seeing decades of experience and knowledge in action. You have the rough and sturdy demeanor of an iron worker or something, you remind me of the guys my uncle used to work with. But you clearly have a ton of knowledge about something so delicate and artful. It’s an interesting contrast.
And he has the musicianship and knowledge to cater to players from middle school to professional. He pays attention to their style of playing and adjusts the instrument to them. The joy he gives each player in person is remarkable.
That was a great tribute to your sister. You have my condolences.
Amazing work you're doing, man! I love using old stuff looking great, the patina is so lovely and they have their stories... Thanks for sharing that!
Sir you truly are a miracle worker! I'd love to hear some of the stories of how these instruments end up so badly damaged...if they could talk, the stories they could tell!
Flagline, probably
When my son was 13 a girl in the school band put a small dent in his beloved silver Farkas French horn. We took the horn to Best Music in Oakland [now closed] to see what they could do. It appeared to bell would be flawed forever. Tears and hand wringing. By the light of a gas burner in the medieval workshop beneath the basement an ancient workman took the horn from my son's hands, without a word he placed it on a polished mandrel and with a single tap from a miniature hammer he restored the bell to perfection. Plink. One tap. 10 seconds. Would not accept payment for the skill that I believe must have taken a lifetime to perfect. Best part, my son was able to observe this master of his craft. Life lesson. I would have been willing to pay anything for what he showed to my son. And to me. It felt like an honor to be in his presence. That moment I became more conscientious in my own work.
Crazy talent, years of practice makes it look so easy but this is true hard work and skill.
Great to see there are still craftsmen like you doing repairs! It brings back so many memories of working in my dad's shop! I remember one time I was buffing out the bell of a trumpet and hung it up around the buffer. I also remember a kid bringing in a baritone that a bus had backed over. It took Dad a while, but he was able to repair it. I thought the brass was going to be way too stretched but he was able to work it out. Again, great job! You're Amazing!
As a musician for 40 plus years and of different styles. Much respect for your craftsmanship and dedication. Much thanks for individuals such as you. Looks and sounds magnificent!
You, sir, are a master, genius at this! So very interesting to watch you.
That Mister, was one superb job done by a REAL PROFESSIONAL!! Yo've got a happy & satisfied over all subscriber, I surely enjoided every second of it, from Monterrey Mexico with a whole lot of greetings.
I've long wondered how this kind of work is done. I played French Horn from elementary school through high school, and my parents got an amazing deal on a Conn single F horn that was being used in a local store's window display. It was in rough shape, with a crinkled bell not unlike the one on the trumpet you fixed in this video. I think the store owner sold them the horn for $25, and they spent another $50 or so having it fixed (this was around 1974), and when I got it, you couldn't tell the bell had ever been damaged, and it played better than any of the loaners at school. I still have that horn.
This has become one of my favorite channels to relax after a day in the workshop and watch. I'm a machinist and tool maker by trade. I also do work and make clockwork items in copper and brass. It's a lot of fun to see hand working techniques applied with instruments on this channel. I had the chance to pick up a Euphonium in need of a few basic repairs for dents and valve replacement a bit back. It was always my favorite sound, but it wasn't a choice in band for me in high school years ago, so I ended up playing mainly Soprano Sax, Alto Flute, and Alto Clarinet. My band instructor required us to learn at least one instrument from each section (very small group and school, around 12 total) and I was tasked with French horn since we didn't have a Euphonium as an option (I already bought three instruments, wasn't buying a fourth lol). Finally playing one is amazing, it has one of my favorite sounds by far.
If you knew how rare getting a like from me was, you'd be shocked to know you got one. Well done on this restoration.
Thanks bought back happy memories of my Dad who worked at Bossey and Hawkes in Edgware for years
I've been metal shaping for 20 some years, be it artwork, ornamental, 3D sculptures large and small using sheet copper, stainless, what have you. The way you worked this brass horn just amazed me. I'm absolutely impressed!! PS. Just subscribed.
Magnificent restoration of the trumpet and an honorable tribute in memory of the musician. Congrats from Brazil.
I loved your "hand time"! BRAVO! 🥰
I really enjoyed your video. I play a 1958 Olds Mendez. I truly appreciate the Old`s vintage horns. Glad guys like you are out there to keep the vintage horns alive. Thanks Wes, Keep on moving forward. 😀
You have excellent repair skills. I really enjoy seeing how you work through the problems that each instrument presents.
I am a musician but don't deal at all in band instruments, but, I loved this video. This dude's life looks pretty rad, loves what he does, very talented and accomplished at it, on top of that, plays very well. Hopefully he makes enough to be comfortable. Thanks for the entertainment my friend. Honestly, if this was shot at 24p, it would have looked as cinematic as some of my favorite "high production value" educational/DIY shows, but hey 60p gives you a TON more frames to see what's going on, and kind of does fit the DIY theme :)
As a metal fabricator & shaper with 40+ years experience I learned something new today watching you, well done sir! I fully expected more soft hammer work and more annealing but you showed me that thin brass can be manipulated with gentle persuasion.
As a bodyshop mechanic.....Im stunned!!! You are a genuine craftsman ! A real master of your profession! Thanks aaaa lot!
Beautiful work, Wes! I just got done with an 1891 Conn Wonder cornet. I love those old horns. Now I'm gonna start on the original case. First step is to find a nice leather skin. This is a pre tolex vintage. Should be fun. Thanks for your great videos!
Hey Wes, just saw my first video yesterday and man, I can’t stop. It’s so gratifying to see what I always thought was an impossibly damaged instrument come back to its original glory. You’re videos are informative and a pleasure to watch. I play with quite a few horn players. I’ll send em the news. Keep up the faith brother and thanks for sharing your amazing skill!
What a delightful video! I dropped my trumpet bell down in college in 1974. I always wondered how they fixed it!
That was magic to watch that restoration Wes. My fathers trumpet 100 years old made in Paris needs tapet thread restoration .
Nice job. I have a couple of the early ambassadors. They’re very good horns.🎺
Great content, always nice to see a craftsman and them displaying their workmanship. Did you serve an apprenticeship or was your craft school taught? It’s great knowing in a throwaway world people still have the knowledge to restore, revitalize or repurpose items most considered junked.👍
Wes is a graduate of Red Wing 1994 but years of repair challenges brought his skills to this level.
You sir are a true American craftsman.
That was great to see the tooling and magic happen. Thankyou for sharing. 🤟🇦🇺☮️😎👍
I love watching your restorations and repairs. Excellent video. So what would it take to turn that or a similar horn into a brushed finish? What would you charge for that sort of work?
Um grande profissional, parabéns pela sua paciência e perfeição.
Thank the sweet Lord, whoever you concieve him to be, for people like you and videos like this..Oh, and thank him for Mary Jane, too. 🙏
Reviving old things for use is awesome. We live in a throw-away world. It may never be perfect, but someone will play music on it again, and that's more than OK. I do old record changers and portable phonographs.
genio, felicitaciones!