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.
@@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 dropped my trumpet down a flight of stairs in 1984 as a freshman in high school. I was heartbroken it was my most valuable and prized possession because it was a silver Bach which was rare in those days for a high school kid to have. My parents had it repaired like new; I gained 1st chair, 1st trumpet the following year and still play it to this day. I always wondered how this was done, thank you to all Master Restorers & Mr. Wes Lee. You do more than fix instruments-you keep dreams alive.
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.
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
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.
@@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.
@@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!
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.
I kept expecting you to bring out the big guns, some kind of big power tools, or hammers, but instead it was just you being gentle and feeling things out with care. You made it look so straightforward when it's definitely anything but. That's the true mark of a master.
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!
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.
I had left my trumpet out in high school and some family member must have stepped on it and then shoved it under a coach. I found it and tried to work out all the dents as best I could. After seeing this I’m going to see if my mom still has it and get it fixed for future trumpet players in the family.
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.
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.
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.
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. 😀
What I love about craftsman, they make what they do look easy, but those of us who a are really observing realize the extrordinary level of skill it takes. Love this!
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!
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!
I have no idea how I got here, or why I stayed. In fact, I was wondering if I needed to just get a life. However, after the first 10 minutes of watching a master craftsman at work, I was grateful I found this channel. I'll proceed to binge watch now.
LOL - same here. DId play trumpet in school though. And did get a few dings, including snapping off the center-valve's tuning slide. My father took it to a local music store, which back then, had an in-house repairman who soldered it back good as new. So, yeah, I had a life until I stopped playing it ... :))) Very cool to watch this man's work.
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 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.
That would have had the round pinky ring like this one. Those are a much better playing horn than the ones they made after the Olds company moved from LA to Fullerton, but some of the first ones made in Fullerton were made the same way as the LA models. You have one of the good ones. 😊🎺
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
I started playing trumpet in 1957 and over the years, I've "worn out" 6 horns. I've always been partial to the OLDS professional line trumpet. I have owned a Holton as well. Most recently, I've been playing an OLDS coronet that I bought on line for $60. I love that horn.I was amazed at your talent. You are indeed an artisan. I had one horn "rebuilt" but it was nowhere near as bad as the one in your video. Thank you for this video.
Im working on becoming a luthier, so im fascinated in all sorts of instrument repair. Ive watched you and Ted Woodford fix things i thought were literal scrap or firewood. In a world of waste, its refreshing to know people like you are out there to give more life to these instruments. Very cool job you have there.
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!
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.
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.
My first video! I love tools. These videos are very fun and I love learning what the tools and parts are called. Keep up the great work my friend awesome stuff. Thanks for keeping the ears of the world happy!!!!! God bless.
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!
First time on this channel. I really enjoyed watching this. The only problem for me was that I felt that the video was too short. I thought I had just started it, and before I knew it, it ended. I guess that's the mark of a good video. It was so interesting that I had lost track of the time.
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.
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.
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!
Amazing!!! I'm an ex-architectural copper contractor (copper & zinc range hoods, etc) and now a guitar maker, and have always wondered how in the world one could possibly restore brass instruments. Thanks for the great video and insight!
Hey, Wes; I just want to tell you something. I love your repairs. No, I have absolutely no interest in learning how to repair horns, but I do love watching you restore bent up, beat up, and mangled horns... I love the transformation you apply in your work on them. The more mangled the better. 👍👍
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.
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!
Obviously a master craftsman at work. You knew the material well enough to know how much pressures and where to apply them to make it straight and round again. Thumbs Up!
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.
I played coronet in high school 1970-1975 , Someone sure beat up that Horn, Now I'm a furniture restorer and builder of 38 year's . Looks like you work harder than me to get the job done. Enjoy the trade we're in, Enjoying what your doing . G R Michigan
Great work. As a once trumpet player, it was fun to see you do your magic. Many years ago I found a b-flat (I think that is what I was told it was. It was like 3/4-size) Sousaphone at a yard sale. The story was that it was hanging on the wall of an old garage when it collapsed. The bell looked flatter than this trumpet did, and there were major dents in the larger parts of the "coils". But on the bright side, all the valves and slides were undamaged, and worked great. I bought it for $20. My friends laughed at me. I took it home and laid it on the couch and stared at it for a couple weeks. Then I pulled out my auto body dollies, and started massaging the bell and as far as I could reach into the coil. No hammering, just massage. I ended up selling a decent looking, working horn to an aspiring bass player for half the cost of a used one in the music store. Everyone was happy. It was fun saving that horn.
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!
so nice to see things like this saved for future use and not trashed, all the work that goes into making and repairing a fine instrument is good to watch
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!
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.
I wasn’t even thinking about watching a trumpet restore video but I’m glad I did. I’m always happy to watch at master of their craft at work. Plus a great attitude! Her family should be thrilled with the amazing craftsmanship that you’ve forever left in their treasured memory. Gabriel would be proud.🙏
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 :)
At 2:02 AM on Saturday morning I was having trouble sleeping and just decided to turn on TH-cam for a moment and to my surprise I found this video in my feed. I can honestly say I had no idea that there were people out there that did this kind of work. Your video was a refreshing change from all of the garbage videos on TH-cam. I definitely enjoyed watching that poor instrument come back to life.
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!
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.👍
All I can say is WOW! I never thought you would be able to get that bell straightened out like new. Preserved the patina as well. You are a master! Thanks for sharing.
I've got my old Selmer Bundy trumpet from when i was in grade school. Got dents, all the slides are frozen and the bell is sort of jacked up. How do I contact you to get it fixed up as only you can??
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!
I had an Olds Ambassador as my first trumpret in 1959, and have a vintage one now. I am truly amazed at the amount of owrk and skill involved in this restoration, but if Wes is getting paid anywhere near what his craftsmanship is worth, those repairs must cost nearly what the horn is worth! Great channel!
WOW - it has been 40 years since I played (trumpet, baritone) - and it was WONDERFUL to see you bring that horn back to life. The school (junior high) baritone I started with had a horribly crumpled bell and zero varnish left . Wish I'd had the skills.
This is the first one of your TH-cam Videos that I have seen. I was impressed by not only that you did the repair on the trumpet but you showed how the repair was done. Time fore me to see another one of your videos.
I watch this for the first time and being a musically "deaf" or not having musical hearing. I had never thought that this kind of work could be really ever booked or done instead of going to the nearest shop and buying a new thing. Sure I assume that for musicians their tools are very personal. But this dead pipe reincarnation is quite amazing.
Judging by the lead pipe enclosed finger ring & by what I can make out of the SN 172,xxx - that makes it about a 1955 Olds Ambassador back just after they moved from LA to Fullerton, CA . Those horns were built to last a lifetime. I love the Olds horns (I own several). Does my heart good to see this one resurrected from the dead!
What a fantastic video. Even though I'm not a musician let alone a trumpet player I love watching experts do what they do best. Thank you for sharing your expertise with the rest of us.
I am watching this, the first video I have seen on this channel, in September 2024. Fascinating craftsmanship. Genuinely charming and heartwarming handiwork. Great to see. As an aside, I think that if you up your production values a little (eg. eliminate background noise; make the shop a little neater; soften the lighting a bit; get a lapel mic with pop filter) this material has real potential to gain viewers. Will be interested to watch a more recently-produced video!
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.
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 dropped my trumpet down a flight of stairs in 1984 as a freshman in high school. I was heartbroken it was my most valuable and prized possession because it was a silver Bach which was rare in those days for a high school kid to have. My parents had it repaired like new; I gained 1st chair, 1st trumpet the following year and still play it to this day. I always wondered how this was done, thank you to all Master Restorers & Mr. Wes Lee. You do more than fix instruments-you keep dreams alive.
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'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.
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.
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.
This is work of a TRUE CRAFTMANS
This is what makes TH-cam priceless! An up close view watching a master craftsman work. It's almost like free trade school.
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!
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.
You might like Adam Savage's One day builds he goes over his thinking process and problem solving on all his builds
So happy the YT algorithm sent me here, awesome video! Love seeing a master of their craft do what they do best.
How enterteining it is to watch a true pro do his thing. Wow, that was so impressive!
I kept expecting you to bring out the big guns, some kind of big power tools, or hammers, but instead it was just you being gentle and feeling things out with care. You made it look so straightforward when it's definitely anything but. That's the true mark of a master.
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!
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.
I would have never imagined bell damage that bad could be fixed! You are master craftsman of brass.
I had left my trumpet out in high school and some family member must have stepped on it and then shoved it under a coach. I found it and tried to work out all the dents as best I could. After seeing this I’m going to see if my mom still has it and get it fixed for future trumpet players in the family.
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.
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.
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.
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. 😀
What I love about craftsman, they make what they do look easy, but those of us who a are really observing realize the extrordinary level of skill it takes. Love this!
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!
When an artisan is also an artist, all one can do is admire and respect. Lovely to see this - thanks for all you do.
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 had no idea that could be worked out. Wow , what a craftsman.
I have no idea how I got here, or why I stayed. In fact, I was wondering if I needed to just get a life. However, after the first 10 minutes of watching a master craftsman at work, I was grateful I found this channel. I'll proceed to binge watch now.
LOL - same here. DId play trumpet in school though. And did get a few dings, including snapping off the center-valve's tuning slide. My father took it to a local music store, which back then, had an in-house repairman who soldered it back good as new. So, yeah, I had a life until I stopped playing it ... :))) Very cool to watch this man's work.
I agree!
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
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 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?
That would have had the round pinky ring like this one. Those are a much better playing horn than the ones they made after the Olds company moved from LA to Fullerton, but some of the first ones made in Fullerton were made the same way as the LA models. You have one of the good ones. 😊🎺
As a bodyshop mechanic.....Im stunned!!! You are a genuine craftsman ! A real master of your profession! Thanks aaaa lot!
Fascinating, thanks. It just shows that you need two things: 1) the right tools for the job, and 2) the skill to use them.
That’s impressive. I can’t believe you got those creases out. You definitely are a master at your craft sir.
Repairing things people don't throw away. What a wonderful way to make a living.
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
I started playing trumpet in 1957 and over the years, I've "worn out" 6 horns. I've always been partial to the OLDS professional line trumpet. I have owned a Holton as well. Most recently, I've been playing an OLDS coronet that I bought on line for $60. I love that horn.I was amazed at your talent. You are indeed an artisan. I had one horn "rebuilt" but it was nowhere near as bad as the one in your video. Thank you for this video.
Im working on becoming a luthier, so im fascinated in all sorts of instrument repair. Ive watched you and Ted Woodford fix things i thought were literal scrap or firewood. In a world of waste, its refreshing to know people like you are out there to give more life to these instruments. Very cool job you have there.
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!
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.
Great bell recovery.
Never would have imagined it could come back THAT good!
Amazing work…I cannot believe you got the dents out of that bell. It was hammered!!
My first video! I love tools. These videos are very fun and I love learning what the tools and parts are called. Keep up the great work my friend awesome stuff. Thanks for keeping the ears of the world happy!!!!! God bless.
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!
Pleasure to watch a true craftsman/artist work his magic. Amazing.
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'.
First time on this channel. I really enjoyed watching this. The only problem for me was that I felt that the video was too short. I thought I had just started it, and before I knew it, it ended. I guess that's the mark of a good video. It was so interesting that I had lost track of the time.
There are other longer videos to be viewed.
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.
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.
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
Amazing!!! I'm an ex-architectural copper contractor (copper & zinc range hoods, etc) and now a guitar maker, and have always wondered how in the world one could possibly restore brass instruments.
Thanks for the great video and insight!
Hey, Wes; I just want to tell you something. I love your repairs. No, I have absolutely no interest in learning how to repair horns, but I do love watching you restore bent up, beat up, and mangled horns... I love the transformation you apply in your work on them. The more mangled the better. 👍👍
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.
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 canvas mallet is perfect for breaking valve caps loose ✊. Great job, Wes! Thanks for sharing!
Obviously a master craftsman at work. You knew the material well enough to know how much pressures and where to apply them to make it straight and round again. Thumbs Up!
That's a lovely horn, and now it's got its beautiful scars up on that bell. Good work restoring that lovely instrument.
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.
I reall enjoy your work. The narration makes it easy to understand what your doing and why. I like it. Thanks for sharing.
Absolutely fascinating, I thought that bell was far beyond repair. You have some impressive skills. Thanks for the video.
I played coronet in high school 1970-1975 , Someone sure beat up that Horn, Now I'm a furniture restorer and builder of 38 year's . Looks like you work harder than me to get the job done.
Enjoy the trade we're in, Enjoying what your doing . G R Michigan
Great work. As a once trumpet player, it was fun to see you do your magic.
Many years ago I found a b-flat (I think that is what I was told it was. It was like 3/4-size) Sousaphone at a yard sale. The story was that it was hanging on the wall of an old garage when it collapsed. The bell looked flatter than this trumpet did, and there were major dents in the larger parts of the "coils". But on the bright side, all the valves and slides were undamaged, and worked great. I bought it for $20. My friends laughed at me. I took it home and laid it on the couch and stared at it for a couple weeks. Then I pulled out my auto body dollies, and started massaging the bell and as far as I could reach into the coil. No hammering, just massage. I ended up selling a decent looking, working horn to an aspiring bass player for half the cost of a used one in the music store. Everyone was happy. It was fun saving that horn.
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
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!
You have excellent repair skills. I really enjoy seeing how you work through the problems that each instrument presents.
so nice to see things like this saved for future use and not trashed, all the work that goes into making and repairing a fine instrument is good to watch
this kind of patience, strength and know how is mostly unmatched in this day and age. i salute you my good sir
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!
That was amazing, I never thought you would get it back looking that good. Really enjoyed the video, thank you.
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.
I'm currently in a class learning how to be a repair tech and it is just so damn cool to see the tools we're learning how to use in action. Fantastic!
I wasn’t even thinking about watching a trumpet restore video but I’m glad I did. I’m always happy to watch at master of their craft at work. Plus a great attitude! Her family should be thrilled with the amazing craftsmanship that you’ve forever left in their treasured memory. Gabriel would be proud.🙏
Olá eu tenho um trumpete para reforma
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 :)
I know I’m late but I’m glad that there is at least one real repair TH-camr
Nice job. I have a couple of the early ambassadors. They’re very good horns.🎺
At 2:02 AM on Saturday morning I was having trouble sleeping and just decided to turn on TH-cam for a moment and to my surprise I found this video in my feed. I can honestly say I had no idea that there were people out there that did this kind of work. Your video was a refreshing change from all of the garbage videos on TH-cam. I definitely enjoyed watching that poor instrument come back to life.
The right tools and a pair of strong hands with proper training is all that is needed. I have none of these. Nice work!!
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!
Um grande profissional, parabéns pela sua paciência e perfeição.
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.
Bell work was amazing. As a mechanic, I can and do appreciate that you used persuasion, rather than brute force to remedy the dents.
All I can say is WOW! I never thought you would be able to get that bell straightened out like new. Preserved the patina as well. You are a master! Thanks for sharing.
I've got my old Selmer Bundy trumpet from when i was in grade school. Got dents, all the slides are frozen and the bell is sort of jacked up. How do I contact you to get it fixed up as only you can??
A real pleasure to watch someone who knows what they're doing and clearly loves their work.
It's a pleasure to watch master craftsman do their work. I'm a huge fan of Ron Covell and I know when I see greatness.
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!
Crazy talent, years of practice makes it look so easy but this is true hard work and skill.
I had an Olds Ambassador as my first trumpret in 1959, and have a vintage one now. I am truly amazed at the amount of owrk and skill involved in this restoration, but if Wes is getting paid anywhere near what his craftsmanship is worth, those repairs must cost nearly what the horn is worth! Great channel!
WOW - it has been 40 years since I played (trumpet, baritone) - and it was WONDERFUL to see you bring that horn back to life. The school (junior high) baritone I started with had a horribly crumpled bell and zero varnish left . Wish I'd had the skills.
This is the first one of your TH-cam Videos that I have seen. I was impressed by not only that you did the repair on the trumpet but you showed how the repair was done. Time fore me to see another one of your videos.
I watch this for the first time and being a musically "deaf" or not having musical hearing. I had never thought that this kind of work could be really ever booked or done instead of going to the nearest shop and buying a new thing. Sure I assume that for musicians their tools are very personal. But this dead pipe reincarnation is quite amazing.
To spend the time to work this soft metal to such a nice finished product this dude has the patience of a saint.
Judging by the lead pipe enclosed finger ring & by what I can make out of the SN 172,xxx - that makes it about a 1955 Olds Ambassador back just after they moved from LA to Fullerton, CA . Those horns were built to last a lifetime. I love the Olds horns (I own several). Does my heart good to see this one resurrected from the dead!
As a guitar player I usually like to watch guitar luthier channels but this video was recommended to me and I'm glad I found your channel, great work
I am not a musician, not into horns, but I really enjoyed watching your craftsmanship. Amazing work!! Thanks.
In Germany we say: Ehrenmann!
A man of honour, who gives a second life to musical instruments. Well done Sir ❤️
What a fantastic video. Even though I'm not a musician let alone a trumpet player I love watching experts do what they do best. Thank you for sharing your expertise with the rest of us.
I am watching this, the first video I have seen on this channel, in September 2024. Fascinating craftsmanship. Genuinely charming and heartwarming handiwork. Great to see.
As an aside, I think that if you up your production values a little (eg. eliminate background noise; make the shop a little neater; soften the lighting a bit; get a lapel mic with pop filter) this material has real potential to gain viewers. Will be interested to watch a more recently-produced video!
What a delightful video! I dropped my trumpet bell down in college in 1974. I always wondered how they fixed it!