I’m a new person in this trade. I had someone give me a trumpet that had an object stuck inside. I gave them a quote and they had mentioned they brought it to a shop about a month before, and declined the dent work I quoted them because “the other shop said it played fine with the dents”… long story short, it was a sax dent ball that was stuck deep in the mangled bell, and I don’t see how it could have played with something that big blocking the airflow let alone how a dent ball would have gotten stuck in a child’s hands? Needless to say, they agreed to the dent work and the customer was happy with my work… not so happy with the other shop. I now have the rusted dent all on my bench as a trophy and a reminder 😂

It's always satisfying watching a Master Tradesman preform his work.

As a fellow repair tech who prides themselves on quality work, I’m equally horrified to see the previous job called “work” and thrilled to see Wes call it out. This trade isn’t and shouldn’t be treated as a hobby; this is a serious skill and a lifestyle that requires dedication and attention to detail. Bravo Wes!

We still consider that you are a phenomenal technician, my dear Wes !!!!

Your rant is just responsability and accountability. God bless you both. You deserve so many more subscribers.

Whoa. Probably the first time I've ever seen Wes visibly angry at a shoddy job. I'm quite sure he'll amplify all this to the client.

In a shop where I worked, there was a sign that said, "if we have to finish a job you started, the price will be double"-well done as always!

The important thing is that it got to the right man in time to be rescued. Thanks for the video.

I don't know what amazes me more, your ability to perform magic or the willingness of the clients to pay for your magic. A true artisan makes it look easy.

At the beginning of the video, Wes almost looks like he's traumatized by seeing the "repair" that was inflicted on this poor horn.

@ricoludovici2825

Ай бұрын

In one vid, he repaired a mangled school tuba. His work brought tears to my eyes. Not kidding. I played tuba in junior high, high school and college. These instruments are treated and mistreated so badly that some are almost unplayable. But they are not clown trumpets; they are instruments like any other. If you price a new concert tuba, you can see how floridly expensive they are. The use of a school tuba is a privilege and an opportunity. Bad repairs are an insult to the instrument and the player.

Incredible work. It is much harder to repair a botch job than to start fresh.

@excavatoree

Ай бұрын

How does that chart go? Repair: 100 dollars per hour If you watch: 150 If you help: 200 If you tried to do it yourself and messed it up: 500

If that's wifey doing the camera work, give her a raise. Excellent camera work.

@kristimiller-lee2338

Ай бұрын

Thanks. Wes does all of the editing to make it appealing.

@most-best

Ай бұрын

He can’t make your shots better if they were poor. Credit where credit is due.

As a trumpet player, seeing that horn at the beginning broke my heart. Absolutely soul crushing.

@ricoludovici2825

Ай бұрын

Right? A bad looking horn makes it hard to like playing.

@KerryLorah

Ай бұрын

@@ricoludovici2825 Or in this case a twisted bell.

@ricoludovici2825

Ай бұрын

@@KerryLorah Yes. Looking down that wandering bell while you read your music. Mmm.

@KerryLorah

Ай бұрын

@@ricoludovici2825 Actually, it affects playing.

@KerryLorah

Ай бұрын

@@ricoludovici2825 Des Moines, IA. Mmmm

This is the work of a true (highly skilled and practiced) professional that takes pride in his work.

Your camera person does a great job.

always learning something new from this channel... honestly I will probably never work on instruments but a lot of the metal working techniques I can apply to several projects I am working on. At the very least I really enjoy learning something new just for the sake of knowledge. Well done sir

I love the pride you have in your work and in your trade. It's a joy and treat to watch your videos.

Wes, you do amazing work. As a piano technician, I see all kinds of “repairs”, too. I feel your pain. Keep up the good work!

Ha ha, I would consider starting at 8:01 as more of a "Fireside Chat" (see fireplace in the background at 3:43) than a "rant." You say you're not a phenomenon? Then tell us how you can be talking to us while still tapping on that horn😂😂 That was very clever.

I don't play wind instruments, I don't play any instruments, I'm not a musician at all, but I watch this channel religiously anyway! It's always fascinating to see a skilled craftsman do his or her thing.

@ScratchySlide

Ай бұрын

Never to late to start.....

Thank you, Wes. So professional and compliments to the photographer too. You're a great team.

So much crazy here, but that crease in the rim was something else. Glad they were able to get it into your hands and put it back to rights. Thanks for sharing!

I am an artist. I make sculptures using dead musical instruments. I try to straighten bells on some of these horns to make them look better in my art. That is why I watch your channel. You do unreal work, I do crappy backyard fixes to make things look better.....MY work is better than what you started with on that horn !!! Some people should leave some things alone. Thanks you for doing your normal fantastic job and saving that trumpet. Keep doing....I'll keep watching and learning

I am always impressed at just how physical this job is. 85% of the work is hand and arm strength. But the difficult part is using that extreme strength just enough to not damage the object more. Wes Lee is a true master in a world where master is typically used to describe what a different age would call a 'competent workman'. But even more impressive is the fact that he often brings more respect to the instrument than the owner or the user. This man is going STRAIGHT heaven, my friends.

Wes I love seeing your work, it would be cool to see some of your customers reaction to getting their instrument's back...

It's so fascinating to watch a master work his trade.

It's always a huge bummer to see the hack work of someone who's basically running a scam. But we love seeing a master set it right. Good luck on your future projects!

you now when you get a rant from OP about other peoples workmanship while trying to fix their mistakes your watching a video of someone who takes extreme pride in his craft. Those are the only channels I subscribe to.

What became of the Adolphe Saxhorn Cornet? I thought we had a few more parts to its journey ahead of us.....

Great work as always. Re-working someone else's mistakes is always twice as hard as just fixing it right the first time.

You do great work and I really appreciate the information and commentary you provide. Am I the only one who thinks dent removal is like pimple popping? Weirdly satisfying to watch!

I enjoy your work and your ethics revolving around appropriate repair work. I am in the business of restoration. The term "restoration" seems to be a very loose interpretation of a standard of work. Like you, I believe their should be a certification process for work provided. There are some mechanical certifications offered in our business. Some of those standards have become lax. I often witness poor or substandard work often. I witness and repair previous work done by those technicians who should not be in the business. Some of the work performed puts clients in danger. I am passionate about my work. I enjoyed your visceral reaction to the poor work you found in your initial inspection. You have a special talent and mindset to provide a high standard of work. GREAT job, Wes. Be good. Remain safe. Go out and have a Deluxe day.

You are a master! Excellent! 😊

Wes, I've seen several of your videos now. I always thought of you as competent but after seeing you straighten out that amateurish repair, I'm truly impressed with your mad skills! Kudos!!

Wes, the way you work the brass is amazing. Working the dents, bends and bulges out was magical.

I love watching your videos wes! Im not really into band instruments, but im very interested in the repair aspects. You’re doing the right thing by showing how it’s done! Much respect!

Knowledge, skills and finesse. A wonderful job rescuing a major hack job. Well done sir...well done.

Great job!!

Great to watch the best

I was rewatching your clarinet read videos this morning and would like information on the leak light you used. The link in the description did not work. As always I learn so much from your videos. Thank you for posting them!

Beautiful work! You are a true master of your craft!

Thanks Wes you demonstrating your skill and technique have been really useful to me when applying your techniques when I am repairing damaged exhaust mufflers on motor cycles. You just have to get the metal back where it was, thanks very much

Great work Wes! I could see the wavy light lines watching the video, it makes me wonder how the horn was before being worked on! But seeing the after, I know you do great work!

Thank you for this, I’m beginning and not so happy with some of my work ( on my own instruments I would add) as I learn. It’s inspiring to see the results you get and motivates me to work more at it.

Man.. I saved a trumpet that had been sat on badly with my limited equipment at home and straightened it out, it is now my favourite player. I think I could have done a much better job even without proshop- training, without a repairshop full of tools just handtools and a vice and a dentball. That work there must have been someone not looking into how to repair Trumpets, hating the work, hating the trumpet as an instrument and using the wrong tools and even then botched the job badly. Fine work saving that Besson.

советую снимать реакции клиентов после ремонта)

I'm with you Wes, I think a Guild should be in place, that has standards that instrument repair persons must be able to measure up to. In all my years in and around the music business, I've seen great work and a lot of not so good work too. Your channel brings light to this in so many ways and gives people a true measure of what Great work looks like. Thank you for what you are accomplishing with your channel. L. "Bush" T . Trombone, The Gringos

I had my fair share of bad repairs from not so good techs that I had to redo or tell the customer that I can’t repair that repair, many times over the thirty four years of my trade. I hear and feel your pain Wes.🇨🇦

@wesleemusicrepair9820

Ай бұрын

Yea man. I know you have. We seem to see a lot of similarities in the repairs. Good to hear from you. Hope things are well

I bought a trombone from a "thrift store" maybe 40+ years ago (Yeah, I'm old).....it was so corroded, the brass had holes in the bell....the inner slide too....😞 I forget what I did with that piece of metal....I was in Junior high school then....in the early '70's....

Whoever did that previous work wanted to help, but didn’t have the skills or proper tools to do it properly, let’s hope they grow up to be a real tech some day.

😂Can you smooth out my King Legend? Got a couple of knuckle dents and the case kinda dented the bell pipe... Thanks Wes This is a real special horn kinda magic....

A non-tech here, just enjoy watching you work.... Is there a video where it's clear what you mean by "light lines"? Thanks!

@meistudiony

Ай бұрын

The reflection of the light off the brass reveals all sorts of things. The reflection should be straight and smooth. If the light bends or disappears that means that things are not straight.

The association of repair technicians can through the association established standards of qualifications and workmanship for various levels of technicians. Apprentice, journeyman and master technician for trees of instruments

I have a BTR301 Bach Trumpet... excellent condition, but apparently a previous owner tried to repair the pistons 1 and 3. I suppose you perform that kind of repair. Valve block looks fine.

All industries have notes of incompetence wafting through them. Some just feel more personal than others.

You mentioned before and after pictures. You ever try before and after playing, for sound changes?

What is the clear cream substance you keep applying to your mandrels during this repair? Where do you purchase it?

Are you sure this wasn't DIY disaster? Who would have the customer come pick up the instrument and call that bell repaired.

I enjoy your channel, but am not in the trade. I make sculptures with copper or brass and have been using full size torches. After watching your show I kicked myself in the behind and ordered a set of micro/jewelers torches. I need your help. Do you use an oxygen generator or oxy concentrator and if so which one and what size? And for most of your work on horns etc. what size tip do you use? I appreciate your help. Thanks

Just curious, what is the white paste he's using before rubbing the brass?

@wesleemusicrepair9820

Ай бұрын

Grease

Ever had to deal with someones epoxy fixes? Those are a pain, having to grind all that off. Crazy glue is really toxic when it gets hot and can really wreck your lungs. Amateur repairs can be a mess to fix. I got one last month that I swear was "fixed" on an anvil with a ball-peen hammer.

How long did this repair take?

@wesleemusicrepair9820

Ай бұрын

All day

You're always referring to "light lines." Do you have your lights arranged in any particular way, or are your work areas configured in any particular way to give you the best light lines?

Always a pleasure and privilege to watch any master perform magic whether metal, wood or other medium. Especially when I'm known as 3 thumbed Bob.

How many days did that take?

@jstep4146

Ай бұрын

LOL if it took days, it wouldn't be worth fixin. The last thing that took me "days", was an overhaul/repair on a $3000 bass clarinet, and that had 10 hours of time on the fix. Time = $$$, and Wes works pretty fast. Recording takes a lot of time so it looks like it takes longer than it would normally.

@TubaHero37

Ай бұрын

Another comment asked specifically "How long did this repair take?" Wes answered "All day."

Dear Sir can you fix the horn on my 1998 Dodge van? Thanks, Wendell da Bassman😅😂

This might not be a popular opinion, but here goes. A horn is a MUSICAL instrument that may also be visually pretty. If, after the first repairs, the horn performed to an average musician's ability, and sounded good to the average listener - was it really a "hack repair"? You hear music, sometimes feel it, but I've never been able to see it, so if the horn still played well, I'd call it a reasonably successful repair, even with the visual flaws. At that point you can debate on what visual level the owner had asked for (and paid for) the horn to be brought to. I learned a long time ago not to assume the direction of conversations that I didn't personally witness. IMO that conversation - between the owner and repair tech - determines the success level of the repair more than anyone else's opinion as to what visual level it should be finished at.

@ydonl

Ай бұрын

My guess would be that you don't play. If you care about your music, you most likely care about your instrument, and it affects the way you feel and play. Or you can lower your standards, probably both for your music and your instrument, and call it "good enough." I know everybody's different and I'm making sweeping generalizations, and I don't mean to offend, but I think that mostly, the two things go together.

@willieshaw2522

Ай бұрын

@@ydonl I do not play personally, but several friends do. All of them have "bar" instruments that they know will see wear and tear from the nonsense that happens in bars. Then they have their babys that are only played whenever there is little chance of damage and want to leave a good impression.

@ydonl

Ай бұрын

@@willieshaw2522 I think that's kinda what I was saying! Let's harmonize our perspectives, eh? 🙂

🙀👍👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🎉

I'm always impressed with the work of masters like this gentleman, but is it too much to ask that the person who is speaking actually wear a wireless microphone throughout the video? This would seem to be lesson #1 for content creators. I realize that close work like hammer tapping can be loud but simple work during the editing process can turn down that volume. Please don't use ambient microphones built into cameras to pick up the person's voice. Otherwise, this video is SO impressive and how it shows the work of this master craftsman!

@cheeto4493

Ай бұрын

This video is great as it is. Easily heard and understood. I totally disagree with your comment.

@wesleemusicrepair9820

Ай бұрын

Upper left corner of apron, wireless. Probably would have helped in sections if I took the sharpie marker top out of my mouth while talking! Ha

for a instrument that is really bend is a lot of technicians that don't want to even touch them.

GUYS I NEED HELP!!! The G key on my Bb flute is playing a F# and I have a concert in a week and a half. I have no idea why it is doing that and no tutorial is helping me. I have no time to take it to the repair shop because it takes about 3 weeks since where I live theres only one music store in the whole territory. SOMEONE HELP ME PLEASEEE😭😭😭😭

l warranty cover it? Ha, ha! You're a miricle worker!

I hope the owner takes that beautiful horn back to the first "tech" and says "THIS is how it's done!" Shoddy workmanship like that makes all repair techs look bad. I don't blame you for being angry with that original piss poor "repair."

@chrisstephens6673

Ай бұрын

Does make you wonder how bad it was before the first "repair "!

You want it good, cheap or working… choose any two

You can always try and start something like the American Blacksmith Society has.

Most of the same bozos would do the same work with or without a certification. I get your sentiment from a professional standpoint, but without lifetime continued retesting requirements (that often end up scams, looking at you CompTIA) and actual oversight of the professional community (which is often just as bad as the testing - look at the legal community), it will change nothing for the customer or the professional. At least beyond annoyance and expense for the latter, anyway. ASE certs have been around a long time, but there's still TONS of bad mechanics that proudly have that cert. At the end of the day it's just a thing for you to be proud of that doesn't actually mean anything.

I can't help but wounder if you have your own mouth pieces or do you share with all the clients.

@cheeto4493

Ай бұрын

I've pondered this myself. One for a tuba, trumpet or trombone would be pretty easy to clean and disinfect or swap out with a personal one, while flutes are built in. But reeded instruments like sax's and clarinets, I dunno.

@Ti_Ti_ta

Ай бұрын

Techs have a full set of mouthpieces and reeds for every instrument. Shouldn't ever play a clients mouthpiece unless you are doing work on it.

@wesleemusicrepair9820

Ай бұрын

I play all my own mouthpieces and have multiple sizes/styles for each because there are so many different players and styles

@lucidmoses

Ай бұрын

@@wesleemusicrepair9820 Well, that's good to hear. You must have quite the collection by now.

I love you Wes but you act like you are willing and able to repair any and all instruments but you didn't even respond to my email when I asked for advice about repairing my trumpet. I'm sure you always did the highest quality work even when you were just starting out (sarcasm). At least if you are too busy to respond to your fans then don't talk smack about other repair techs who are just trying to make it in the business.

@kristimiller-lee2338

Ай бұрын

The shop is not taking any work outside of our area at this time.

@cheeto4493

Ай бұрын

@@kristimiller-lee2338 I have heard this mentioned on several videos. He even talks about the website you can go to and find trained professionals in your area. Even a new tech should know their abilities and discuss them with a client. But if you go to pick up an instrument expecting one thing and then getting a totally different result, one of you didn't do his work right.

@wesleemusicrepair9820

Ай бұрын

I have no record of your email. I went and looked under this name. No reference and website didn’t document, so I don’t have an answer for that. To your next point, I have never said I am repair man for the internet. To your next point about my work, when I didn’t know anything I still didn’t do shitty work, I have eyes. To the last point , I didn’t talk smack, I showed fixing some techs hack work, fact, and didn’t name their business or talk degrade anyone. For your next lines, you say you know I’m not taking any work from outside my area, and where you can go look to find techs in your area that can help or give suggestions of places to talk to. So go find them and good luck with your project

That has more curve than Highway 2 in SE Iowa!➿ I'm not a repair technician, but I would not attempt to massage that brass....I would probably cause the metal to rip....