BOTCHED!- Besson Trumpet Bell, Repairing Hack Work, band instrument repair 

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!

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.

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.

Your camera person does a great job.

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

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!

I've just sent a besson 982 to mcqueens for a total refurbishment in Manchester, UK, they are magicians! 🙂

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!

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

Great to watch the best

I enjoy watching your craftsmanship. Maybe, I could do some apprentice work in a shop and learn more.

You are a master! Excellent! 😊

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

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.

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

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!

Great job!!

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

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!

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!!

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 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!

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.

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 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.

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!

you are a good repairman, Wes...but get over the fact that most folks aren't....i am semi over trash talking the trash...trash happens....don't forget, your cool tools cost a small fortune...some of us repair guys have to make do with much less....i can buy a really cool old horn for less than a friggin mandrel....but yea, i got a few mandrels anyway.

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.

😂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....

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.

советую снимать реакции клиентов после ремонта)

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.🇨🇦

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?

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.

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

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

Great work, Lee. Where is your trumpet repair shop? -Matt Tech.

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

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?

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.

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?

🙀👍👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🎉

How long did this repair take?

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

How many days did that take?

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.

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😭😭😭😭

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!

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

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."

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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....