Lateral Valve Alignment- Custom Valve Guides- Band Instrument Repair- Wes Lee Music Repair

[@n6mz]

I think there's a special place in heaven for people who spread love over wonderful musical instruments.

[@benmilstein5654]

back in the late 80s i had the good fortune and privilege to take trumpet lessons with a man named Roger Blackburn (40+ years in the Philadelphia Orchestra), he was not only a brilliant musician, trumpeter, and singer, but also a very skilled technician. when i got a new trumpet, he would break out the blowtorch. first step was to loosen all the big joints on the instrument one at a time and re-solder them with optimal tension. then he would do a lateral valve alignment - he had a jig made for separating the two halves of the valve to do so. often he would replace the stock water valves with nicer ones. then we would spend an hour playing with valve guides - he had a big box of brass ones and we would try a dozen or so in each valve. vertical alignment was dialed in using little bits of paper stuffed into the threads under the valve cap. :) great to hear you talking about this stuff - i don't blow any more but when i did i never heard of anyone else who was doing this kind of detail work.

[@alphabeets]

Great stuff!

[@mattblaylock5204]

That’s my trumpet! Thanks Wes I love the polish and valves feel great!

[@EspressoBear59]

Hi Wes, your videos have inspired me to do some minor dent repair on my trumpet. I had a dent in my second valve slide and some pings in my bell. Purchased a couple of tools from ferrees tools and the rest is history. Thank you!!! 😊

[@kn-qz7by]

Love your videos, Wes. I hope they inspire young people to follow in your footsteps in this important craft.

[@alonsoquesada1136]

Love your videos Wes, keep it up! Perhaps you can talk a little bit more about the history of the instruments, manufacturers, etc. I used to play bass drum during my high school years but no so familiar with brass instruments

[@brandonmccorkel7774]

Learned a lot about maintaining my own stuff

[@tonyprice1612]

Very helpful info!!

[@WilliamOo]

Will be fantastic if the new guides were brass too…Metal ones make my horns resonate so much more..!

[@selpingos]

After watching your video I realized that i have a jiggle on my 2nd and third valve. I have no way to bring my Bach Strad to you since I live in Malaysia. I was wondering if I could buy those guides from you. Please let me know as I have a friend coming down to Malaysia soon. Thanks

[@robinrousseau1087]

VERY NICE JOB.

[@paulgrimm]

Thank you.

[@timothymcarr]

This is a great idea. Can your design company do larger metal guides? I want to keep the mass if possible. I’ve found on my Schilke piccolo, the metal guides change the horn just a tad.

[@bethhentges]

Great idea!

[@SylasXavier]

Regards from Brazil! Excelent work! Where i can find you in Eua?

[@Rumis754]

What is your favorite instrument

[@trumpetmark]

Do those guides have to be custom fit, or are they standard? I would assume as the valves wear they might not wear the same for everyone. My 25 year old Bach Strad has some side to side play. I've improved it with 3D printed valve guides, but it could be better still.

[@kevinAuguillard]

This looks like my horn, xeno 8335RG. My valves always make a ton of noise and would like those guides for mine. Where can I get them?

[@aaronching5129]

🤙🏽

[@Yorubamemories]

Nice

[@marceldiseraad9977]

Are these valve guides available in a webshop? I have a Yamaha xeno 8335RS trumpet

[@mrspock2012]

Can you tell me if you might be selling valve guides for King 1922 Cornet and Trumpet. Both are Silver Tones with solid silver bells.

[@mrspock2012]

Ps. I am an old man, but I have learned and applied so much from you, I feel I owe you tuition fees.

[@TheStickCollector]

interesting

[@snipersnipes4475]

So how exactly did you make that magnetic ball dent remover? I’m new to the field and can solder anything back together, and can replace any part, but I can’t remove dents all that easy. I bought some dent hammers but I don’t have the roller or the magnetic ball dent remover and was wondering how you did it?

[@georgeosborn3223]

Conn sold them years ago. Don't know who sells them now.

[@georgeosborn3223]

You really need a roller or a bell iron to hammer out dents.

[@yaclem8946]

Hey wess à new hat ? À gift?

[@paulgrimm]

My new Bach 190 37 ,50th Anniversary Stradivarius has sloppy valves. I expected better from Bach