Conn Trumpet Restoration & Slide Replace- band instrument repair- Wes Lee Music- Ferree's Tools

Tips and Tricks on saving lacquer, soldering, replacing a slide crook, buffing, among many others.
Tools Used:
F42 Solder
E45 Solder Clip
F46 Flux
D101 Drill Bits
R46 Tripoli Compound
R48 Rouge Compound
R47 White Compound
R9 Buff Wheels
Q1 Lacquer
N54 Knuckle Tools
N80A balls
Z60-14 Rod with slugs
Tools from:
www.ferreestoolsinc.com
Thanks for watching.

[@murraykriner9425]

Thrilled to see some folks still taking pride in making a well preserved Constellation returned to an exquisite state of repair. Simply beautiful job my friend.

[@robbythompson4230]

“All that’s left to do, is everything” that is a fantastic quote and I may use

[@pb5690]

Hope you're planning a video showing how you made the crook. Thanks for all the great info!

[@oldad6207]

I've always used Johnson Paste Wax on my nickeled revolver. I've recently discovered Renaissance Wax, originally formulated by the British Museum to preserve and protect metal finishes. Pretty great stuff.

[@RobertFay]

*- It is nice to see your joy and pleasure in getting things to rights on a wonderful horn.*

[@barbaraallen512]

Mr. Wes Lee: Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to "edify" people like myself, "DIY." In one of your videos, you fixed the neck tenon on a vintage Buescher alto; again, thank you so much [for showing just how to use that "can opener"] After falling in love with the sound of a saxophone, I started reading all I could get my hands on about repair, and videos; I invested what I could into repair tools, "the necessities." I began to overhaul my sax, i.e., disassemble, clean, level tone holes, et cetera. All was going well, but then I did make a mistake [ to grievous to print] I searched for a video [in hope of] correcting the mistake; only to find a video that mocked "Anyone who had made such a mistake", [ namely me.] For the sake of "self-punishment" I stopped work and began to "chastise myself." Too make matters worse, I had a freak accident and broke my right hand.... Ok, fast forward, this March I started back to fix "MY HORN" Nay Sayers can laugh all they want [Because there are those who will never admit that they themselves have made the same mistake] Enough said, I wish you would show how to deal with "Remedying the mistake of ruining the low B flat tone hole." There are those that will say it can't be done; that the horn is "Ruined." But I disagree. I made the mistake, and I hope to fix it. Any advice you give will be greatly appreciated, Thank you. B. Allen

[@notlemcram]

All that’s left to do is everything! 😎

[@messerist]

I hope someone plays it. Too nice to be put back in the attic. Truly enjoyable to watch you work.

[@EeekItsSnek]

Always makes me chuckle hearing you say "water key" like its a fancy piece of the instrument. Everyone I know just straight up calls it the "spit valve." Myself included. Love to see another wonderful instrument tune-up tho 😀

[@romanaroun]

Good morning 🌄 too you! ALL ways Great works. First view first comment 👍

[@alphabeets]

Yeah, great work!

[@evdallas123]

Wow that thing looks awesome the constellation was a great horn Maynard used one in his early years before Holton created horns for him

[@chasefreak]

secret-Maynard played the 38b Conn on live gigs but the 36b in the studio sssshhhh...also, Doc used to have Bach 37 bells soldered onto his Getzen horns...sssshhhhh...I won't tell if you won't :)

[@lawrencebrown1133]

Beautiful!

[@luisfranciscosoto]

Outstanding work!

[@jayl7890]

Outstanding job Wes!!!

[@lotsabirds]

Beautiful horn and great job!! Thanks for the video! Neat tips!!

[@guataco]

Kudos. Beautiful.

[@chasefreak]

a speeding locomotive couldn't damage a vintage 38b Conn...great job Wes-also kudos for using cork on the water keys-Cork is DEF the way to go on water keys

[@ozzyeats6461]

You Sir are a Marvel !!!! Thanks for keeping this tradition going strong and for the care you take in restoring these works of art !!!!

[@benloyd1970]

Simply amazing

[@bottomup12]

Trumpet repairs are my favorite being a player in the past.

[@mikenixon4637]

Wonderful stuff!

[@matthewf1979]

People really should learn to love the patina on their instruments. Especially the ones they bought brand new. That wear is a record of musical progression.

[@paulwhitehead4449]

You are such a clever man!

[@robinrousseau1087]

AS A MECHINE. IT IS NICE TO SEE SOMETHING NEW.

[@GooseYArd]

I've loved all the stuff of yours that I've watched, but the editing on this one is fantastic!

[@sailaway0013]

That’s fascinating !

[@TiagoOliveira-mg7ws]

Perfeito .trabalho...parabéns

[@msapostle]

Thanks for posting who thought this would’ve so interesting

[@kellyjoyce2399]

I played that same model del trumpet in high school marching band 45 years ago. Beautiful job.

[@pharmdiddy5120]

Okay I need to send you my silver plate Conn Doc Severin series... Jealous of that one!

[@Glockodile]

Just found your channel, I am loving these videos

[@adventureisuncertainty1061]

Awesome video! It's amazing how you restored the slide and brought the trumpet back to life! I am sure the customer is going to be pleased! Beautiful work!

[@quentincrews2046]

Watching you work is like watching an artist paint a beautiful painting!! You're a true craftsman!!

[@michaelcruz6331]

Nice work

[@RicardoCruz-xk9nb]

Buen trabajo amigo, lo felicito y gracias por compartir tus conocimientos, resive un cordial saludo desde México 🇲🇽

[@donaldshields2483]

Looks like you did a very good job I enjoyed watching so you keep doing them and I’ll keep watching god bless

[@perryparsons9960]

Beautiful job! Red rot on those tuning slides seems to be common on the early 60's Conn trumpets and cornets, have had a few replaced.

[@erniearruda8861]

Hi 👋 Wes another tip on soldering those crooks to the tubes, is what I do is flair the outer tubes so slightly that is snug enough that solder won’t bleed inside the tube and you wouldn’t have a blob inside.Makes it easier to put a dent ball of the right diameter to remove a dent on the tuning slide ,instead of unsoldering the tubes to get at that dent.Conn and Bach are notoriously famous for fast and poor workmanship on that department.

[@wesleemusicrepair9820]

Yes sir, good tips!

[@marinoscafura9595]

Sei il top

[@jerebigler7520]

You are a true craftsman! Pleasure to watch you work. Would you recommend that owners of brass instruments periodically apply some paste wax afdter a good cleaning? Especially on ares where the hand oils collect. Thanks for sharing.

[@scottzilla1979]

I'm calling it the "water key" from now on!

[@alphabeets]

Beautiful work and beautiful trumpet, Mr. Lee.

[@IdAdvancedmonkey]

Did you make the crook for the tuning slide ?... if so could you do a video showing how you bend it. I've a yam reverse tuning slide that is too creased to get it back to normal .. plus a bit of redrot. So looking to change the bow.

[@jeaninearnold7321]

I would like to see how you created the new tuning slide crook section. I'm particularly interested in the tubing bending and shaping to match the original.

[@ms-mac521]

👍👍👍

[@massacmongo995]

Had a 69 just like this except it had a bigger bell . My son used it also and we had to replace the tuning slide as well

[@agressively_wi7053]

when dealing with a lot of dents, do you ever re head the mtal afterward to undo any amount of work hardening? or is the amount of hardening insignificant to the tonality of the horn?

[@scottreopelle7791]

Newby here.. Do nickel horns normally come with brass bends (I don't know what you call them). I'm wondering why they don't get replaced with nickel bends. I don't even play a horn but love watching these!

[@JohnResciniti]

I don't think I saw the lacquer being sprayed. After buffing what do you do to prep and how do you spray that? Is it like automotive clear coat?

[@joemarta397]

Is there a special way you’d go about cleaning a copper instrument? I’ve got an old Blessing B88 with a copper bell. Half of it seems to have this dark brown/green stain to it that I can’t get off.

[@EspressoBear59]

Wes, Do you do valve restoration? I have a 110 year old Conn. aside from the valves it is in pristine condition.

[@scottwollbrink3950]

im trying to find the little nylon peice for king silver flair 1st valve trigger would you happen to know where i could find that cant seem to find it over google

[@VidelicetMoi]

I wish there were more detail of the critical work performed. Isn't the purpose of You Tube to mentor, inform, and educate? Nonetheless, great work of what the result of that fabulous instrument. Thanks

[@wesleemusicrepair9820]

I literally showed every step of replacing a slide tube. With tips to avoid a pitfall. I did everything but install yours for you. What more detail do you want?

[@VidelicetMoi]

@@wesleemusicrepair9820 I meant no disrespect. I just wanted to see how you created that perfect replication of the repair. That curved piece. I guess I am asking too much

[@DNKG669]

The purpose of KZbin is for there to be a large, popular, and reliable platform for all manner of people to upload whatever (within reason) they want for viewers to learn, be entertained, or something else

[@Kjhnsn2]

How do I keep my solder from balling up? I’m a new band director who is currently learning to fix instruments in my (very limited)free time, thanks!

[@wesleemusicrepair9820]

use flux

[@marceldiseraad9977]

I’m wondering, don’t you do anything on the inside of the tube with the waterkey? If you drill a hole in the pipe, won't there be burrs on the inside?

[@wonderwood1967]

"All we have left to do is everything...." Lol my Dad always said "All we lack is finishing up" (at pretty much every stage of a job). I do have a question. I have an old JK ToneKing trumpet (not the Pro model) - Serial# 0390. It belonged to a friend of mine in Highschool in the 60's and he gave it to me when it pretty much fell apart. A few years ago, I had an instrument repair guy put it all back together so a friend from church could use it as a beginner instrument. Didn't have it fully restored, but the valves are leaky and he felt it was not worth the money to remove all the minor dents and restore the valves. Do you have any "magic tricks" for leaky valves? I'm was a reed player, primarily and my friend recently passed away. I would be interested in sending it to you for evaluation

[@eliezertapia9216]

I will like to restore my old yamaha trumpet.Are you available to do it for me?

[@chox2001]

Do you have a video of the soldering torch you use . Is it oxy acetylene , I’m sure I hear a pump.

[@theoldbigmoose]

It is oxy acetylene, model L61 Smith Torch. The noise is an oxygen concentrator running.

[@theoldbigmoose]

I found the model of the torch for you, it is a L61 Smith Torch.

[@chox2001]

@@theoldbigmoose thanks for that

[@stevenmurata4392]

I'm not a player, does the trumpter move the slide as they play? Thanks.

[@bradleyjonestpt]

Great question, Steven! There are two smaller slides that are moved to make small adjustments to tuning. The big slide is not moved simultaneously while playing.

[@trallfraz]

that would be a trombone

[@bottomup12]

The third valve slide is moved out when valve three is used to stay in tune.

[@benloyd1970]

It is moved with a finger ring to keep the trumpet in tune while playing certain notes.

[@gartenwollo]

Warum nimmt er nicht dünneren Lötdraht, dann braucht er nicht so viel wegzuputzen?

[@brycejeannotte7699]

When you are using your torch there is a noise. Are you using an Oxygen Concentrator instead of bottled oxygen, or is the noise from something else?

[@redingtonm]

He has an oxygen concentrater I I believe surplus medical.

[@redingtonm]

You can see it at 12:50 right under the vise.

[@brycejeannotte7699]

@@redingtonm Thanks!

[@brycejeannotte7699]

@@redingtonm I see it now...didn't know what I was looking for before. Thanks.

[@Culpride]

Could you do a Kazoo for April fools?

[@jcgorritti]

This is so satisfaying. What are horny channel(!)

[@KA4UPW]

Too bad you cant refinish

[@user-un2sg8zm9p]

Да мой друг, ты прекрасный специалист и видно человек хороший, жму твою лапу😢