Posted by Josh on March 20, 2003 at 16:43:30:
I just bought an old Gerhard Schneider BBb 4R tuba on E***y. Before the flames start about buying tubas sight unseen from auction sites, this is a basket case that I bought partially for the fun of working on it myself, and partially because I have seen a few of these and happen to think it is a very good quality tuba. (Besides, what I paid for it would cover the cost of the hard shell case it came with!!!)
Other than the usual dents in the bows, the main problems are 3-4 crushed tubes and a completely destroyed leadpipe. I can handle the tubes. What I can't uncrush, I will bend new tubes. I don't know what to do about the leadpipe. Any suggestions?
My overall plans are:
1) Unsolder the joints (Not all tubes need unsoldering)
2) Delacquer the horn myself
3) Have the local repair shop remove the dents from the bows and bell (just a few dents in the bell)
4) Disassemble and service the rotors myself. Replace S-linkages with Dubro parts.
5) What tubes I can't fix, I'll have the repair shop repair/replace
6) Leadpipe????
7) Need to make about 5 brackets/supports
8) Buff the brass and nickel
9) I may have the shop reassemble everything
10) I have a friend with a professional paint shop who will help relacquer the horn.
I Appreciate comments.
Josh in Indianapolis