OK, while you are waiting for these pictures to load, you might as well read this. 

We are not publishing these pictures so that we can get more trumpet overhauls.  Rather, we just want to let folks know the difference between good musical instrument repair work and bad musical instrument repair work.  There are lots of bad repair technicians out there, and our industry does not do a very good job of policing itself.  So, it is a case of buyer beware.

To answer your questions that we know you are going to have, here goes:

• Yes, Johnny Paul sometimes does do brass overhauls.  But never if you are in a hurry.
• Yes, they are expensive.  This job would have cost a customer about $500.00.  So, don't call us if you are not serious.
• Yes, he takes his time.  That is why he is a good brass repair technician. 
• Yes, you can probably buy another horn cheaper than have this done.  But, it won't be your old favorite.
• Yes, we MUST see the instrument before we can give you an estimate.
• Yes, we can furnish all the references you want.  Professional musicians, not just good ol' boys.

When we first published these pics, we were flooded with emails from folks wanting us to overhaul their trumpets.  We pulled the pics, we were already a very busy shop.  We are going to try to publish them again, and hopefully with the above explanation we won't get swamped with questions.  Here goes....

The Bach Strad before JP began working on it.

The bell.  Some dumb freak had tried to work on it with a hammer.  Dents in the bell flair MUST be taken out by burnishing, not with a dent hammer, you fool.  This looks like a leaf of lettuce.

An example of some really bad repair work.  Whoever did this needs to buy stock in the solder company.  There is no need to use this much solder.

Another picture of the bad soldering.

Clear photo of the serial number, for all of you unbelievers.

Dents in the 2nd valve slide.

OK, I have to admit, we just about died laughing when we saw this "brace".  We have never seen such bad repair work in all of our lives.  To make it worse, we think the person who did this is a bonafied member of NAPBIRT.  Wow.  And they wonder why they can't get good repair technicians around here to join.

JP at work, doing what he does best.  Making things right.

Beginning the buffing process.

More Buffing.

The serial number again. 

Here's the ugly 3rd slide "brace" removed, and restored to its original form.

Another shot of serial number, right before shipment to the plater.  We use Anderson's for our plating services, where 90% of all domestically produced brass instruments are plated.  They are the best.

The entire trumpet just before shipment to the plater.  You have made it this far, you might as well see the finished product.  Click here to see the rest of the story.

The final chapter in the trumpet overhaul saga.  So many people mistakenly think that overhauls ruin an instrument.  Well, it is just not so.  What really ruins instruments is BAD REPAIR TECHNICIANS who TRY to do overhauls.  Thankfully, whoever had previously butchered this instrument did not do anything bad to the valves, so Johnny Paul was able to restore it to its original glory.

What a beauty now!

Another view.

The serial number, once again for all of you unbelievers.

The second slide WITHOUT dents.

Now, what a joy to see this third slide lovingly restored.  The ugliness is gone!

Now the bell flair is beautiful again.

The final product about to find a happy home.  By this time, this instrument was already sold, to a very satisfied customer.  So, don't call us about it.  OK?