Horn scratched by a repair tech

[TrumpetMD]

I hope this post is in the right forum. To clarify, I'm not looking to bash this tech. I'm not looking to cry over spilled milk. And I'm not looking for advice on refurbishing a horn. I'm just trying to decide what would be a fair way to resolve this issue.

I recently refurbished my 1965 Strad. After this, I had a tech work on a mechanical issue. This tech had the horn for several weeks, and the mechanical issue is better. But the horn has new scratches on it, mostly on the side along the bell bow. The lacquer was 100% before the work. There are now moderate depth scratches along this area.

I want to be fair. The damage is mostly cosmetic. But the horn was cosmetically perfect before this. I'm going to bring the horn back to him tomorrow. Would you just let it go? Would you insist he pay to strip the horn, buff out the scratches, and re-lacquer? Would you ask for something in between?

Thanks,
Mike
_________________
Bach Stradivarius 43* Trumpet (1974), Bach 6C Mouthpiece.
Bach Stradivarius 184 Cornet (1988), Yamaha 13E4 Mouthpiece
Olds L-12 Flugelhorn (1969), Yamaha 13F4 Mouthpiece.
Plus a few other Bach, Getzen, Olds, Carol, HN White, and Besson horns.

[kevin_soda]

I wouldn't let it go but I also wouldn't fix it. Don't be accusatory or make assumptions about what could have happened but definitely make it clear that the scratches weren't there before.

I would ask the tech what they're willing to do to make it right. Given the vintage, no one expects it to look perfect and to relacquer would do more harm than good. Perhaps they'll give you a credit for future service or maintenance? They should want to build a relationship.
_________________
Kevin

[TrumpetMD]

Thanks for the helpful reply Kevin. I like your advice on how to approach the tech.

I agree there are pros/cons to refurbishing a vintage horn. Just to clarify, I recently had the horn refurbished and relacquered. So it was in 100% like-new condition before this.

Mike
_________________
Bach Stradivarius 43* Trumpet (1974), Bach 6C Mouthpiece.
Bach Stradivarius 184 Cornet (1988), Yamaha 13E4 Mouthpiece
Olds L-12 Flugelhorn (1969), Yamaha 13F4 Mouthpiece.
Plus a few other Bach, Getzen, Olds, Carol, HN White, and Besson horns.

[Brad361]

This can be tricky, obviously. I would certainly bring it to their attention, but personally I would absolutely NOT let the same shop work on it again. If it was my horn I would ask for a refund on at least a portion of what I was charged, probably not do anything regarding the scratches and take that shop off my list of where to have work done.

Brad
_________________
When asked if he always sounds great:
"I always try, but not always, because the horn is merciless, unpredictable and traitorous." - Arturo Sandoval

[TrumpetMD]

[kevin_soda]

[Speed]

However you decide to handle it, I suggest that you do it quickly. The longer you have it in your hands before returning it to the tech, the stronger the likelihood that he will contend "it was fine when it left here." Although if that is his reaction, I'm sure that would be the deciding factor in sending future work to a different tech.

Take care,
Marc Speed

[TrumpetMD]

[TrumpetMD]

[falado]

Hi Mike, I had a similar experience years ago with a local tech on a vintage Schilke I had some years ago. It ended up needing a new leadpipe, because it got dented while in the shop. The local mainly does work on school horns so from then on my horns go to Osmun. Yes, I pay more and there is shipping involved and I will have to use my backup horn for a couple weeks. But, I know things will be done right. I always ask what can you do to make the horn better? I recently bought a Bach 239 C that had issues (which is why I got it inexpensively). I sent it to Osmun to have Jim Becker evaluate the horn. A couple of weeks later I got back a great playing, looking and very usable C trumpet. Yes, the shipping and their service costs more than the local tech, but I know the instrument will get the best treatment, care, and will be properly repaired or improved by the best in the business. And, I keep going back. Every horn I have sent there comes back better.

Dave
_________________
FA LA DO (Ab: V/ii) MUCS, USN (Ret.)
Stomvi VR (Reeves) with VR II Bell
Bach 239 25A C, Blueprinted
Bach 37, Early Elkhart, Blueprinted
Kanstul Flugel
Getzen 4 valve Pic.
Yamaha D/Eb
Besson Cornet

[HERMOKIWI]

What makes this difficult is that it calls for a confrontation and, clearly, the OP is concerned about the outcome. If the tech damaged the horn then anything short of making the OP whole is a "good compromise" only for the tech.

Assuming the tech takes responsibility there are only two basic remedies: Money (either cash now or credit against future services) or restoring the horn to its former condition at the tech's expense.

The disturbing part of this is that the tech didn't speak up when the horn was delivered. So the implication is that the tech doesn't want to admit that he caused the damage or take any responsibility to make the OP whole.

I have a similar situation. I have a sports car I rarely drive. It is not a high value car anymore (it's a 2004 model) but it is in pristine condition. I had a mechanical problem repaired at the dealership for this make of car. When I picked it up after the repair was completed it had a paint chip and scrape in the driver's door where someone had opened a door into it. It cannot be buffed out. The dealership agreed that the damage occurred while the car was in their possession. They gave me a choice of either receiving credit against future services or having the door repainted.

I'm electing to have the door repainted even though, in the long run, that choice probably won't result in the car being worth any more than it was before the damage occurred. The issue for me is pride of ownership. I was very proud of the pristine condition of the car. I value that more than any credit against future services.

What's more valuable to the OP? Is it pride of ownership of a fully refurbished and pristine horn or is it money now or is it credit against future services?

Mistakes happen but when we make a mistake we need to own that mistake. To me, the biggest problem so far is that the tech didn't step up and own the mistake. That's the part of this that would discourage me from taking anything to him in the future and if the OP isn't taking him anything in the future then the credit against future services isn't worth anything.

I vote for the tech paying to fully restore the damage he did.
_________________
HERMOKIWI

[Brad361]

[TrumpetMD]

[TrumpetMD]

[A.N.A.Mendez]

"Hangin's too good for im "
_________________
"There is no necessity for deadly strife" A. Lincoln 1860

☛ "No matter how cynical you get, it's never enough to keep up" Lily Tomlin☚

[LittleRusty]

Everyone knows the advice about taking a used car to a mechanic before buying it. Or taking pictures of the rental apartment on move in and move out.

I don’t know why I feel silly asking to take a used car to a mechanic, but I always do. Even though we ended up finding major deal breakers on three out of four cars when I recently bought a car for my son.

I have similar advice here. Take many pictures of your horn before taking it in for repair or loaning it out. Then you have evidence to back up your side of the story when something like this happens. With cell phones this is quick and easy now.

I wish the OP the best.

[TrumpetMD]

[LittleRusty]

[yourbrass]

I concur w/the poster who advised going back and pointing out the scratches that weren't there before, in a non-confrontational way. But I also agree that the horn should not be refinished, as it will be a large job that may or may not come out as well as it is now.
I would want someone to point something out like that to me as a repairman, as difficult as it is to face one's mistakes. I've made plenty of them over my career, and sometimes things get overlooked.
-Lionel
_________________
"Strive for tone." -John Coppola
Edwards X-13
ACB MV3C /ACB A1/26 backbore
https://yourbrass.com/

[adagiotrumpet]