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There’s an older gentleman somewhat local to me that is looking for a main tuning slide for a Holton 340/345 main tuning slide.

His instrument was taken to a shop for a cleaning. Once cleaned, the instrument sat for while waiting for dent work, etc. When it came time for reassembly, the main tuning slide was missing. What was left of the main slide, which wasn’t much, was found in the cleaning solution, had gone through countless cycles, and was a “holey” mess.

The shop handed him back the tuba with little apology and no solution for the problem they created. All he got from them was how hard it is to work on tubas and “no charge.”

This gentleman is the original owner of this tuba and is a really good guy. Several people in the area are trying to help him find the part. He’d really like to play his tuba again.

If anyone has a Holton 340/345 main slide they can spare or any suggestions (that don’t include smacking the technician upside the head…), please let me know.

Below is what the slide from my 340 measured (in millimeters…) for reference. Each one is bound to be slightly different, because, you know, “Holton.” Adjustments are to be expected and will be done by a different shop!

Thanks for any help.

Hello MiBrassFS,

I suspect you can find something Stateside eventually, but if nothing pans out, I can fabricate the crook, ferrels and slide legs.

ca. 250€ plus shipping.

Cheers from Berlin

TheBerlinerTuba

TheBerlinerTuba wrote: ↑Mon Jan 13, 2025 7:42 am Hello MiBrassFS,

I suspect you can find something Stateside eventually, but if nothing pans out, I can fabricate the crook, ferrels and slide legs.

ca. 250€ plus shipping.

Cheers from Berlin

TheBerlinerTuba

That’s great to know! Thank you!

I may have the smaller side inner slide tube if it will help. I know, that's probably the easier side to find. I'll check about the other side also.

Wow. Amazing that the tech didn't start an immediate fullscale search after not finding a part of a horn he just cleaned. Yikes.

UncleBeer wrote: ↑Mon Jan 13, 2025 3:40 pm Wow. Amazing that the tech didn't start an immediate fullscale search after not finding a part of a horn he just cleaned. Yikes.

What was explained to me was that the tuba sat in pieces for a week or two. Only when it was going back together was the part missed.

I had to make one for a 345 a while back (and I made one for a model of Meinl-Weston 6/4 that doesn't exist - a cross between a 2165 and a 6450 - a tuba that Wade used for quite a while), but 250 euros sounds completely reasonable to me...(and I'm not particularly fond of that sort of work, thus not soliciting the job)...
...but (stating the obvious?) un-solder the outside slide tubes and mail them to him. If it's way easier for him to come close (with something that's already manufactured) than to hand-draw tubes to fit those outside tubes, he can replace all four way easier than custom-making two inside slide tubes (that fit those old Holton outside tubes to the last .001").

Thanks for that.

Being just a friendly messenger, I have a feeling that, at this point, they’re hoping for a (closer to…) simple plug a play. There is a super nice guy here that contacted me and let me know he may soon have something that will fit that description. He had mentioned this in the past, but I didn’t want to be pushy or bug him. He has reiterated his offer, so I’m hoping it will all work out.

Thanks to @Sousaswag, there’s going to be a good ending to this saga! There’s a Holton 340/345 main tuning slide on the way here!

MiBrassFS wrote: ↑Thu Jan 16, 2025 11:29 am Thanks to @Sousaswag, there’s going to be a good ending to this saga! There’s a Holton 340/345 main tuning slide on the way here!

Fantastic!

arpthark wrote: ↑Thu Jan 16, 2025 11:34 am

MiBrassFS wrote: ↑Thu Jan 16, 2025 11:29 am Thanks to @Sousaswag, there’s going to be a good ending to this saga! There’s a Holton 340/345 main tuning slide on the way here!

Fantastic!

Is it great?! What the heck are the chances?! TF and the TF’ers are awesome!

MiBrassFS wrote: ↑Thu Jan 16, 2025 12:15 pm

arpthark wrote: ↑Thu Jan 16, 2025 11:34 am

MiBrassFS wrote: ↑Thu Jan 16, 2025 11:29 am Thanks to @Sousaswag, there’s going to be a good ending to this saga! There’s a Holton 340/345 main tuning slide on the way here!

Fantastic!

Is it great?! What the heck are the chances?! TF and the TF’ers are awesome!

Except when they can't find their Selmer/Bundy sousa bits...

arpthark wrote: ↑Thu Jan 16, 2025 12:21 pmExcept when they can't find their Selmer/Bundy sousa bits...

I just appreciate that you looked! Still goodness!

I’m happy I could help. Thanks for the shoutout. I just feel bad I forgot after you asked so many months ago!

Regardless, it will be on its way to the new owner in a few hours. With both of my 34X tubas now on their way to rebuilt, and this slide having a home, I’m feeling pretty good this new year.

I hope the owner enjoys many more years with that tuba, and never takes it to that particular repair shop ever again!