Movers vs Cerveny ABB 401

[dostert]

My Cerveny ABB 401 which I bought while visiting Czechoslovakia (as it was known way back then) and lovingly named Brunhilda, was greatly mistreated on a move.

Anyone with some experience want to let me know how bad this is? I need to file a claim with the moving company, but figured it would make the most sense to touch base with you all before taking it a shop and asking for an estimate.

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There are a handful of other minor dents, but nothing like what you see on the bell. The fourth valve is also stuck, but I know that shouldn't be too bad of a fix.

Thanks for your help!

Paul

[The Big Ben]

A tech who has some experience would not have a really difficult time with this.

Dan Oberloh made a series of videos on the repair of a badly damaged Hirshbrunner tuba. The original damage on the bell is similar to the damage on your tuba. This is the first part and there are a total of four videos.

[York-aholic]

I cringed just reading the title of this thread.

[dostert]

A tech who has some experience would not have a really difficult time with this.

Dan Oberloh made a series of videos on the repair of a badly damaged Hirshbrunner tuba. The original damage on the bell is similar to the damage on your tuba. This is the first part and there are a total of four videos.

Thanks for the video. Gives me some hope (and the videos are mesmerizing). I'll keep you all updated, but I'm sure I won't hear anything from the moving company adjuster for a month or so.

[DonO.]

I have moved several times in my life. I also have a pretty large collection (accumulation?) of musical instruments. In every case it was always my instinct to never, ever let the movers lay one single finger on any of my instruments. The only exception I ever made to that was that I allowed them to move a digital piano. I figured that was pretty low risk. Other than that, all tubas, euphoniums, guitars, mandolins, dulcimer, harps, etc. came with me in the car. Even if it meant making multiple trips. This post simply reinforces my instincts. Those guys cannot be trusted to handle delicate musical instruments with the respect they deserve.

The good news is, all the damage can be repaired. The bad news is the repairs will likely not be invisible. Every place on the bell that has a crease straighten out will end up with the lacquer getting a foggy white appearance because of the lacquer crazing. That bothers some people, others not so much. I wouldn’t let it bother me. Lacquer is just paint. You could get it re-lacquered, but that would be expensive. You could have it stripped, and go raw brass. Or you could go for the complete overhaul, make it as close to the way it was as possible, and send the bill to the moving company. They will balk, they will fight it, and you might have to take them to court. I might be tempted to do that if it were my horn, but I’m retired with nothing better to do. The process would be time consuming but you would eventually prevail. For me it would be a quest, however quixotic. For you, you need to determine that for yourself.

[bort2.0]

Isn't the usual insurance like $0.60 per pound? That's what it was the last time I moved... With the option of adding coverage to $1.20 per pound.

Hoping for the best!

[dostert]

I have moved several times in my life. I also have a pretty large collection (accumulation?) of musical instruments. In every case it was always my instinct to never, ever let the movers lay one single finger on any of my instruments. The only exception I ever made to that was that I allowed them to move a digital piano. I figured that was pretty low risk. Other than that, all tubas, euphoniums, guitars, mandolins, dulcimer, harps, etc. came with me in the car. Even if it meant making multiple trips. This post simply reinforces my instincts. Those guys cannot be trusted to handle delicate musical instruments with the respect they deserve.

The good news is, all the damage can be repaired. The bad news is the repairs will likely not be invisible. Every place on the bell that has a crease straighten out will end up with the lacquer getting a foggy white appearance because of the lacquer crazing. That bothers some people, others not so much. I wouldn’t let it bother me. Lacquer is just paint. You could get it re-lacquered, but that would be expensive. You could have it stripped, and go raw brass. Or you could go for the complete overhaul, make it as close to the way it was as possible, and send the bill to the moving company. They will balk, they will fight it, and you might have to take them to court. I might be tempted to do that if it were my horn, but I’m retired with nothing better to do. The process would be time consuming but you would eventually prevail. For me it would be a quest, however quixotic. For you, you need to determine that for yourself.

Yeah. It was definitely a big mistake on my part. With housing market as it is now, I had nowhere to live for two days in between moving out and moving in. With wife and two kids in tow, Brunhilde ended up getting crossed off the "needs to be in the car" list (don't get me started on how my wife's "good yarn" needed to be in the car...). It was padded and wrapped incredibly well, but nothing can survive the incompetence of a mover putting it at the bottom of a 12 foot pile of boxes (I should have known better when they listed it on the inventory as "tubba")

[DonO.]

I have a funny feeling that your wife’s good yarn would have survived the moving guys. I feel for ya bro.

[bloke]

I have moved several times in my life. I also have a pretty large collection (accumulation?) of musical instruments. In every case it was always my instinct to never, ever let the movers lay one single finger on any of my instruments.

...this, buy you're not looking for a scolding...You're seeking help.

- The bell doesn't need to come off.
- Different shops will offer diverse levels of straightening, depending on sklll levels.
- Being a .5mm thick instrument, there's a good chance that it would be re-damaged - were you to ship it to a shop and were it shipped back to you (after being repaired).
- It will cost considerably more if you demand that the lacquer on the bell be replaced (geometrically more). The dent removal ALONE is while-you-wait (at blokeplace, with a walk-in appointment), but I might charge about as much as other places that would take off the bell (and screw up more of the finish in doing so), because it would look better without all of that stuff done.
- Those things are thin, and I could understand (even forgive) one concentric crease line, but looks as though it was either tossed, or it was handed to the movers in a "gig bag". Based on the damage that I (beyond the bell flare) that would be difficult to affect - in a hard case - I'm guessing (??) - gig bag.
- There's a same-model shiny instrument here (in far worse shape) that I'm going to completely straighten out and sell (it will look nice, and I'm not going to refinish it) sometime in the future.

[York-aholic]

- There's a same-model shiny instrument here (in far worse shape) that I'm going to completely straighten out and sell (it will look nice, and I'm not going to refinish it) sometime in the future.

I foresee another “twin spin”…

[bloke]

This thread’s tuba just needs a “repair”.

[Rick Denney]

Where are you located?

Rick “noting Bloke’s concern about shipping for repair” Denney

[dostert]

Where are you located?

Rick “noting Bloke’s concern about shipping for repair” Denney

Jacksonville, FL

I'm a teacher. Figured by the time I hear from insurance it'll be summer, so should be able to travel a bit further (Orlando, Atlanta) then.