Is the Brasslab still open?

mrdeacon · Post by **mrdeacon** » Tue Mar 17, 2020 11:19 pm

I'm just curious is Chuck still a tech? I know the story with the original brasslab... Did he open a Brasslab 2.0 or does he still do work?

I recently purchased a horn with a valve section he made and the work is amazing! That hand bent tubing is stupid beautiful!

Is there any one else who hand bends tubing like that?

Thanks!

Burgerbob · Post by **Burgerbob** » Wed Mar 18, 2020 12:08 am

What's the horn? Let's see pictures!

I don't think he's doing work anymore, since the tax issue.

Jimkinkella · Post by **Jimkinkella** » Wed Mar 18, 2020 2:06 am

There was word that he was doing some piecework out of another shop.
That was a year or 2 ago?
Last I heard Josh Landress was the regular go-to guy in NYC, he would know where to find Chuck.
Yes, the Brasslab work was fantastic.

tbonesullivan · Post by **tbonesullivan** » Wed Mar 18, 2020 8:04 am

It still saddens me how the Brasslab ended. I don't get how a shop that survived in Manhattan for years moved to a much cheaper neighborhood and then went under. I'm sure he had no lack of work.

Post by **Bonearzt** » Wed Mar 18, 2020 8:31 am

tbonesullivan wrote: ↑Wed Mar 18, 2020 8:04 am It still saddens me how the Brasslab ended. I don't get how a shop that survived in Manhattan for years moved to a much cheaper neighborhood and then went under. I'm sure he had no lack of work.

You'd be surprised how difficult it really is to sustain an independent shop!!

I've been able to maintain for a while, but that's about it....

Eric

mrdeacon · Post by **mrdeacon** » Wed Mar 18, 2020 4:46 pm

Burgerbob wrote: ↑Wed Mar 18, 2020 12:08 am What's the horn? Let's see pictures!

I don't think he's doing work anymore, since the tax issue.

Nothing new. It's the 169 I picked up from Chris.

This particular valve section has very minimal tubing. 3 really long hand bent pieces and the tuning slide bows are hand bent. Really something to look at.

I'm just thinking out loud and I'm possibly thinking of another bass project... Having another horn with hand bent tubing like that would be awesome!

Burgerbob · Post by **Burgerbob** » Wed Mar 18, 2020 5:03 pm

When I still had my Brasslab horn I asked John Sandhagen how the tubing was made. He had no idea!

Slidemo · Post by **Slidemo** » Wed Mar 18, 2020 5:14 pm

This guy was looking to trade one awhile back....

https://trombonechat.com/viewtopic.php? ... 57#p105457

I think these horns are pretty special and like you say the hand bent tubing is awesome.

I remember seeing a Tenor Thayer conversion that boggled the mind as it looked like there was no obvious way to disassemble it. It was done with slip joins where the tubing met, very clever indeed. I'm sure that was brasslab.

MalecHeermans · Post by **MalecHeermans** » Wed Mar 18, 2020 7:39 pm

Those hand bent sections from Chuck are legend. Maybe the most beautiful work I’ve ever seen. My 42 with Brasslab Thayer was stolen many years ago - would love to have that horn now!

Jimkinkella · Post by **Jimkinkella** » Wed Mar 18, 2020 10:51 pm

Dude,

Call him

https://www.facebook.com/thebrasslab/?__tn__=HHH-R

We all have some friends in NY if the #'s no good.
Sandhagen has been working on bending, Brad has done some fantastic work for me on certain things, it depends on what you need.

TheBoneRanger · Post by **TheBoneRanger** » Thu Mar 19, 2020 2:56 am

Check out the work on this! Stunning!

https://www.thebrass-exchange.com/conte ... conversion

Andrew

sungfw · Post by **sungfw** » Thu Mar 19, 2020 6:08 am

Jimkinkella wrote: ↑Wed Mar 18, 2020 10:51 pm Dude,

Call him

https://www.facebook.com/thebrasslab/?__tn__=HHH-R

You could TRY calling the number listed on the Facebook page, but note that the last post is dated July 24, 2018, and a reverse phone number lookup lists a different physical address associated with the phone number than the address of the (now-closed and has been for a good while) Brasslab 2 location.

sterb225 · Post by **sterb225** » Thu Mar 19, 2020 9:12 am

I had the joy of playing for many years both a 42 and 50 with Chuck's incredible work. Tube bends were remarkable and both horns were transformed from good players to stunning instruments after going into his shop. The 50 in particular is a horn I'll miss forever!!!

pmeiden · Post by **pmeiden** » Fri Mar 20, 2020 12:04 pm

Slidemo wrote: ↑Wed Mar 18, 2020 5:14 pm I remember seeing a Tenor Thayer conversion that boggled the mind as it looked like there was no obvious way to disassemble it. It was done with slip joins where the tubing met, very clever indeed. I'm sure that was brasslab.

I had a Thayer F attachment added to a straight YSL-681G back in 1994 by Chuck -- made the straight horn convertible and it is exactly as you describe.

After taking the F-attachment off the bell, pop the linkage off the lever arm, unscrew the lock ring on the valve. Then just opposite the valve, the brass tubing enters the ferrule in a friction fit that just slides apart.

He signed the work as well, with "Mc 2-94"

and "The Brasslab"

I remember speaking with him before he did the work -- first, he couldn't remember ever doing this to a Yamaha, and second, when I asked about his price being more than another quote I had received, he said "my bends work!"

Not to mention, they are beautiful.

~pme

Is the Brasslab still open?

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