My situation as a tech is different than most as the majority of the stuff I work on belongs to the shop and has not been sold yet. However, we do occasionally do some return and repair for customer care issues. In these cases I always speak up if there is a chance I won’t be able to make it look as nice as it did before. I will also send the more complicated things that might be outside my current ability to the head tech. If this shop has more than one tech you may need to discuss with management. If he’s a shop owner, dispute it but find someone better. As far as what you can get with the dispute, it will probably depend on your state’s laws, and what your tech is willing to admit to. If you don’t have dated photos of what it looked like before, you might not get much. My personal gear is insured under its own policy, which includes repair costs. You may want to look at this option in the future.

I played them at NAMM around 2012-2013, but don’t remember much about them other than I walked away and didn’t go back. I do find it interesting that the best review they could find to put on the website was from someone who doesn’t want to play them, but that has nothing to do with this thread. If any of them are going to Wayne Tanabe for repairs I’m pretty sure they’re not coming back damaged, though.

Valve stems are never a thing a horn would be sent out for. The only time tools are ever needed to install them is if the old ones are corroded. In that case, your local tech should be able to order the part and install for you. Stems are a part that is usually an easy order from the factory, though some manufacturers will only allow dealers to order parts. This whole situation just sounds very weird to me - though I have never dealt with Phaeton, I regularly order stems from other companies, and ordered after-market stems for horns as a player before I became a tech.

I used to think French horn was a more difficult instrument than trombone. I was VERY wrong! I have an easy time getting around a horn accurately and in tune, and with a decent sound, though my husband still tells me I overblow a bit. Trombone, well... I sound like a 10yr old with really good chops. It’s awful - every instrument sits a bit differently with it’s slide positions, and I have a much easier time getting a good sound out of a euph than a trombone as well. I have a lot more respect for good trombonists now, and a lot more sympathy for the bad ones! I tend to have my boss play test trombones whenever possible since he is a trombonist. Occasionally I have to apologize to everyone I work with and test them myself. Yesterday had to play test a Superbone I finished, but that was kind of fun

@Tobylou8 not necessarily- pros have students, and students don’t always have money. Most pros like to know what they’re going to be dealing with when it comes to student and intermediate horns, and what will be safe to recommend for students.

@tjveloce seems a couple of our posts disappeared with the update! Anyhow, Yamaha concert last year was kind of lame, so a couple of coworkers and I skipped it and went to Disneyland. We had a blast! Heard a much better band there than we’d heard at the Conn-Selmer party Wednesday night .
As for the new LA, got to hold it in my hands but not play it - I have a feeling it will be a great horn. Just a touch of added weight and that new valve block will bring a few nice changes, I suspect, even though the old one plays very well.
As far as the Adams A9 vs A4, you might have really liked the large bore A9. I love the A4, but had one on a trial for a couple of weeks and found it to be far too heavy for me. It hurt my hands and back, and didn’t project well enough for my needs. It was wonderful to play changes on, though! In any case, I like the A4LT much better. Lighter valve block, heavier bell, and can do anything for me except play lead. My A1 can do it all, but I miss the tonal colors I get from the A4LT for soloing, and the majority of the sub gigs I do require improv and relief lead. I think this new A1 is going to bridge that gap - seems to be everything I have in both other horns! I’ll find out in April.....

An alternative to the brass review site - nice! Just like anywhere else, you have to weigh the reviews yourself and see what seems credible. Of course, just because a bunch of other people love it doesn’t mean you will, but sometimes it is nice to see a few other opinions before you decide to bite the bullet and order something.

@SSmith1226 I didn’t get to do much playing at Yamaha due to other commitments- it’s kind of a pain that they are in such a separate spot from everything else! I did get to have a great conversation with Wayne Bergeron when I was over there for our dealer meeting, though. He had the finalized version of the gen II LA, which looks fantastic! It’s got the same valve block as the new Shew, but they anneal it a bit differently. It also has heavy phosphor bronze bottom caps. He had to pull it out of his personal case to show me - that was pretty awesome! I’m pleased to say I was able to have a constructive adult conversation and didn’t fangirl squeal once!
I have played the gen I and II Vizutti - I like the gen II much better. To me it plays kind of in between the New York and Chicago - a bit of both worlds there.
Our meeting with Yamaha went very well, and we will have more great stuff on the way soon! All of the companies we are a dealer for treated us so well - we must be pretty important to them

So, yesterday was a great day at NAMM! Had meetings with Conn-Selmer and Jupiter for the new year, and I played a bunch of new horns, including the Adams Fulcrum model and gen II A1,BAC Plaza, and the new B&S C trumpet designed by Josh Landress. For anyone looking for a brand new horn that plays like a Super Recording, the Fulcrum is it - great valves, beautiful fit and finish. I enjoyed the Plaza with the copper bell most of the plaza models. BAC is stepping up with their trumpets using the new tooling, but they were not my favorite. The new B&S C is amazing!!! It has a set of weights that screw on the pull knobs, and they change the slotting and intonation incredibly! I played with the lighter weight and had the typical flat d and e. Josh put on a heavier weight and they were in tune, but sound became a bit stuffy. I asked for something in between and perfection! Resonated beautifully and played in tune!
I ended up ordering myself a custom A1 that will be delivered in April. Fantastic horn I know I’ll get a lot of gigs done with. It really has a lot of the characteristics of both my current A1 and my A4LT, and I’m looking forward to getting it! I ordered mine with two Amado water keys as I hate pulling a third slide to empty, and I dislike the saturns as well.
Getting ready for day two and a meeting with Yamaha this morning! For those of you at the show, how are you enjoying it?

@Kehaulani the cylindrical provides more resistance, and it was a bit too much for me. I like a horn to be a bit more free blowing, but not too much. This conical slide was a great balance for me compared to an elliptical.