Gallery
The customization, adaptations, and repairs shown here are more complex than the average repair that comes across the bench, but they’re illustrative of the level of detail I strive for on every instrument.
Left-Hand-Only Alto SAxophone
This Selmer Mark 6 was heavily modified for a player who doesn’t have fine motor control in his right hand. Using just the left hand, it has a full chromatic range from Low D to High F, 2 octaves and a minor third. Brian Russell of Russell Winds did much of the design, and we collaborated on the construction.
There are a couple videos about this instrument on the Keystone Music and Repair YouTube channel (opens in new window): Short Video Long Video
Antique Alto HOrn Ferrule Rebuild
This Wurlitzer alto horn, c. 1876, had a badly cracked ferrule connection that was leaking air. The ferrule itself was tapered to match the taper of the tubing on either side, so manufacturing a replacement would have been extraordinarily complicated. The best option was to salvage the original part.
Flute Tone HOle REplacement
The original roll on the Lower G tone hole had been filed through on this flute, resulting in the roll becoming partially separated from the tone hole chimney. The damaged roll was removed and a new one made out of a sterling silver washer. Once it’s soldered in place, the new roll is structurally, aesthetically, and acoustically indistiguishable from the original.
Bass Clarinet Adaptive LEft Hand Keys
The player of this Yamaha bass clarinet lost the use of the 3rd and 4th fingers on his left hand. Multiple modifications were made to the left hand keys to allow the necessary mechanisms to be operated by either the second finger of the left hand, the right thumb, or the crutch of the right hand. The design of the new mechanisms and the inclusion of alternate fingerings allows the player to move smoothly between fingerings that might otherwise be awkward or cumbersome.
Oboe crack and tone hole repair
A somewhat routine repair: this oboe had a large crack running through four tone holes in the upper joint. The crack was sealed, and the damaged tone holes were drilled out so they could be replaced with ABS inserts.
Other Projects
Just a few smaller repairs.