http://news.musicmedic.com/index.php Copyright 2012, Curt Altarac Curt Altarac en-US SPHPBLOG 0.4.8 http://news.musicmedic.com/index.php?entry=entry120127-162408
I remember my first NAMM show when I showed up in a white T-Shirt that I had ironed a "MusicMedic.com" logo onto. I thought I was pretty sporty. As soon as I saw my friend Steve Goodson, he politely said, "hey man, go to the store and buy some decent clothes". So, I ran to the nearest Target and spent some money I didn't have for a new shirt and pants. I wore those cloths for the whole show washing them in a hotel sink. I was poor and MusicMedic.com was me and a garage.

In those days, I would go from booth to booth, trying to meet exhibitors and make friends with those who sought to advance instrument repair. In subsequent trips, I noticed that the vendors were more and more willing to talk to me and look at my products, and most importantly, share ideas. It always amazes and excites me that more and more great people in our industry accept the work we are doing at MusicMedic.com!

This year was even better. This year, I was way too busy to leave the booth. Rich, aka 'The Trade Show Ninja', was showing people all of our new products and many older products that the repair world is catching onto. Meanwhile, I was constantly surprised by how many great people took time out of their day to visit my booth. Many of the great people I used to pine to chat with were coming to us to share their projects with us! What an incredible honor.

There were a number of really great RooPad endorsers at the show including:


Jay Mason of the Big Phat Band (you rock Jay!), with Jeff Peterson and Scott Mandeville.


Don Menza, with whom it's always a pleasure to talk (photo with him later in the blog).



James Carter, who is in the process of installing RooPads in all his horns! Thanks James!

I also ran into Skinny, whom I had randomly heard play recently when I was wandering around Chicago.



Here's me and Lee Kramka.



I had a meeting with Jerry Chang from Tenon, who will be giving lectures at the Saxophone Smackdown. Jerry is a great guy and a truly knowledgeable guy... plus he spends his days making saxophones!

Jerry and I talked about the difference in manufacture between the various Asian countries and how that affects us as players and technicians. Jerry promised me that he would share some of his knowledge about theses matters with us at the Saxophone Smackdown. I'm truly honored to know Jerry and Kevin and I really can't wait to get to know them and the others at Tenon better!



One meeting yielded some very exciting news that is just now public info and I'm excited to share. I've been in on this project for a few years now--sorry I couldn't tell you all sooner!!

MusicMedic.com is working closely with our good friends at Theo Wanne Mouthpieces on their new saxophone, the Mantra. Theo came to me years ago and said, "I want to make the greatest saxophone in the world". After long conversations with Theo in Frankfurt, Germany, I started to realize he was not kidding. Theo is looking to make the world's greatest saxophone and for that we think he needs our help. So the Sax ProShop and I are on the job. We have had many conversations with Theo about design and improvements to his saxophones. After years of R&D, Theo is ready with a prototype. Soon the Sax ProShop and Theo will meet to discuss the improvements that we can implement to make Theo's horns even better. Every technician at the Sax ProShop is committed to continue improvements to Theo's saxophones as he develops it and as we set it up. Oh yeah, the greatest overhaul shop in the world is going to set up every one of Theo's saxophones. The Sax ProShop takes instruments from around the world which are riddled with problems that no one else wants to fix, and we make them great. Can you imagine what we can do with instruments that are already great AND that we can have a major influence on in their manufacture? Wow. One need not have special talent at spotting rare and impacting opportunities to see that this one is really special. I can not imagine a better mix of mechanical know-how, practical skills, creativity, acoustical awesomeness, direction and drive than the collaboration between Theo Wanne and the Sax ProShop. Folks, this is going to be great!




Here's me with RooPads endorsing artist Don Menza and Theo Wanne.


For the repair world, the NAMM show was also a success: we had great meetings with several folks who will be helping us to make and supply parts. We received bags of supplies that were made in Taiwan for us. Keep an eye on the site for more great parts at very reasonable prices. We are working with several manufacturers who will be making parts for us to offer to the repair world. Some parts are replacement and some improvement. Since we are making parts and buying in huge quantity, the music world will once again enjoy parts at reasonable prices!

I brought my mouthpieces with me but didn't have the time to try any horns at the show. However, I was able to get a look at some new instruments. The Keilwerth saxophones that are now owned by Buffet look good as usual. It looks like Buffet is either making a smooth transition to the new factory or they are selling horns that were already made. Either way, the Keilwerth saxophones look good.

I also got to visit with my friend Mike Smith who is now with Powell. Yeah, the Flute People. They are making a sax with Mike and it looks good. The horn I saw looked hand-made, like a prototype. Turns out, it was hand-made. Chris French made it in the factory. The work looked good and the horn looks like a saxophone. It has soldered-on tone holes which are silver, a silver bell, and a silver neck. When they go into production, I'll be interested to see how the saxophones go.

I found a pretty cool neck strap that I might start carrying on the site. I bought one and will try it out. It's more of a 'thing' than a neck strap and it distributes weight differently. If you see it on the site in a few months, you'll know that the folks in the Sax ProShop approved it. We'll have to gig test it!

The show was great and it was great to be in Anaheim once again. Thank you to all the great people that came to the booth to see us -and that came to party with some 5 o'clock wine! Thanks to those that kept us up too late sharing stories and ideas. Mostly thanks to the amazing people at MusicMedic that made going to the show, growth, and good times all possible. You all rock!

Here's me and my buddy Zach with Sexy Sax Man!

]]> http://news.musicmedic.com/index.php?entry=entry120127-162408 Curt Altarac Fri, 27 Jan 2012 22:24:08 GMT http://news.musicmedic.com/index.php?entry=entry120119-070944

We had a great first day at the show and showed up with plenty of time to set up. When we got there, some things weren't exactly as we thought they would be. We were missing a wall and the booth was moved down one. At a trade show, anything can happen and if you aren't prepared to roll with the punches, it can be debilitating. So we improvised.



Even with this delay, we got the booth set up before the island carpet went down! That's a first!



Now I'm having coffee and donuts and getting ready to head into the show for Day One. It should be great: we've got a lot of big good meetings with great people and there's a lot of excitement in the air!

]]> http://news.musicmedic.com/index.php?entry=entry120119-070944 Curt Altarac Thu, 19 Jan 2012 13:09:44 GMT http://news.musicmedic.com/index.php?entry=entry120113-112826

Save the dates and join us for the Saxophone SmackdownII!

On February 10th and 11th, when you come to the Smackdown, you're going to enjoy the following:

-Free Breakfast
(including the famous MusicMedic.com Coffee)
-Free Lunch
(Oh Yes, Flaming Amy's is stand by...)
-Live Music
(Wally West Trio and The North Carolina saxophone Ensemble)
-Clinics from 4 of the most amazing innovators in our industry.
(Jerome Selmer, Jerry Chang, Theo Wanne, Jason DuMars)
-A facility tour of MusicMedic.com and it's unique Assembly-line ProShop.
-Product demonstrations.
(see the cool tools at MusicMedic.com!)
-Hang out with The SaxGourmet himself Steve Goodson.
-Hang out with Curt Altarac owner of MusicMedic.com
-Try instruments and mouthpieces.
-Be near and enjoy all things saxophone.

DO NOT MISS THIS!!!

You will learn how saxophones are made by 2 people who make saxophones and are the leaders in our industry; Jerry Chang and Jerome Selmer. How to reface mouthpieces from Theo Wanne and how to Engrave Saxophones from Jason DuMars! It will be a party you will not soon forget. We're all going out for Dinner each night too.

Jason will have a table set up to engrave Saxophones on site (when he's not teaching a clinic) and Theo Wanne will be refacing mouthpieces for players, a service very few are able get from Theo. This is truly a rare opportunity!

Jason and Theo are scheduling times during the Smackdown in advance and those slots are filling up fast. So, contact Kellie@MusicMedic.com if you would like to bring a horn or mouthpiece to have Jason or Theo do some work.

You don't need to be a NAPBIRT member to come and you need not be a technician to enjoy the 2 day event. Of course NAPBIRT members and technicians are welcome!

Register now, although the MusicMedic.com facility is huge, space is limited.



]]> http://news.musicmedic.com/index.php?entry=entry120113-112826 Curt Altarac Fri, 13 Jan 2012 17:28:26 GMT http://news.musicmedic.com/index.php?entry=entry120106-081620


Anyone who will be attending the Saxophone Smackdown on February 10 and 11 will get to see Wally perform on his freshly maintained tenor! As you know, Wally is a monster on the Tenor and his sound is HUGE. When Wally's in the Shop, the techs are saying, "You better play test that horn for a while longer!" Wally has been coming to the Sax ProShop since it was just me at my house and over the years he has become a good friend and we all delight in Wally's incredible talent and his knack for storytelling!



Ken was with us last year at our holiday party, and it wouldn't have been the same without him! Ken was visiting not only for a COA on his bari, but also to pick up his just- Uberhauled tenor. Ken Coon of the Rascher Quartet is not only a monster bari player but also a kind soul and a dear friend. Now the world will get to hear him on his new Tenor. What a treat!

We wrapped things up just in time for everyone to head out to visit their respective families and loved ones, and wrapped up another great year at MusicMedic.com. A sincere thanks to everyone who has trusted us to supply their woodwind repair needs and relied on us to make sure their saxophone was as good as it could be.

Happy 2012!

-Curt ]]> http://news.musicmedic.com/index.php?entry=entry120106-081620 Curt Altarac Fri, 06 Jan 2012 14:16:20 GMT http://news.musicmedic.com/index.php?entry=entry120105-161340
If you submitted your resume previously, please feel free to re-submit or let us know that you are still interested.

Submit your resume by Wednesday, Jan 11 to: Curt@MusicMedic.com

----------------------------------------------------------------------


The MusicMedic.com Sax ProShop is excited to announce that we're looking to add a new member to our Sax ProShop team! Here is your chance to join a one-of-a-kind repair shop that allows you to do the best work that can be done, while constantly striving for more! Our clients are professionals and professionally minded players and we never allow compromises in the quality of work. Our specialized shop is one where each technician excels in certain aspects of the overhaul process and this allows the technician to be highly skilled and to use their creativity to push repair to a new level.

We are seeking a saxophonist with strong repair skills and a desire to learn and excel. Our ideal candidate will have a degree in saxophone performance and is a quick learner who is able to adapt and continually improve. They would be personable, reliable, and work well in a fast-paced and high-energy team environment.

Qualifications:

Must be proficient in saxophone performance.
Strong desire to make saxophone repair a career
Mechanical aptitude.
Upbeat, Self-Directed, and Punctual
Interested in elevating the level of saxophone repair.

A degree in saxophone performance or band instrument repair preferred.
Machining skills preferred.

Job:

Highly specialized
Professional saxophone overhauls for the world's top players
Commission based after training
Enjoy the coastal life in Wilmington, NC

For more information about the Sax ProShop and what we do, visit: http://SaxProShop.MusicMedic.com

Please send a resume to Curt@MusicMedic.com
To help us save time and resources, please do not call about this position. We all look forward to having you on our team!]]> http://news.musicmedic.com/index.php?entry=entry120105-161340 Curt Altarac Thu, 05 Jan 2012 22:13:40 GMT http://news.musicmedic.com/index.php?entry=entry111216-144544




The next morning, I went to Flagstaff and it was really snowy in the mountains. Fortunately, The clinic was for Dr. Bergeron's saxophone studio at Northern Arizona University. I was taken aback by the quality of students at NAU! Clearly their teacher is doing a great job because the kids were inquisitive and knowledgeable, and we had a productive clinic about Tuning and Toning. I overheard some students in the practice room and they have great sound.



I was hoping to meet up with some other technicians and friends while in Arizona, but the blizzard kept me from traveling freely. I did get to stop in Sedona on my way back from Flagstaff and had fun acting like a tourist for a little while!

Next week was a trip to Normal, IL. The clinic was at the NAPBIRT Technical Training Center (NTTC). The facility was well-equipped with tons of tools and the latest and greatest-- perfect place for an all-day clinic. They asked me if I needed anything and I had brought most everything I needed for Tuning and Toning with me, but I did request jelly beans with the red ones taken out, which I got, so it's good to see they read the contract!



The Sax Magic clinic was packed with top notch technicians from all over the midwest. Lots of great questions and a full day of learning. We got through almost all of the information I wanted to cover on Tuning and Toning (even a full day clinic is sometimes not enough!). I felt like it was successful because the technicians were able to play an instrument, diagnose the issues, and consider all of the different scenarios and steps that would be involved and their corresponding results before actually doing any work to the instrument.



While I was in Normal, I got a chance to visit Carl's Pro Band shop and got to see the work they are doing. We see the work of technicians from all over the world and have seen the best and the worst from the best and the worst, so I can tell you that the work coming from Carl's Pro Band is truly world class. After knowing Carl and Travis for many years and understanding their philosophy of repair and then finally seeing their work, I would recommend them to anyone.



No clinic is complete without seeing the town for a bit, and it was great to go out with everyone. I drank some of the best beer I've had in a long time! So if you're ever in Bloomington, make sure you stop by the NAPBIRT Technical Training Center, and if your horn needs work, take it to Carl's Pro Band, and if you need a good drink, stop by Distill.

--Curt]]> http://news.musicmedic.com/index.php?entry=entry111216-144544 Curt Altarac Fri, 16 Dec 2011 20:45:44 GMT http://news.musicmedic.com/index.php?entry=entry111212-102636
We are seeking a saxophonist with strong repair skills and a desire to learn and excel. Our ideal candidate will have a degree in saxophone performance and is a quick learner who is able to adapt and continually improve. They would be personable, reliable, and work well in a fast-paced and high-energy team environment.

Qualifications:

Must be proficient in saxophone performance.
Strong desire to make saxophone repair a career
Mechanical aptitude.
Upbeat, Self-Directed, and Punctual
Interested in elevating the level of saxophone repair.

A degree in saxophone performance or band instrument repair preferred.
Machining skills preferred.

Job:

Highly specialized
Professional saxophone overhauls for the world's top players
Commission based after training
Enjoy the coastal life in Wilmington, NC

For more information about the Sax ProShop and what we do, visit: http://SaxProShop.MusicMedic.com

Please send a resume to Curt@MusicMedic.com
To help us save time and resources, please do not call about this position. We all look forward to having you on our team!]]> http://news.musicmedic.com/index.php?entry=entry111212-102636 Curt Altarac Mon, 12 Dec 2011 16:26:36 GMT http://news.musicmedic.com/index.php?entry=entry111110-135952

I just submitted my third article to the Saxophone Journal. This article will be in the Jan/Feb 2012 issue in my column entitled "Repair Demystified." The article outlines the process for creating and installing a neck liner in a saxophone to correct specific intonation problems.

For those of you with subscriptions, let me know what you think! Those of you without, get a subscription!

The Saxophone Journal

--Curt]]> http://news.musicmedic.com/index.php?entry=entry111110-135952 Curt Altarac Thu, 10 Nov 2011 19:59:52 GMT http://news.musicmedic.com/index.php?entry=entry111109-103533


Come one, come all! Registration is open now on NAPBIRT's website:

NAPBIRT.org


MusicMedic.com and NAPBIRT are pleased to announce the saxophone event of this century!

Your SMACKDOWN clinicians are:
Jerome Selmer, Selmer Paris
Theo Wanne, Wanne Mouthpieces
Jason DuMars, DuMars Engraving
Jerry Chang, Tenon

Referee:
Curt Altarac, MusicMedic.com

Master of Ceremonies:
Steve Goodson, Steve Goodson Woodwinds


2012's SMACKDOWN is going to be an event you cant miss! Register now because space is limited! This SMACKDOWN will be an amazing gathering of repair technicians, players, craftsman, and manufacturers.

Two full days! Last year's SMACKDOWN was a huge success but everyone agreed that we needed more time!

Free. Well the SMACKDOWN itself is not free (almost, at $110) but you do get free breakfasts, free snacks, free drinks (bring your ID!), free lunches, more free drinks... that's a lotta free no matter who ya are!

More time with the clinicians. All of the clinicians at the 2012 SMACKDOWN are staying for the entire event. Take advantage of learning from the clinicians, your hosts, and other technicians during the whole two-day event. There will be plenty time to sip your drink and discuss your favorite techniques!

Dinner! Although you have to pay for your own dinner, MusicMedic.com has arranged restaurants for the entire gang to go out and eat. Dinners will set up in panel-style discussion seating with all four clinicians, Steve Goodson, and Curt Altarac answering questions and moderating the informal dinner discussions.

Watch the work as it happens! Talk is cheap. Theo Wanne and Jason DuMars are doing more than talking, they're working. Bring your mouthpiece or pick one up from Theo at the SMACKDOWN. Theo will have his tools and is prepared to put a custom face on your new Theo Wanne Mouthpiece or do work to your older pieces. Jason will be offering engraving right here at the SMACKDOWN (be sure to let us know you're interested ahead of time as his time is limited!)

Exhibits! Many of the clincians this year have products that they want you to see! After you hear their ideas, you can see their work! Check out this small, personal, and pertinent group of exhibits.

MusicMedic.com Sax ProShop Tour We've been busy since the last SMACKDOWN and there are a lot of exciting changes! We'll take you through the shop and show how the world's only assembly-line woodwind repair shop functions. The Sax ProShop has been compared to "standing inside an exploded saxophone overhaul". Curt will walk you through the shop, stopping at each of the 10 stations and explaining what we do and how we do it. There is no better way to understand the saxophone overhaul than walking through it!

Live Music by Wally West and the North Carolina Saxophone Ensemble! You're going to love the Music this year! During Friday lunch, you can relax and chat as you hear the cool tunes provided by RooPad endorser Wally West and his fabulous trio! Rumor has it that our own Rich Zimmerman may sit in and play a tune or two! On Saturday you're going to love having lunch with the North Carolina Saxophone Ensemble. If you look in the back row of this massive saxophone collaboration, you'll see MusicMedic.com's founder Curt Altarac playing the Bass!

So relax, grab a drink, and have a talk with a factory owner. Tap your toes to a cool solo and catch a glimpse of Jason cutting a flower or Theo teaching a refacing technique. Just be sure you don't miss it because there will be only one SMACKDOWN II, and it will be RAW! ]]> http://news.musicmedic.com/index.php?entry=entry111109-103533 Curt Altarac Wed, 09 Nov 2011 16:35:33 GMT http://news.musicmedic.com/index.php?entry=entry111026-092807



Faster service, faster order fulfillment, quicker shipping, and continued customer service improvement are things that you've come to expect from MusicMedic.com.

As your business or hobby grows, we also continue to grow and improve as we strive to get you the newest products, best techniques, and the fastest service. Thanks for supporting us as we grow!

By the way, if you still have any of those old, hand-printed ziplock bags that say something like 4 x 40mm, save them because they will no doubt be collectible items on Ebay as MusicMedic Memorabilia!

]]> http://news.musicmedic.com/index.php?entry=entry111026-092807 Curt Altarac Wed, 26 Oct 2011 14:28:07 GMT