Repair, restoration, and sales of woodwind and brasswind instruments.

Since childhood, I have been intrigued by vintage instruments, their design, their history, and their inner workings. Throughout my career, I have sought out skilled saxophone repair technicians whose craftsmanship I admired. I enjoy learning about saxophones from their perspective.

 

When I moved to Burlington, VT, I needed a reliable technician. I knew Bill Cole, one of the best in the business, but his shop is two and a half hours away in Saratoga Springs, NY. Boston is over three hours away. As a result, I gradually started working on my own horns. Eventually, I began purchasing inexpensive, old horns online and delving into YouTube tutorials on saxophone repair.

 

A couple of years ago, I met Mark Walker, who ran a band instrument repair shop out of his home in Jericho, VT. I asked Mark numerous questions as I contemplated offering repair services to other saxophone players. Mark was generous with his answers and even demonstrated basic repair techniques. I attended a week-long Saxophone Basics repair class at MusicMedic.com in Wilmington, NC. The following year, I took the Advanced Saxophone Repair class.

 

To make a long story short, Mark wanted to retire, and after working with him for six months on brass and woodwind instruments, I bought his tools. I built a shop in my backyard, now the home of First Chair Winds - my band instrument repair service.