The blocky steel handles weren’t comfortable to hold, were too heavy, and experienced corrosion, so we designed and manufactured ergonomic lightweight aluminum handles.   The original lever arms were wider than necessary and prevented the tool from getting into every space necessary, so they were redesigned in a slimmer profile. Next, we created a smaller […]

by Curt Altarac The “Selmer Style” or “floating” Left Hand (LH) table and the “tilting” low Bb mechanism is a cool improvement on the earlier configurations of a LH table when properly set up. Actually talking about setting up that key could easily turn into a novel as there are many, many ways to improperly […]

by Curt Altarac With So many Swedging Pliers available, choosing the proper pair can be a daunting task. The choice is made more difficult when you consider the specific application of the pliers. For todays #WednesdayWisdom, we thought it you might like to know more about the Swedging Plier choices available @MusicMedic. First, let’s go […]

By Curt Altarac If you’ve ever endeavored to select a clarinet for yourself, for a student, or for your rental instrument fleet, you’ve surely seen that there are a lot of choices available on the market.  Some of them are so inexpensive it’s hard to believe you can manufacture a musical instrument for that amount, […]

How old is the Flute?  How about 42,000 years old!  That’s right, according to Encylopedia.com, “The oldest known archaeological remains of any musical instrument are those of flutes carved of bone and ivory that were found in SW Germany and are at least 42,000 years old. ”  And according to an August 2009 article in […]

Did you know that today’s Silver is comprised of 92.5% silver and 7.5% other metals? It’s those other metals, typically copper, that make sterling silver tarnish. The copper reacts to moisture and sulfur in the air, causing the sterling silver tarnish. Silver tarnishes faster in areas with high humidity and air pollution. By using a […]

It can be frustrating to get through your bodywork, post aligning, and keywork, only to find that there is noise and slop coming from inside the post.  We created Post Fitting Pliers for exactly this reason, so that adjustments are quick and long lasting, and simple to incorporate during an overhaul. Fitting your posts after […]

Anyone who has had a screw break off inside a post, or a flat spring screw break off in a key, knows how frustrating it can be.  If you’ve come across a horn that has had flood damage of any sort where the screws and rods are rusted and corroded and nearly everything seems frozen, […]

Rollers can add noise to your saxophone’s keywork, especially on vintage instruments with pearl rollers or oblong rollers.  As rollers wear, the steel screw on which they are mounted enlarged the hole of the roller and creates a gap, leaving play which can be quite noisy and clunky. We developed Ultimax Pivot and Roller Grease […]

#BackToSchool season is officially in full effect. Today we wanted to provide a checklist on getting your or your kid’s instrument play ready. These can equally apply to Saxophone, Clarinet & Flute. #1 Check The Connections For your Flute and Saxophone, make sure the neck, head and foot joints fit well in/on the tenon and […]

In today’s #WednesdayWisdom we want to focus on shellac. Did you know that we offer three types of Stick Shellac? That’s right, we offer two synthetic shellacs in amber & clear and one natural shellac in light amber. Our Shellac Sticks are the finest available. Many technicians and players feel that a firm shellac which […]

Fixing green and nasty old rubber mouthpieces has long been a mystery for many technicians and players but luckily there is a great way to restore your mouthpiece to new or shinier than new condition! It takes a little bit of skill and there is a chance that you’ll drop the mouthpiece or damage the […]

Instrument repair techs know that lubrication can make a huge difference in how an instrument functions and the feel it has for a player.  With this in mind, we developed the Ultimax line of lubricants to be compatible with one another so you can mix-and-match.  Try the following “recipes” for the perfect feel and function, […]

In keeping with this week’s #ClarinetFest2019 theme, today’s #WednesdayWisdom gives some insight into the manufacturing process of our Wilmington Clarinets. Do you know why The Wilmington Clarinet 902 Model is manufactured from a composite of hard rubber and Grenadilla wood? The answer is stability. For various reasons, people prefer the sound of a wooden clarinet. […]