[RogerMKVI]

Not sure if this is the right forum for this, so redirect me if necessary.

I'm looking for a place in the Chicagoland area where I can take my MkVI for an overhaul. Preferably Northwest burbs, but I'll drive if I have to.

Thanks.
Roger

 

[saxmusicguy]

Paul Maslin at PM Woodwind in Evanston (recommendation not based on first-hand experience)

see here: http://forum.saxontheweb.net/showthread.php?43506-Chicago-Repairer

 

[zorroperro]

That is the place to go. Have been there. He is the best.

Paul Maslin at PM Woodwind in Evanston (recommendation not based on first-hand experience)

see here: http://forum.saxontheweb.net/showthread.php?43506-Chicago-Repairer

 

[RogerMKVI]

Paul Maslin at PM Woodwind in Evanston (recommendation not based on first-hand experience)

see here: http://forum.saxontheweb.net/showthread.php?43506-Chicago-Repairer

Thanks. This thread is very helpful. Someone indicated that he gets $800+ to overhaul a tenor? Wow, maybe I'll leave it in the closet and buy a new Kessler!

 

[Sigmund451]

Its worth taking it in. Maybe your horn does not need a full overhaul.

I will be happy to buy you a new Kessler for the VI

 

[beau barry]

Paul at P.M. Woodwinds is as good as there is. The price will be a result of the fact that he does s real overhaul. That means everything. If you want less done that's always possible as well.

 

[Little Sax]

Paul overhauled my main MKVI tenor. Yes it cost over $1k and yes it was worth every penny.

 

[whaler]

$1K for an overhaul? Ridiculous.

 

[Little Sax]

$1K for an overhaul? Ridiculous.

If you say so.

 

[JazzFox]

My Mark VI tenor and alto both came from Paul. My Yanagisawa curvy also came from him along with Conn 12M that is currently in the works.
His work is spot on. He really can't be beat. Great guy too.

 

[drwhippet]

PM charges about $550 for a repad if you're on a budget. I hate to say it, but I think the Internet has caused the price of all things sax to shoot up in the last few years, not just the horns themselves. It's like if your VI tenor is worth $7,000 then you can probably justify a 1K overhaul on it. But on the flipside, if you have a really nice old King or Conn that you only paid a grand for, it really presents a dilemma. It's almost like you have to "go upside down" in most horns these days if you want to keep them maintained, with the idea that you probably will never sell. That's why you should reserve an overhaul for that really great sax that plays really well even on old pads.

With that being said, I DO NOT subscribe to the notion that a world-class overhaul will turn an average vintage horn into a great one, as some on here routinely profess. Just won't happen, folks--sorry. I know this from experience buying totally refurbished horns from Sarge that I ended up sending back. He's one of the best in the biz but a freshly overhauled early 1950s Zephyr from him was not as good as my main Zeph that still has a mix of old and new pads and that I've never treated to an overhaul--though I had it partially repadded at PM. :mrgreen:

 

[drwhippet]

My Mark VI tenor and alto both came from Paul. My Yanagisawa curvy also came from him along with Conn 12M that is currently in the works.
His work is spot on. He really can't be beat. Great guy too.

Actually Jason Cates does a lot of the heavy lifting in terms of repair, though Paul may still do the horns of his really old customers and the A-List pro horns that come in there. And of course I hear he does the final check on every horn that goes out of the shop.

But of course this is the same with Randy Jones as well, who also has a repair staff and doesn't do every horn from start to finish personally.

BTW so you send horns across the Atlantic and then halfway across the States to Chicago to be worked on? Wow! Or do you bring him your horns when you're here on business. In either case, that's quite a testimonial for PM Woodwind!

P.S. What shipping service do you use for this? Regardless you're a far braver man than I for taking such a long-distance risk with your horns.

 

[drwhippet]

edit

 

[lovesthesax]

+1 for Paul Maslin

 

[RogerMKVI]

Paul overhauled my main MKVI tenor. Yes it cost over $1k and yes it was worth every penny.

Now I'm even more scared!!!

 

[RogerMKVI]

PM charges about $550 for a repad if you're on a budget. I hate to say it, but I think the Internet has caused the price of all things sax to shoot up in the last few years, not just the horns themselves. It's like if your VI tenor is worth $7,000 then you can probably justify a 1K overhaul on it. But on the flipside, if you have a really nice old King or Conn that you only paid a grand for, it really presents a dilemma. It's almost like you have to "go upside down" in most horns these days if you want to keep them maintained, with the idea that you probably will never sell. That's why you should reserve an overhaul for that really great sax that plays really well even on old pads.
:mrgreen:

I definately agree with this. Same thing happens with cars.

 

[RogerMKVI]

I'll probably call around. I don't know this to be true, but I bet some of these guys probably subscibe to the "if you have to ask the price, you can't afford it" mentality. Again, I don't know this, just speculating!

 

[JazzFox]

Haha, no. I am from Michigan and am only in Scotland on work. All the horns I have gotten from him were hand inspected and adjusted by him when we closed the deal. I watched him do so. I haven't had to ship anything overseas yet, but it has been really tough finding a bari over here, so I am getting one from PM and having it shipped.They are used to shipping overseas, so they know exactly what needs to be done.

Actually Jason Cates does a lot of the heavy lifting in terms of repair, though Paul may still do the horns of his really old customers and the A-List pro horns that come in there. And of course I hear he does the final check on every horn that goes out of the shop.

But of course this is the same with Randy Jones as well, who also has a repair staff and doesn't do every horn from start to finish personally.

BTW so you send horns across the Atlantic and then halfway across the States to Chicago to be worked on? Wow! Or do you bring him your horns when you're here on business. In either case, that's quite a testimonial for PM Woodwind!

P.S. What shipping service do you use for this? Regardless you're a far braver man than I for taking such a long-distance risk with your horns.

 

[drwhippet]

Haha, no. I am from Michigan and am only in Scotland on work. All the horns I have gotten from him were hand inspected and adjusted by him when we closed the deal. I watched him do so. I haven't had to ship anything overseas yet, but it has been really tough finding a bari over here, so I am getting one from PM and having it shipped.They are used to shipping overseas, so they know exactly what needs to be done.

But if you get a horn overhauled there, you cannot count on him being the one who does the work from start to finish, as he has repair techs on staff. And if that's what you thought was going on, you are mistaken, as I've used him for years. He may do some final adjustments and checks as you say (or even if you're in the shop in person), but he's not doing every single overhaul of every horn that comes through there, and I think folks need to realize this. But this would be the case at Tenor Madness as well, where Jones has other repair techs on staff. But again, he may do the final adjustments and quality checks, etc., etc.,

 

[JazzFox]

That's not what I said. "All the horns I have gotten from him were hand inspected and adjusted by him when we closed the deal." He adjusted it before it went out the door, as for who did the heavier work on it, I could honestly care less since the work has always been superb.

But if you get a horn overhauled there, you cannot count on him being the one who does the work from start to finish, as he has repair techs on staff. And if that's what you thought was going on, you are mistaken, as I've used him for years. He may do some final adjustments and checks as you say (or even if you're in the shop in person), but he's not doing every single overhaul of every horn that comes through there, and I think folks need to realize this. But this would be the case at Tenor Madness as well, where Jones has other repair techs on staff. But again, he may do the final adjustments and quality checks, etc., etc.,