[Saxaholic]

This is sad news for me, but simultaneously exciting as we look to new things from the purchaser, USAhorn.

Pete, thanks for your dedication and hard work on saxpics.com . It was an incredible resource for all saxophone players. Words can't put into practice how much we appreciate what you've done.

The best of luck to you in future endeavors.

Saxaholic

 

[Fred]

First of all, my thanks to Pete for an almost immeasurable contribution to the saxophone community. There are/were many greats in the saxophone world out there - I'll let the reader supply the names. But I don't think anyone has created a more lasting contribution than Pete has. Many artists . . . many craftsmen . . . many companies . . . but only one resource with the expansive coverage of saxpics.

If your only instrument is saxophone, you might assume that every instrument has a Pete/Saxpics website equivalent. How sadly mistaken you would be. On clarinet, we can't even get decent information about what was being made 30 years ago - go try to find information on my 1974 Buffet Super Dynaction Bb clarinet! We have been most blessed by Pete's passion - I'm glad to see he is being rewarded and set free to create yet another resource.

All the best, my friend!

 

[Pete]

First of all, my thanks to Pete for an almost immeasurable contribution to the saxophone community. There are/were many greats in the saxophone world out there - I'll let the reader supply the names. But I don't think anyone has created a more lasting contribution than Pete has. Many artists . . . many craftsmen . . . many companies . . . but only one resource with the expansive coverage of saxpics.

If your only instrument is saxophone, you might assume that every instrument has a Pete/Saxpics website equivalent. How sadly mistaken you would be. On clarinet, we can't even get decent information about what was being made 30 years ago - go try to find information on my 1974 Buffet Super Dynaction Bb clarinet! We have been most blessed by Pete's passion - I'm glad to see he is being rewarded and set free to create yet another resource.

All the best, my friend!

Thanks.

Speaking of clarinet, as you may know, the clarinet was my original instrument: I played Bb soprano, bass and contrabass clarinets in high school -- and also attempted Eb soprano and Eb alto, on occasion.

I have thought about doing a "Vintage Clarinets Gallery" or some such, on occasion, but there are a couple of major logistical issues with that, the number one of which being the sheer volume of data: "modern" clarinets, just taking the data in the Wikipedia entry, were first made in the 1700's -- essentially meaning that clarinets have been around about two-and-1/2 times longer than saxophones. Right there, that'd mean a website two-and-1/2 times bigger AND I haven't mentioned the fact that there are a lot more members of the clarinet family than there are in the saxophone family (and those members are much more widely produced).

But, I've gotta say, I like them clarinets, too. Heck, even if I considered only 20th and 21st Century clarinets, there are some very pretty variations: King Silver-Sonics, Buffet Jubilees (clear plastic, copper keys), rosewood, boxwood, mahogany ....

 

[Pinnman]

Pete, I am sure this must be the best thing for you. The stress of keeping saxpics going has been showing for quite a while now.

However, like everyone else here, I have always received the utmost courtesy whenever I have sought assistance. Good luck to you for your future ventures.

 

[MBushaw]

It's hard to believe how close Saxpics.com came to disappearing from the web some 6(?) years ago. I'm so glad I was in a position to help keep this wonderful resource alive.
I can't imagine how hard its going to be for Pete to 'cut the apron strings' and let it grow into something new. I hope they keep a small dedication somewhere on the site to acknowledge the work that Pete put into creating the best musical instrument reference website in the world.

Still think you should of negotiated a bari in the deal!

 

[Giganova]

Are they gonna keep the site alive or do they just want to harvest the pictures (which is my guess)?

 

[Pete]

It's hard to believe how close Saxpics.com came to disappearing from the web some 6(?) years ago. I'm so glad I was in a position to help keep this wonderful resource alive.
I can't imagine how hard its going to be for Pete to 'cut the apron strings' and let it grow into something new. I hope they keep a small dedication somewhere on the site to acknowledge the work that Pete put into creating the best musical instrument reference website in the world.

Still think you should of negotiated a bari in the deal!

Hey, it's Mark! He's my host. Everyone say, "Hi!"

When I look at saxpics.com, I think how inadequate it is. I know I'm overly harsh on myself: I'm one person and I did all that in ten years, but there's still so much to be done and could be done.

Again, I wish Wikis and Coppermine Photo Gallery were around 10 years ago.

As far as I remember, I first said that I'd be interested in selling my website in 2003 and, for a variety of reasons, I didn't. I actually listed it for sale here in 2005-ish and then removed it after awhile, essentially for the same mix of reasons.

It is difficult, btb: I probably won't accept the fact that it isn't "mine" until my e-mail addresses are removed from the 'site. (I can say that 1/2 of the check cleared yesterday, so it's officially 1/2 less mine, now.)

One of the things I do hope is some of the folks that I've met when I was doing only the vintage thang will still e-mail me. Just because I don't have the website anymore doesn't mean that I'm not interested.

Yah, I had actually considered horns from three folks that put bids on my website -- one was a VI bari, btb -- and I really was tempted, but I haven't played at all for 5 years and very little in the past 15. I've been singing, but I'm on hiatus because of school.

However, if someone wants to send me a bari, I wouldn't mind. Hmmm. Mark, you still have that S1?

============

@ Giganova: From what I understand it's going to be a "home improvement project" over what I currently have, not, "Let's just knock it down and start it from scratch." However, if it still is going to be in similar format, I would not mind at all if they change the format of the "information pages". As I said, a Wiki would be really, really nice.

 

[Pete]

Well, the checks have officially cleared. Officially, the website is now no longer mine.

 

[martysax]

Well, the checks have officially cleared. Officially, the website is now no longer mine.

Now, why don't you write to the owners and challenge some of the facts on the site?

 

[Reedsplinter]

Just write to tell 'em the links aren't working -- don't give 'em any help.

Such a great site. I used it just last night to absolutely nail down the manufacture date of a Martin bari (1961).

 

[Seasax]

so, good for you Pete, but this is sad news for me aswell, i have relied on SaxPics for a long time and you have done a fantastic job of it, it's one of the sites that kind of led me towards this server,

thank you so much for all your hard work for SaxPics, and enjoy a break from it.
you have been one of the most valuable members on this forum, and still are!

 

[Pete]

Now, why don't you write to the owners and challenge some of the facts on the site?

"It's 'saxophone', not 'saxaphone'."

Now, you just have to wonder which website I'm talking about.

=============

@ Searjeant: The website will still be there, according to the new owners -- I just won't be working on it.

I have a couple other things I'm working on ...

* College (I've got a big paper due this week).
* My new Wiki (which I'm contemplating changing a bit).
* The Official Unofficial Arizona Get Together.
* The 2008 Calendar.
* An article I need to clean up in the For Beginners section (marty can point you there).
* A CD I was asked to review, which I'm halfway finished.

 

[14470]

A tough act for USA Horn to follow (and to keep their commercial interests aside). The only thing I ever did not like about saxpics was looking at the clock afterwards. It is easier to find time to be a kid in the candy store when you're a kid.

 

[Pete]

Well, if you go to www.saxpics.com and www.usahorn.com you can see that they've got the "server switch" message up. If you check GoDaddy.com, the switch has been completed. To an extent. Like, USAHorn's not in Las Vegas .

I've noticed that some of the formatting on the website has changed, but the content hasn't. I only checked a couple pages, tho.

 

[martysax]

"It's 'saxophone', not 'saxaphone'."

Now, you just have to wonder which website I'm talking about.

It's my stupid bass player's fault. He manages the site.

Do you realize how much $#!t I give him for this? You are not the only one on this forum to notice!

 

[Pete]

It's my stupid bass player's fault. He manages the site.

Do you realize how much $#!t I give him for this? You are not the only one on this forum to notice!

 

[Pete]

Possibly the final post for this topic ....

I went out and bought myself a nice, shiny new domain name and moved my Wiki that I've been working on there. It's http://thesax.info (catchy title, no?) and it's still hosted by that hoopy frood, Mark Bushaw. I also have a new Gmail account at [email protected], but you can still use my old accounts, too.

Please check it out, if you get a chance.

==========

I did notice that saxpics.com was offline for awhile this AM, but it's back, now.

 

[hakukani]

It's my stupid bass player's fault. He manages the site.

Do you realize how much $#!t I give him for this? You are not the only one on this forum to notice!

I thought he was a base player?!?

 

[Ferret]

I noticed you needed a logo... don't have to use it, but here's a small contribution to your project!

Black and white image:

And one with the lighter parts transparent:

Here's something else I was messing around with, in regards to transparancy: :bounce:

What the transparent one might look like on the site:

 

[Pete]

Sorry I haven't checked here in awhile.

Thanks. I will probably use the logo. No one's ever designed one for me before, so I dunno what to say other than "thanks".