Category Archives: Instrument Repair

The Clarinet from Heck

Posted on November 16, 2015 by randyjmueller

I recently had a heck of a personal growth moment with an early 1940s Selmer B-flat soprano clarinet with a low E-flat key. This is only the second one I’ve seen in my work life, and it gave me a … Continue reading →

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Halloween, Day and Night

Posted on November 1, 2015 by randyjmueller

One Halloween is not enough! Once you have the suit, it’s hard to give it up. Today was Halloween at Monroe Street Market where I have my shop.  The “powers that be” asked the artists to ham it up for the … Continue reading →

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Busted Bari Brief

Posted on October 10, 2015 by randyjmueller

This bad boy came into the shop a couple weeks ago bent, bruised and battered. It belongs to Lorenze Wheatley, whom you met at Whole Foods in an earlier blog. Lorenze is a man about town with irons in many … Continue reading →

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French Horn Bell Cut

Posted on July 4, 2015 by randyjmueller

This is the kind of thing that keeps you up at night. It’s also a very cool project. Imagine taking a musician’s most prized possession and cutting in in half! A bit like the magician who cuts his wife in … Continue reading →

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Building the Shop: Act 3 Opening!

Posted on May 30, 2015 by randyjmueller

It’s finally here! It was a much bigger job than I originally expected, but I have to say, I pinch myself every day just to make sure I am actually here in my own shop. And it’s a really great … Continue reading →

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Building the Shop: Act 2

Posted on April 19, 2015 by randyjmueller

I’m into week 2 and the first Open House for the Arts Walk is this Thursday evening, so the clock is ticking to get the shop in presentable (although not complete) shape by then. There are a whole bunch of … Continue reading →

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Building the Shop: Act 1

Posted on April 12, 2015 by randyjmueller

WOW! It’s finally here! I picked up the keys on Monday, March 30th. I paid the rent, got a tour of the Artist’s Lounge, the parking garage (woo-hoo!) and introduced myself to my fellow artists on The Artist’s Walk. There are … Continue reading →

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The Amazingly Irrational Leblanc

Posted on April 6, 2015 by randyjmueller

The first time I laid eyes on this curious alto saxophone was in 1995. Then again in 1999, 2002 and 2008. And as of yesterday, I repaired this horn for the 5th time. It never ceases to amaze me and never ceases to torture … Continue reading →

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NAPBIRT PDX

Posted on April 12, 2014 by randyjmueller

Are you ready for it? National Association for Professional Band Instrument Repair Technicians. Just goes to show you there is an association for just about anything. This year’s NAPBIRT conference was in my old haunt, Portland Oregon (airport code PDX) … Continue reading →

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Oh! for Ophicleide

Posted on March 8, 2014 by randyjmueller

As Promised:  The O-phi-cleide I have to look it up every time I write it down – which in my many years of working on the unusual as well as the mundane, has happened all of 3 times. What exactly is it, you … Continue reading →

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