About Me
I came to the saxophone partly by accident. As a kid, my parents gave me a choice between sports and band. I wasn’t athletic, so I decided to play sax, mostly because my uncle was a professional player. It wasn’t until a summer in high school, jamming in a basement with relatives and family friends playing blues and classic rock, that music really clicked. Learning to play by ear and improvise completely changed how I approached the instrument, and before long I realized that the saxophone is my voice.
I began repairing saxophones in 2014 after getting frustrated with the work done on a vintage baritone and soprano I’d bought. What started as necessity became a passion. I focused on vintage American saxophones and gradually built my skills and tooling as I went. As friends and colleagues began hiring me for repairs and buying advice, I turned that work into a business in 2022, and in 2024 moved my workshop to Logan Square in Chicago.
My standards in my workshop come from my father, an electrical engineer and joiner who taught me to take pride in my work and value putting my name on a thing.
When I’m not playing or working on a horn, I enjoy hiking and backpacking, hand-tool cabinetmaking, and watching and reading historical dramas and science fiction.
Repair Services
I only play one type of instrument, and I only work on one type instrument: saxophones. A sax doesn't leave my shop until I would feel comfortable performing on it myself.
From humble 1920s horns to state-of-the-art modern instruments, from long-defunct and largely forgotten makers to the biggest names in the business, I'm happy to take a look at what you have.
Saxophones for Sale
When you purchase a saxophone from me, you will be getting a quality horn that plays at least as good as new.
Most horns I repair and resell will be professional-level saxophones, but I am known to pick up stencils and more intermediate models from time to time.
Sustainability
Sustainability is a consideration in everything I do. With a degree in environmental biology and experience as a park ranger and advocate, I minimize waste, use durable and responsibly sourced materials, favor mild and biodegradable chemicals, and reuse or sustainably source packaging. I also proudly bike to my workshop and studio year-round.