mr00420
08-16-2003, 12:16 AM
I recently returned from a trip to San Diego and felt obliged to write about my more than satisfying experience at Mission Viejo, California's Saddleback Horn Improvement. If you live in So.Cal. or go by there on business or pleasure it's well worth the trip to the industrial automotive work center of Mission Viejo.
Surrounded on all sides by customization and body shops, it takes some good directions from the staff in order to find the place. It doesn't attract a lot of street traffic, but while I was there (on a weekday) there was a consistent flow of traffic of mostly families w/ young instrumental students coming for lessons and/ or repairs, none of whom probably realised the true ability of the men behind the counter.
The staff were not only NOT pushy, but they were actually extremely helpful and knowledgable. Moments after I arrived, Andy behind the counter had set me up w/ more mpcs and ligatures than I knew what to do with. They let me use their lesson room for what must have been atleast an hour to try out all the various mpcs and lig. combinations, all the while Andy supplying me w/ more different mpcs to try and instructions on how to use the various lig.s. While I was trying everything out Jeff Peterson, the owner and lead technician, came up to speak w/ me. Jeff is not only a very nice guy, he is an expert tech., and ripping tenor (and probably others) player.
While he was there he commented on the mpc.s and asked to see my 53' Zephyr. I told him about how the sticky the pads were and after discussing several differents possible solutions, including some shop work he went back downstairs to let me continue trying things out. Minutes later he came back up and presented me w/ a slip of what looked like paper but was actually some incredibly small grain sand paper that felt more like a slip of rubber. We dragged it between the tone hole and pad, on both sides, and that troublesome G# key hasn't stuck since. He could have made some money installing a kangaroo pad or a spring, but instead he gave me a free solution to the problem. This instance is exemplary of my entire experience at this shop. This a quality shop w/ quality service.
The actual display area isn't very large, but packed w/ a great selection of accessories and a few display horns. The true space of Horn Improvement is dedicated expert repair. With enough space for six working technicians the shop has all the equipment to do any kind or repair, re/ de-lacquering, etc. that you could imagine. Though this store has only been in business three years, their expertise has attracted many re-peat customers including UCLA's various marching and instrumental bands.
Along w/ their service, the prices were very good. They had many great mpcs including Morgans, SR Technologies, Beechlers, etc. some of which were on consignment. They had Olegatures, Rovners, FLouis, etc. They also had several quality books and etudes. If you tell them you read about them on the net. they may even give you a discount. If you get a chance I strongly reccommend visiting Saddleback Horn Improvement in Mission Viejo, CA: (949) 455-4163.
Surrounded on all sides by customization and body shops, it takes some good directions from the staff in order to find the place. It doesn't attract a lot of street traffic, but while I was there (on a weekday) there was a consistent flow of traffic of mostly families w/ young instrumental students coming for lessons and/ or repairs, none of whom probably realised the true ability of the men behind the counter.
The staff were not only NOT pushy, but they were actually extremely helpful and knowledgable. Moments after I arrived, Andy behind the counter had set me up w/ more mpcs and ligatures than I knew what to do with. They let me use their lesson room for what must have been atleast an hour to try out all the various mpcs and lig. combinations, all the while Andy supplying me w/ more different mpcs to try and instructions on how to use the various lig.s. While I was trying everything out Jeff Peterson, the owner and lead technician, came up to speak w/ me. Jeff is not only a very nice guy, he is an expert tech., and ripping tenor (and probably others) player.
While he was there he commented on the mpc.s and asked to see my 53' Zephyr. I told him about how the sticky the pads were and after discussing several differents possible solutions, including some shop work he went back downstairs to let me continue trying things out. Minutes later he came back up and presented me w/ a slip of what looked like paper but was actually some incredibly small grain sand paper that felt more like a slip of rubber. We dragged it between the tone hole and pad, on both sides, and that troublesome G# key hasn't stuck since. He could have made some money installing a kangaroo pad or a spring, but instead he gave me a free solution to the problem. This instance is exemplary of my entire experience at this shop. This a quality shop w/ quality service.
The actual display area isn't very large, but packed w/ a great selection of accessories and a few display horns. The true space of Horn Improvement is dedicated expert repair. With enough space for six working technicians the shop has all the equipment to do any kind or repair, re/ de-lacquering, etc. that you could imagine. Though this store has only been in business three years, their expertise has attracted many re-peat customers including UCLA's various marching and instrumental bands.
Along w/ their service, the prices were very good. They had many great mpcs including Morgans, SR Technologies, Beechlers, etc. some of which were on consignment. They had Olegatures, Rovners, FLouis, etc. They also had several quality books and etudes. If you tell them you read about them on the net. they may even give you a discount. If you get a chance I strongly reccommend visiting Saddleback Horn Improvement in Mission Viejo, CA: (949) 455-4163.