Has anyone any experience with musicmedic? I just did...

[flutego12]

OK so everyone is entitled a cross eyed day.

I shall delete this once it's rectified, I'm sure it will, and I hope no more slip ups.

[mirwa]

Music Medic is handy for the average person who does not have access too, or does not want to buy in great volumes. Great Volumes = 1000 plus pads at a time. Ive met curt personally, very passionate guy about saxophones, but he is running a business trying to move a product.

His prices are cheap for small volume products

On the other hand Jeff who Ive also met personally runs a really nice tidy setup at J L Smith. The only down side is the website is not user friendly, (last time I looked). If I had to make a choice I would use jeff becuase he is the opposite of curt, he is passionate about flutes, but does saxophones as well.

Ferees / kraus / boehm etc are all good places but each have the positives and negatives.

[flutego12]

Music Medic is handy for the average person who does not have access too, or does not want to buy in great volumes. Great Volumes = 1000 plus pads at a time. Ive met curt personally, very passionate guy about saxophones, but he is running a business trying to move a product.

His prices are cheap for small volume products reasonable, but I'm very disappointed with his Spring hook - are all the pointy ends meant to be razor sharp? Aren't we discouraged fr screwdrivers because it might sllip and scratch? The hook would definitely scratch

On the other hand Jeff who Ive also met personally runs a really nice tidy setup at J L Smith. The only down side is the website is not user friendly, (last time I looked).unwieldy to navigate but transactional process is better If I had to make a choice I would use jeff becuase he is the opposite of curt, he is passionate about flutes, but does saxophones as well.
I like Jeff's set up


Ferees / kraus / boehm etc are all good places but each have the positives and negatives I don't know kraus and boehm but tell me abot Ferees..

[mirwa]

Mmm, I really dont know how to reply.

So let me start, yes the spring hook edges might be sharp, but what does that matter, screwdrivers have sharp edges and can damage the instrument, razor blades have sharp edges and can damage the instrument, pliers can scratch up the plating

Lots of things can cause damage, its up to the individual to be competent with the tooling they have to prevent damage.

[flutego12]

Mmm, I really dont know how to reply.

So let me start, yes the spring hook edges might be sharp, but what does that matter, screwdrivers have sharp edges and can damage the instrument, razor blades have sharp edges and can damage the instrument, pliers can scratch up the plating.I see, are you saying all spring hook ends are razor sharp? I thought it was just a case of poor unfiled raw finish - the quality was ...

Lots of things can cause damage, its up to the individual to be competent with the tooling they have to prevent damage.

that is a true statement.

[flutego12]

Mmm, I really dont know how to reply.

So let me start, yes the spring hook edges might be sharp, but what does that matter, screwdrivers have sharp edges and can damage the instrument, razor blades have sharp edges and can damage the instrument, pliers can scratch up the plating

Lots of things can cause damage, its up to the individual to be competent with the tooling they have to prevent damage.

The Leak-light plastic casing wreaks of a petrochemical smell. That aside, may I ask how that is used. The LED light is longer than the flute (C foot) hence there is a section sticking out illuminating the space all around. How does one decide if there is a leak, due to indented rings on the pads, every pad shows a circular glow of the LED within...

[mirwa]

You dont use leak lights on flutes.

[JButky]

You dont use leak lights on flutes.

Need to correct that statement. Some people do....But they shouldn't..

[fluteguy18]

You dont use leak lights on flutes.

Need to correct that statement. Some people do....But they shouldn't..

Really? I've seen them used quite a bit (but also in conjunction with pad feelers). Explain yourself mister!

[jim22]

I have had excellent experiences each time I have ordered from musicmedic. I will admit that I have had some trouble with backordered pads a couple times. I think caution is always recommended when ordering to make sure only the final order is actually placed for all online orders for any website. I don't quite remember if my spring hook is musicmedic or jlsmith or vowtawtools, but it is OK. It should be easy to lightly file, grind, or sand the sharp parts.

Maybe you ended up with someone else's order by mistake?

[flutego12]

I have had excellent experiences each time I have ordered from musicmedic. I will admit that I have had some trouble with backordered pads a couple times. I think caution is always recommended when ordering to make sure only the final order is actually placed for all online orders for any website. I don't quite remember if my spring hook is musicmedic or jlsmith or vowtawtools, but it is OK. It should be easy to lightly file, grind, or sand the sharp parts.

Maybe you ended up with someone else's order by mistake?

Hi Jim22. Nope. Twas mine. Coz unmistakeably the packing sheet said FLUTE repair kit, (additional) FLUTE headcork, ... and a pair of backordered glove. Definitely mine.

My PhelanBurkhardt book ordered early 2012 was seamless.

This round, it's been a bit of a nightmare. Admin rep was almost going to wait till I returned the ENTIRE kit before sending me a FULL REPLACEMENT, if I hadn't asked. I hope she does send it.

Was going to ship the Kit back today but from the phone call I thought i had better ask for a formal email of what was discussed and agreed. Esp the bit about reimbursing my Return Shipping

And... not once, was there a whiff of an apology. sighhh. I would have felt much better if she had just apologized. I really needed those supplies too. Hence the disappointment. miffed is the word.

I dont think I'm being too pedantic. Multiple photographic evidence provided. Labels that read SAXOPHONE Manual and SAXOPHONE SUPPLIES i/o Flute - pretty obvious.

[flutego12]

You dont use leak lights on flutes.

Need to correct that statement. Some people do....But they shouldn't..

RIGHT so are you saying it's a marketing gimmick.
It's in BOTH MM & JLS's FLUTE REPAIR KITS!
You're not saying...
What are you saying Mr Butky?

[JButky]

You dont use leak lights on flutes.

Need to correct that statement. Some people do....But they shouldn't..

RIGHT so are you saying it's a marketing gimmick.
It's in BOTH MM & JLS's FLUTE REPAIR KITS!
You're not saying...
What are you saying Mr Butky?

There are people who do use leak lights for flutes. (and IMNSHO, the results are not the best.) The problem is, flute pads (felt) are translucent. You can only get a rough idea of flute pad leaks with a light. It isn't for fine work. A leak light is useful in a flute body when you are using a flatness gauge on top of a tone hole.

I'll take a mag machine and feeler gauge over a leak light any day and show you specifically all the leaking spots you missed by using a leak light to check flute pads. Leak lights are best used for instruments with NON translucent pads, like leather sax pads, bass clarinet, Cork pads, etc.

If you are doing student stuff where you are going to crush the pad with deep seats, then a leak light is sufficient. You only need to get close and let compression do the rest. Kind of like chucking a hand grenade. Precision flute padding, is more like an excellent sniper... Much more precise!

[mirwa]

Leak lights are for leather / non translucent material padded instruments.

As joe has said, flutes have a translucent skin, a light source is a poor way to find leaks.

In a good flute workshop, you are not looking for leaks but you are comparing points of drag on a feeler strip around the perimeter of the pad, never should the feeler gauge not touch anything.

If you start down the path of impressioning pads to achieve a seal, then you will achieve a reputation quickly, and it will not be a good one

[flutego12]

There are people who do use leak lights for flutes. (and IMNSHO, the results are not the best.) The problem is, flute pads (felt) are translucent. That was my finding too - the ring impression glows all around, how to find the leak! You can only get a rough idea of flute pad leaks with a light. It isn't for fine work. A leak light is useful in a flute body when you are using a flatness gauge on top of a tone hole.

I'll take a mag machineI like oso but it's a serious investment - I suppose for serious results and feeler gauge over a leak light any day and show you specifically all the leaking spots you missed by using a leak light to check flute pads. Leak lights are best used for instruments with NON translucent pads, like leather sax pads, bass clarinet, Cork pads, etc. makes perfect sense, also if one happens to have a C foot, the leak light is even longer and illumines everything around the flute rather than just inside the tube sealed. A tube torch works better that way and seals the light from coming out - if at all leak light is useful which you've just established it isn't

If you are doing student stuff where you are going to crush the pad with deep seats, then a leak light is sufficient. ???!!! what's that? Woven pads You only need to get close and let compression do the rest. Kind of like chucking a hand grenade. Precision flute padding, is more like an excellent sniper... Much more precise![/quote]

There is such a good case for proper tools - see my next topic?