#samashcharlotte

[tlrvakarian]

Unpolished silver-plating vs. polished. Cleaning up silver saxophones is fun, but it takes forever and a day if you’re not taking it apart. (I’m posting more of my work antics with instruments because I love working with them and y’all deserve to see more of what I do!) #samashcharlotte #samashmusic #samash #saxophone #selmer

[tlrvakarian]

Today I bought in a #Selmer Mark VI Professional Alto Saxophone from 1972 here at @samashmusic in Charlotte! This one is extra rare and special because it features the Low A key! It’s not every day you see a VI, but it’s really not everyday you see that added key! Super exciting stuff!!! #samashcharlotte #samashmusic #samash #markvi #selmermarkvi (at Sam Ash Music Stores)

[tlrvakarian]

A friend wanted me to post how I make my violin bridges, and I’ve done a bunch lately so here it goes! First I take a blank made by Aubert. I use a fine grain sandpaper that has adhesive on the back and lie it where the bridge would sit, and then I shift the bridge back and forth over while applying a bit of pressure. This process shaves the feet of the bridge down and shapes it to the exact curve of the violin. Every violins curve is slightly different, so I like to make my bridges from scratch this way so it fits that instrument, and only that instrument. Then I use a string lifter than can be adjusted to any height to figure out how tall I want the bridge, usually to my or the customers preference. Once I figure that out I line it up with my bridge and mark where I need to cut it down to. I use xacto knives to get it down, and then more fine grain sandpaper to smooth everything out, shave down the side facing the fingerboard to be thinner, and then add a little lip on the top of either side for a nice cosmetic flair. Typically the thinner the better, so I go as thin as possible while still maintaining structural integrity. Once I have everything shaped the way I want it, I have a tool that makes the notches for me, and then I make them a little bigger with files so that the strings fit in them properly. All I have to do at that point is pop the bridge on the violin, tune it, and test it to make sure everything sounds good, and it’s done! It can be a labor intensive project, especially on larger sting instruments, but I’ve gotten to a point where it only takes me about half an hour to get through it and produce a beautiful bridge! #violin #bridge #aubert #samashcharlotte #samash #samashmusic

[tlrvakarian]

If you know me well enough, you’ll know that I am not only a band geek, but a complete geek for vintage gear. A customer sold us this beautiful Conn Connstellation trumpet earlier this week, and I about died when I saw it. This baby is from the late 50’s/early 60’s and it’s almost pristine. These older horns are built like tanks and gold up very well, so they almost always look at least semi decent, but it’s rare to see them in such beautiful condition!!! #conn #trumpet #samashcharlotte #samashmusic #samash

[tlrvakarian]

Today I made a new bridge and did a setup on this beautiful violin for a customer. It’s so pretty that I couldn’t help but snap a photo! #samash #samashmusic #samashcharlotte

[tlrvakarian]

Every year @cannonballmusic sends out Christmas cards, and every year I love to put out all the cards they’ve sent since I started with @samashmusic! It always makes me so happy when we receive them! #samashmusic #samashcharlotte #cannonballmusic

[tlrvakarian]

This year’s Christmas display at @samashmusic Charlotte! Every year I go absolutely insane with my Christmas decorations, but this year we put it up on the stage, and I went absolutely mental with all of it. I could not be more in love with how it turned out. I’m not sure that it’s fully finished, and the lights aren’t finalized, but I’m over the moon. Shout out to @jmw9273 for being my bumble and hanging up the snowflakes, and @stephen.cole_official for creating some bomb Christmas lights (even though these aren’t it yet) #samash #samashmusic #samashcharlotte #christmas