Who is Bob Ackerman ?
Rr33ww
Is he honest ? Can he re-face ? Help me. Carl Stuyer
Windlords1
>From: rr3...@aol.com (Rr33ww)
>Date: 11/30/98 11:37 AM Central Standard Time
>Message-id: <19981130123749...@ng-ce1.aol.com>
>
>An new to this game and wonder what's the scoop on this guy?
> Is he honest ? Can he re-face ? Help me. Carl Stuyer
>
>
>
Bob has been in the business a long time, and if he
couldn't reface he would not have lasted as long as he has, as that is one the
things that he is most known for.
I'm not sure that he does much refacing himself anymore,
as he has a wonderful assistant by the name of John Van Wie (I believe that is
the correct spelling) who does fine work. I played Greg Abate's mpc, on which
John refaced and it responded quite well.
Bob may be expensive, but he has mastered the fine art of
mpc refacing, and they don't call him "The Mouthpiece Doctor" for
nothing....that is something he earned.
Tiger Meazell
Jazz Alto Saxophonist
Boosey & Hawkes Artist/Clinician
"When in doubt...Chromatics!" - Phil Woods
Mitch
Rr33ww wrote:
> An new to this game and wonder what's the scoop on this guy?
> Is he honest ? Can he re-face ? Help me. Carl Stuyer
I called Bob a while back and he knew that Steve Broadus was a designer
for the Martin Co. way back when. He had four Broadus mpc to try out, I
bought one - just what the doctor ordered!!! He works out of his house
in Irvington, NJ., and has a wide variety of saxes to blow into and no
less than a bejillion mpc.
He will be offering a tribute to Zoot Sims and Al Cohn on Friday Feb. 5
1999. Should be a real treat for fans of the tenor sax.
Call the Watchung Arts Center (Union County, NJ) 908-753-0190 for info
if you're in the area.
Mitch
jdu...@my-dejanews.com
rr3...@aol.com (Rr33ww) wrote:
> An new to this game and wonder what's the scoop on this guy?
> Is he honest ? Can he re-face ? Help me.
Carl, I have pretty strong feelings about Mr. Ackerman. I wrote about my
specific story as part of the "Saxophone Buyer's Guide" available on the web
at http://www.saxophone.org/buyers.html In summary, a few years back he
completely misrepresented an intrument he traded to me and refused to return
my horns after I received the instrument and complained. Some time later, he
called back and gave my wife (then fiancee) a long harangue about how stupid
I was. That was when I was in college, and I must have seemed an easy
victim. Unfortunately for him, I now run the world's largest saxophone web
site and am an active recording artist.
I have heard other equally bad things from other people. I have heard other
players refer to him as the mouthpiece "Butcher" instead of "Doctor", which in
my opinion is a much more appropriate title.
Again, this is all just my experience/opinion, and I encourage you to take it
as such. I personally wouldn't buy anything from him if he was the last
saxophone/mouthpiece dealer on Earth, and I know I am not the only person
that feels this way.
Good luck,
-JD
-----------== Posted via Deja News, The Discussion Network ==----------
http://www.dejanews.com/ Search, Read, Discuss, or Start Your Own
Rr33ww
things about this guy that I would not repeat in public.I recieved
6 or 7 saying they got what they needed but would never deal on him again.I
got one man who respected him.So 1 to 33.Oh boy.
Interesting.Glad I asked before involving myself.
B.B. Bean
> rr3...@aol.com (Rr33ww) wrote:
>> An new to this game and wonder what's the scoop on this guy?
>> Is he honest ? Can he re-face ? Help me.
I wish that I could base my opinion of Bob Ackerman on actually doing
business with him, but he told me several times that if I wasn't
willing to fly to New Jersey to visit his shop personally that he
didn't want to sell horns or mouthpieces to me. Said he was "too busy
to waste his time".
So I spend my not inconsiderable sax dollars elsewhere (where they want
my busines).
BBB
-
B.B. Bean - Have horn, will travel bbb...@beancotton.com
Peach Orchard, MO http://www.beancotton.com/bbbean.shtml
W. S. Z.
While we're on the subject of experiences w/ mail order dealers -
Can anyone comment on Charles Fail out of Georgia?
Thanks.
MidiOpera Co.
> While we're on the subject of experiences w/ mail order dealers -
>
> Can anyone comment on Charles Fail out of Georgia?
>
He has a great reputation in the south east for repairs. I've seen some
of his horns - relac'd in his shop Martin Committee tenor, King SSonic
alto and MK vi alto and tenor...all were in great shape. Prices were a
little lower than the big traders......his 'buy' prices too :(
RS
--
Robert Steinberg
MidiOpera Co.
http://www.evcom.net/~midiopra/
Mitch
B.B. Bean wrote:
> >In article <19981130123749...@ng-ce1.aol.com>,
> > rr3...@aol.com (Rr33ww) wrote:
> >> An new to this game and wonder what's the scoop on this guy?
> >> Is he honest ? Can he re-face ? Help me.
>
> I wish that I could base my opinion of Bob Ackerman on actually doing
> business with him, but he told me several times that if I wasn't
> willing to fly to New Jersey to visit his shop personally that he
> didn't want to sell horns or mouthpieces to me. Said he was "too busy
> to waste his time".
>
> So I spend my not inconsiderable sax dollars elsewhere (where they want
> my busines).
>
> BBB
>
Stop in on a Friday when everyone in NJ is there getting set-up for their weekend gigs.
Mitch
Larry Hunka
with was pleasant and helpful over the phone. He described the horn as
"played but well cared for". This was exactly what it was - in excellent
condition but showing the wear one would expect in a horn over forty years
old. I found them fair in their pricing in relationship to the horn. I
definitely feel you should try and play a horn (preferably many) before you
buy one but if you must buy by mail I would feel safe with them.
Larry
W. S. Z. wrote in message <7479tp$813$1...@as4100c.javanet.com>...
>
>While we're on the subject of experiences w/ mail order dealers -
>
>Can anyone comment on Charles Fail out of Georgia?
>
>
Heath Watts
>
> I bought a nice, original lacquer Mk VI tenor several years ago from them for
> a price that was well below what other places were charging. They sent it
> freshly padded with key clamps (I still have and use) and several
> mouthpieces. I sold one of the mouthpieces after I got it and recently sold
> the sax for several hundred more than I paid for it. It was a really good
> horn. They were very nice to do business with.
>
> Jason
> Aus, Tex
>
> In article <7479tp$813$1...@as4100c.javanet.com>,
> >
> > Can anyone comment on Charles Fail out of Georgia?
> >
> > Thanks.
> >
> >
>
> http://www.dejanews.com/ Search, Read, Discuss, or Start Your Own
Thanks,
Heath
jaz...@iname.com
eric pearson
I've been doing business with Mr. Fail for 30 yrs. I've never had an
experience that was less than excellent. When I buy my next tenor, it
will probably be a Silversonic or Radio Improved or 10M from Charles.
I think these days he only works on horns he has sold. A while ago he
did incredible work on my Leblanc Symphony III, 1910's Selmer Full
Boehm A, and 1890s? Albert System Buffet clarinets. I saw/played some
of the other horns he worked on (clars and saxes). They were *fine*. I
still regret not having bought a Radio Improved Tenor from him.
regards,
eric pearson
er...@nospammindspring.com
On Thu, 3 Dec 1998 21:41:26 -0500, midi...@tcol.net (MidiOpera Co.)
wrote:
>W. S. Z. <nos...@nospam.com> wrote:
>
>> While we're on the subject of experiences w/ mail order dealers -
>>
>> Can anyone comment on Charles Fail out of Georgia?
>>
>
Edward Branham
he takes care of my other horns too (Mk VI Alto, Tenor, & Bari; tenor
SilverSonic, Beuscher straight sop, saxello, Chu alto, R-13 clarinet).
I have never been dissappointed.
dtr...@my-dejanews.com
"W. S. Z." <nos...@nospam.com> wrote:
>
> While we're on the subject of experiences w/ mail order dealers -
>
> Can anyone comment on Charles Fail out of Georgia?
>
>
>
My experience with Charles Fail was excellent. I got a great horn at a great
price. Highly recommended.
Cheers,
Darrell
Terry Cutshall
I ahve ordered through Charles. The price was the best around and
he did good work. He was very helpful and patient. He took the time to make
sure I knew what I wanted and was even willing to get a horn in order so that
I could have someone come in and test play it for me. The only thing that I
would suggest would be to go and play the horns YOURSELF. You can ask
opinions of saxes on this group and everyone would give you a different
answer. You have to go and play them to be sure (or at least find someone who
is willing to do it for you).
Good Luck
Sean
In article <7479tp$813$1...@as4100c.javanet.com>, nos...@nospam.com says...