Who is the repair technician at Sound Again?
Get to know the owner of Sound Again in this interview.
Interviewer: So, tell us about yourself?
Duncan: Hi, I am a software engineer by trade but I enjoy taking real-world things apart and putting them back together. I always have. Making my own guitars from parts were the things I started on as a teenager. Later in life keeping old cars and motorbikes going was more of a priority. I have rebuilt an MX-5 (Mazda Miata) and various bikes in my time. I am a self-taught engineer really. I learn by doing although I do try to understand the theory behind why things work too. I play first tenor saxophone in a big band and enjoy playing in small groups.
Interviewer: Why did you start Sound Again?
I found that there were no repairers near me and when I did travel the three hour round trips I was not impressed with the work done. I learned how to do repairs myself by buying some old saxes and repadding them. As time went on, I started doing more complex repairs on my own instruments. I started noticing trends in the used saxophone market. There are so many for sale because they don't play well so students give up quickly. The repairs needed are usually simple so I started Sound Again as a side-hustle. I buy instruments needing repair, fix them and sell them on. The software engineering work I do can often have long spells of time between jobs so running Sound Again gives me something meaningful to do and puts good instruments in the hands of people who may not be able to afford a new one.
Interviewer: Would you be interested in making your own instruments?
Duncan: Yes, but not like other makers in the UK. The build overseas and add value with something like a 'premium setup' model is not the long-term solution. In five to ten years salaries will have risen in China so that business model will not work. I live in an area where there is high unemployment so if I do build instruments I want to do it 100% in England. I believe I can make saxophones in the UK which would retail at roughly the same price as mid-range Taiwanese brands.
For now, I am quite happy buying broken instruments and bringing them up to a good standard. This gives me the flexibility I need if a developer job appears.
Interviewer: Why not offer a repair service - that would give you a revenue stream?
Duncan: Offering a repair service won't work for me for several reasons. Firstly, I live in a rural area. There are not enough saxophonists within a reasonable distance who could make use of my services. Secondly, overhauls and servicing is expensive. I have to charge the same as everybody else for the same work. Since most musicians are retired or on low incomes - they just cannot afford the service. In most cases, buying an overhauled saxophone and selling their current one is less expensive than having the work done!
Interviewer: You could get qualified - that would open doors.
Duncan: Well... although Newark college is local to me, they only offer a certificate now. A degree has more value in the job market and since there are so few jobs in the field its not good value. I already know most of the syllabus anyway so its a waste of money.
Interviewer: What does the future hold for Sound Again?
Duncan: Right now, the business is treading water. Margins are tight. I am just about covering cost of sales but paying all the overheads will not happen for a few years yet. The main problem is supply of used saxes which are of quality. Most of the secondhand stock available for repair are from brands which have no value. People don't want Amazon or Shop Own Brands - I don't want them either. Demand for vintage saxes is also at a low point.
Its not all doom and gloom though. There are always opportunities to take and create once I work out what they are!