This Saturday's live stream episode will feature Ken Pope, of Pope Instrument Repair.  Ken is on his way to exhibit at DC Horn Day at Catholic University of America (Sunday, June 5), and agreed to chat on the live stream show. Topics will include brass repairs and modifications, Ken's work on museum pieces, his story, and how blowing glass relates to instrument repair.  Also, chickens and squirrels.

The show airs live at 9am EDT (UTC-4) on our YouTube channel, and should run about 90 minutes to 2 hours.  Join in by catching the live show and chatting, or send questions to youguys@thebrassbench.com.  

The archive is now available.  This episode is packed with useful information about how to avoid red rot and maintain your instrument.  Find it on our YouTube channel. Please consider subscribing.

What a great show!  You can watch the archive here.  

Jacob and I had a wide-ranging discussion, including his design philosophies, build philosophies, what features to look for when buying a horn, the advantages of a Schmidt wrap horn, the advantages of an ascending third valve horn, and much, much more.  Jacob even made me a couple pour-over coffees.  It was a terrific discussion, and quite amiable.

Among the topics we discussed: 

• The construction and advantage of Schmidt wrap horns, and whether the piston change valve is necessary to achieve the same characteristics
• 3rd valve ascending double horns, and the advantages (and slight disadvantages) thereof
• Small shop horn construction: the challenges, the advantages, and what you should get for the money you pay
• The philosophies and sensibilities that inform Jacob as a maker
• And, Jacob's background, and how one becomes a maker or repair technician

This Saturday, April 30, 9am EDT (UTC-4) is our conversation with horn maker Jacob Medlin.
Do you want to know something in particular about making horns?  Ask Jacob Medlin: send your email to youguys@thebrassbench.com.