Today we’d like to introduce you to Jack Finucane.
Jack, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I went to school for music performance but was always fascinated by the mechanics of my instrument, the saxophone. I was privileged enough to be accepted into the masters program at the New England Conservatory of Music in 2011 and also simultaneously began apprenticing in saxophone repair with master craftsman Ernie Sola. Upon graduating I faced a tough decision; move to New York city to pursue a career in music or open my own business here in Boston repairing saxophones. The Boston Sax Shop was opened shortly after I graduated and I’ve never looked back. The Boston community of professional players and students have been incredibly supportive and my small repair shop has now grown into an all-encompassing specialty saxophone shop.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
There have been a lot of growing pains over the last four years. I am currently still a one man show and have really had to learn a lot of lessons in time management and business 101 on my own through trial and error. Moving from strictly repair to including retail and consignment elements to my business has had its learning curve but it is paying off.
The Boston Sax Shop – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
My business is a boutique repair and specialty shop focuses specifically on vintage and professional saxophones. It is unique with regards to repair because I studied the saxophone as a performer first and learned how to repair second. Therefore, my approach to repair is really equally from a mechanical and also from a player’s perspective. My passion is the restoration of vintage saxophones. A lot of repairmen out there believe in ‘branding’ their work with custom modifications whereas I have studied the old traditional methods and apply them to my work to try and recreate the exact way the instruments looked and played when they were originally made. As far as the retail end, I work exclusively with my vendors and offer unique products that for the most part can only be found in my shop.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
I think ‘success’ is a fluid purely personal ideal, money and recognition seems to simplistic. Sometimes the most successful days are the ones where someone is joyous about their instrument after it has been repaired properly. Sometimes it’s making a sale and finding a good home for a great horn. At the end of the day, If I go home feeling like I accomplished my goals, I feel successful.
Contact Info:
- Address: 107 Brighton Ave.,
Suite 3, Allston, MA 02134 - Website: www.bostonsaxshop.com
- Phone: 617 903 3006
- Email: bostonsaxshop@gmail.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bostonsaxshop/?ref=bookmarks
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