Customers
Greg Allen
Greg Allen plays trumpet with the Illinois Brassworks and many other groups in central Illinois. These excellent portraits are from Heirloom Digital Portraits.
- Custom Yamaha Trumpet Built by Carl: YTR-6335 Med. large valve casings; YTR-8345 Xeno mouthpipe & main tuning slide (heavyweight large bore); Yamaha rose brass bell; thinned out finger buttons & top caps; custom 3rd valve heavy cap; brushed brass finish with clear lacquer.
Jim Boitos
Saxophonist and Retired Professor of Saxophone and Director of Jazz Ensembles at Illinois State University.
For more than two and a half decades, Jim Boitos’ jazz groups won individual and group awards at college jazz festivals throughout the country. Boitos was a featured soloist at the 5th World Saxophone Congress, London, the 6th World Saxophone Congress, Evanston, and the 7th World Saxophone Congress, Nuremburg. Mr. Boitos has also free-lanced with Pearl Bailey, Billy Eckstine, Joe Williams, Cab Calloway, Nancy Wilson, Louie Bellson, and many others.
- Conn 10M Tenor: Repadded w/ RooPads and aluminum Noyek resonators
- Selmer Mark VI Alto: Repadded w/ RooPads and original Mark VI plastic resonators
- Selmer Mark VI Soprano: Repadded w/ RooPads and aluminum Noyek resonators
Elliot Chasanov
Associate Professor of Trombone and Chair of the Brass Division at University of Illinois.
- Greenhoe F-Attachment Trombone w/ Conn 8HT bell: Conn 88HY Bell mounted to Greenhoe valve section by Travis.
“Carl’s Pro Band has quickly become my absolute first choice for general brass repairs and trombone slide work. I have recommended them to all of my students. Their work is absolutely top-notch and flawless! We are very lucky to have such high quality craftsmen in Central Illinois!” –Elliot Chasanov
Chris Combest
Lecturer in Tuba and Euphonium at Southern Illinois University, Carbondale IL.
- Hirsbrunner HB12 F Tuba
- Walter Nirschl York Model CC Tuba
“I am always secure in the knowledge that whenever I take my horns to Carl and Travis that they will be treated with the utmost professional care. Consider me a very satisfied customer!” –Chris Combest
Thad Franklin
Professional Trumpet/Fluegelhorn player & teacher in Chicago. Thad is a graduate of Illinois State University.
- Conn Vintage One Trumpet
- Bach Stradivarius Fluegelhorn
“Carl has been repairing and maintaining my horns for almost 10 years. Despite that fact that I live and perform in Chicago, I still make the trip down to Bloomington every time I need to have some work done. He’s the only one I trust! Thanks Carl.” –Thad Franklin
Larry Harms
Professor of Saxophone/Jazz Band Director at Illinois Central College & freelance saxophniost/pianist. Larry also leads the Illinois Central “Jazz Train” Orchestra.
- The Martin Tenor: Repadded w/ RooPads and aluminum Noyek resonators
- Beuscher 400 “Top Hat & Cane” Tenor: Repadded w/ RooPads and brass Noyek resonators
“On your website, put me under “Good AND Satisfied Customers!” It is a pleasure to recommend technicians of your quality. Peace.” –Larry Harms
Nathan Heleine
Eastman School of Music in 2004. Nathan is also a Co-Founder of the creative studio Crush + Lovely.
- Selmer Mark VI Alto
- Selmer Mark VI Tenor
- Conn Soprano
“I’ve been lucky to know Carl for years and have always appreciated the unparalleled quality of his work. However, I didn’t fully realize just how great he is until I moved away from Illinois and had to take my horns to other technicians. I quickly learned that I had been spoiled for a long time by being so close to someone who could keep my horns in such great shape. I’ve lived in New York since 2000 and I haven’t found anyone who comes close to the level of work that Carl does. I’d rather drive 12 hours to see Carl and know that the horn is going to sound great, than leave it with someone else who I don’t trust. Carl is the only person I want to touch my horns!” –Nathan Heleine
David Hoffman
Professional jazz trumpeter who played with Ray Charles from 1991-2004. David plays frequently and is also an in demand educator. Be sure to contact him for brass, piano, improv, or composition lessons!
- Bach New York Trumpet
- Conn Vintage One Trumpet
“I took my precious NY Bach trumpet in to Carl and Travis in a panic. A gust of wind had knocked it over onto the concrete stage of an outdoor gig, throwing everything out of whack and rendering it unplayable. Within 2 days it was as good as new, actually better than new, since it had been cleaned and adjusted as well as repaired. I would recommend them to anyone.” –David Hoffman
Jeffrey Holbrook
Jeffrey Holbrook is currently the Associate/Acting Principal trumpet of the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra in South Korea, and at the age of 23, is the youngest member of Korea’s oldest and most esteemed classical symphony orchestra. He assumed his position in the orchestra in the summer of 2006, just a few months after completing his undergraduate degree in Trumpet Performance from The Juilliard School. Jeffrey is originally from Normal, IL and attended University High School.
- Yamaha Bb Trumpet
- Yamaha C Trumpet
- Schilke Piccolo Trumpet
“Despite living out of Illinois and the US for years, I always come back home to get quality work done on my horns. We’re lucky to have Carl’s Pro Band in our community!” –Jeffrey Holbrook
Randy Huberman
Central Catholic High School Jazz Band Director & freelance saxophonist.
- The Martin Baritone: Complete Rebuild- Silver plated body and keys, gold plated guards and bell interior. Repadded w/ RooPads and brass Noyek resonators
- Conn “Chuberry” Alto: Repadded w/ RooPads and aluminum Noyek resonators
“Carl is the best!!! I will never let anyone else touch my horns. Look at the picture of my bari sax on this page. You should have seen what that beast looked like before Carl got a hold of it. Nobody does work like Carl. Hands down.” –Randy Huberman
Todd Kelly
Assistant Professor of Trumpet and Director of Jazz Ensembles at Bradley University. Todd Kelly is also an artist/clinician for Conn/Selmer in Elkhart, Indiana.
- Bach Bb Trumpet
- Bach C Trumpet
- Conn Vintage One Trumpet
“Carl and Travis, thanks for the excellent work on my Bach horn. It’s great to know that there is someone in the area who really knows how to work on trumpets. I am happy to recommend your work to all of my students.” –Todd Kelly
Roger Kimball
Professional Saxophonist originally from New Orleans, that has migrated to Central IL. Roger has performed with famed New Orleans bassist Tony Hall, and also Ivan Neville’s group Dumpstafunk. He currently performs with his own group RK and the Funky Music Dept., a jazz duo called Twins, performs solo at weddings, and plays with the smooth jazz group Morrocan Soul.
- Selmer Mark VI Tenor: Repadded w/ RooPads and aluminum Noyek resonators
- Selmer Mark VI Soprano
- Buffet R13 Clarinet
“When I first moved to Illinois, I started searching for an instrument repair guy. The name I heard over and over again was Carl Thacker. These guys repadded my tenor and really made it sing. I highly recommend their services to every musician I meet. Many thanks to Carl and Travis!!” –Roger Kimball
Adam Larson
Jazz Artist and Composer, Adam Larson, has been playing saxophone since 5th grade. Since then, Larson has garnered numerous awards that showcase both his abilities as a soloist and as a composer. Recently, Adam was selected to play in the 2008 Gibson/Baldwin Grammy Jazz Ensemble. He has also been awarded best Jazz Composition and Improvisation for both the 2006-2007 and 2007-2008 Illinois All-State Composition Contest, and was a member of the 2007 Illinois All-State Honors Jazz Combo. In addition Larson was recently selected as a member of the 2007 Monterey Jazz Festival Next Generation Jazz Orchestra, 2007 Inaugural Jazz Band of America, and was 1 of 15 invitees to the 2007 Jazz Rising Stars Program at the Steans Institute for Young Artists invitation only workshop at Ravinia, in Chicago,IL. Larson has had the privilege to work with James Moody, Rufus Reid, Jim Mcneely, Billy Childs, Matt Wilson, Terrance Blanchard, Nathan Davis, Wynton Marsalis, and many others. Currently, Adam is on a scholarship at the Manhattan School of Music, studying with George Garzone.
- Yamaha Custom Z Alto
- Selmer Mark VI Tenor: Repadded with RooPads & metal dome resonators
- Unison Soprano: Repadded w/ RooPads & brass Noyek resonators
“Carl’s is simply the best! I’ve trusted Carl & Travis with my horns since 2003, and even since my move to New York City, they’re still the only people I trust with all of my saxophone needs! You won’t find service any better, I guarantee it!” –Adam Larson
Ed Livingston
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Early 1900's Holton EEb Tuba
“A BIG HELLO FROM ED.....CLICK THE LINK ABOVE TO SEE MY LATEST PROJECT....AS MOST OF YOU KNOW, I GAVE AWAY ALL OF MY TUBAS OVER THE YEARS TO DESERVING FRIENDS. BUT, THIS 100+ YEAR OLD HOLTON WAS TOO GOOD TO GIVE AWAY AT THIS TIME....IT IS A MAGNIFICENT HOLTON EEb WITH A SOUND FROM THE PAST...FAT, CENTERED, IN TUNE, BILL BELL LIKE...IN OTHER WORDS THE GOOD OLD DAYS OF SILVER AND WORKMANSHIP. CARL AND TRAVIS (MASTERS OF THE REPAIR WORLD) DID ALL OF THE RESTORATION.....THEY ARE, WITHOUT A DOUBT THE FINEST REPAIRMEN IN OUR NATION. CARL AND I GO BACK 30 YEARS BEFORE TRAVIS (HIS SON) WAS BORN. I HAVE NEVER, LET ME REPEAT THAT.....NEVER LET ANYONE TOUCH MY TUBAS .....ONLY, CARL AND TRAVIS. YOU SHOULD DO THE SAME.” –Ed Livingston
Garard Montague
A veteran sax and flute player of 30 years, Garard hails from our Nations capitol, Washington D.C. He relocated to the Midwest in the early 80’s, touring with an array of different styles of bands including hard-hitting R & B, Rock and Roll and Smooth Jazz.
After a 3-year stint with Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show, he found himself sharing stages with national acts including Bachman Turner Overdrive, Brian Adams, Aerosmith, Spyro Gyra and Grammy winners Ko Ko Taylor and Lonnie Brooks.
- Yamaha Custom Tenor
“Carl & Travis, I don’t know what you did to my horn, but that thing plays better than it did when I first got it. Thanks!” –Garard Montague
Mark “Mickey” Moore
Associate Professor of Tuba and Euphonium at University of Illinois.
- Holton C Tuba
- Hirsbrunner F Tuba
Andrew Rummel
Professor of Tuba/Euphonium at Illinois State University.
- Meinl-Weston 45S F Tuba
- Walter Nirschl WN-15 CC Tuba
“As a tuba player, I was always a bit leery about leaving my horns with an unknown repairman for fear that the instruments would return in worse shape than when they came into the shop! Well, it is safe to say that my worries are gone as I would trust Carl and Travis with my own child! They perform fantastic work on my large, cumbersome tubas and I will continue to recommend their shop to all of my friends in the tuba world. It is challenging to find repairmen that can handle the repair needs of a tuba player, and I am blessed that two of the best are right here in my hometown! Thanks for all of the fantastic work!” –Andrew Rummel
Eddie Rushing
Eddie is a great performing and recording saxophonist. Eddie couldn’t stand the stickiness of the pads on his two year old Selmer Reference tenor, so he had us replace them with RooPads and Hollywood resonators. He’s more than happy with the results.
- Selmer Reference 54 Tenor: Repadded w/ RooPads & Hollywood resonators
- Yamaha Custom Tenor
“Carl and Travis will bend over backwards to please their customers. I’ve had nothing but success dealing with them. I’m happy to recommend Carl and Travis to every musician I meet!” –Eddie Rushing
Cory Starr
Performing and recording saxophonist who has played with Public Display of Funk, Full Size Jimmy, Jaik Willis, and many others.
- Unison Gold Plated Alto: Repadded w/ RooPads & gold-plated plastic resonators
- Unison Lacquered Baritone
- Unison Soprano: Repadded w/ RooPads & brass Noyek resonators
- Yamaha Flute
Doug Stone
Saxophone Instructor & freelance saxophonist in Chicago, IL who is originally from the Peoria, IL area. Doug recently toured with Maynard Ferguson, and is currently persuing a Masters degree at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY.
- Selmer Series III tenor: Repadded w/ RooPads and aluminum Noyek resonators
- Conn 10M tenor
“Carl, The horn is playing better than it did the day I bought it!
Intonation – A+
I have played it in a wide variety of settings. Straight down the pike, swinging, hard blowing bebop sessions, totally improvised music where I use a lot of multiphonics and push the horn quite a bit sonically, big band gigs, wedding band gigs blowing my eyeballs out on Mustang Sally and In The Mood, club dates and gigs at restaurants where I have to play so soft that the table next to me can’t even tell I’m blowing a note, and practicing several hours at a time. No matter what situation I am in the work you did has really held up and given me the freedom to play how and what I need to. The synthetic corks are holding up well. I can remember times when corks have fallen off a week after I had my horn worked on – this stuff is revolutionary! Thanks for all of your time and effort.
Quietness of the keys – A+
Feel of the pads – A+
Warmth and depth of sound – A+
Toby Thomas
Toby Thomas graduated from Illinois State University with a Music Education degree in 2005. He was a member of the ISU Jazz Band, ISU Wind Symphony & Chamber Winds groups. After graduating from ISU Toby took the Band Director position at Delavan High School. In the fall of 2007 Toby left Delavan High School to pursue a Masters degree at the University of Massachusetts. After completing his Masters, Toby recently took a teaching position in the MA area.
- Martin Handcraft Soprano: Repadded w/ RooPads and brass Noyek resonators.
- Selmer Series II Alto
- Conn 10M Tenor: Repadded w/ RooPads and aluminum Noyek resonators
Brian VanArsdale
Brian VanArsdale is a tenor saxophonist and composer currently based in New York City. He has performed with Shelton Berg, Dave Brubeck, Harold Danko, Benny Green, Slide Hampton, The Heath Brothers, Bill Holman, Steve Houghton, Jeff Kashiwa, Pat Martino, Bob Mintzer, James Moody, Eddie Palmieri, Louis Smith, Marvin Stamm, Clark Terry, Ben Tucker, Doug Wamble, and many others. During the two years Brian was at UNF, he was the recipient of a total of five DOWNBEAT student music awards for both his own writing and for the ensembles in which he performed.
- Selmer Series II Soprano
- Selmer Mark VI Tenor
Jim Walker
Jim Walker is a professional flute player from Los Angeles. Carl was lucky enough to work with Jim when he toured with the Illinois State University Wind Symphony.
Jim is the lead voice of his band Free Flight, plays in countless Motion picture soundtracks, is a Senior Lecturer and Coordinator of Flute at the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music, recently joined the faculty at The Colburn School Conservatory, and is a Yamaha Flute Artist.
“Very best wishes and special thanks to Carl Thacker for the great repair work.” –Jim Walker
Ryan Weisheit
Ryan is great saxophonist who recently graduated from the University of Northern Florida where he played in the top Jazz Ensemble, and in the Wind Ensemble. Ryan is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree at Queens College in NY.
Glenn Wilson
Professional jazz saxophonist and recording artist who toured/recorded with Buddy Rich, Lionel Hampton, Machito, Tito Puente, The Bill Kirchner Nonet, Mel Lewis, Toshiko Akiyoshi, & The Bob Belden Ensemble.
- Selmer Balanced Action Baritone
- Selmer Balanced Action Baritone
“One of a working musician's best friends is a good horn technician. I've had many technicians work on my horns in my 30+ years of professional playing, including many in NYC and there have only been two people I would consider 'professionals'. Carl is a true professional.” –Glenn Wilson
Keith Zimmerman
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Selmer Serie III Soprano, Alto, & Tenor
Buffet R13 Clarinet
“Carl & Travis, You folks do a superb job. None better anywhere. ” –Keith Zimmerman