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ADAM HUGO MARTINEZ ~ A NEW FACE in Custom Repairs for Flutes Adam Hugo Martinez, owner of Custom Woodwind in San Antonio, Texas is a repair resource available to flutists in Texas and the southwest United States . He is the only person in the San Antonio area who has the talent and skill to customize repairs as requested. His background includes 15 years working as an instrument repairman. His long association with the High School Music Service enabled him to develop hands-on knowledge of many brands of woodwinds. He is also a Straubinger Licensed flute technician and a former ‘padder’ of Powell piccolos. During the past year he has been receiving additional one-on-one tutoring from Los Angeles flute technician Paul Rabinov. When asked about the benefits of seeking out Rabinov’s skills Martinez stated that he felt “Paul Rabinov has inspired me to offer a higher level of service. He’s helped me with aspects of tooling as well as how to manage my flow of my work. I admire his professionalism and with him I’m able to improve details of my technique.“ When asked about his beginning interest in repair he said, “ I started taking apart my own instruments on a regular basis to clean them, The mechanics were very easy for me.” Recently, Adam Martinez has decided to discontinue the repair of the majority of other wind instruments and put increased focus into his flute repair business. When presented with the question of ‘why’ he stated, “ It’s more challenging and it requires more meticulous work, which I enjoy. I prefer the challenges that come with flutes as opposed to issues with the clarinet or saxophone.”
In addition to having a comprehensive foundation as a repairman, he also has studied at the University of Texas in San Antonio with an emphasis in Music Performance, playing Saxophone and Flute. His experience as a performer and a teacher enables him to relate to players of all levels, thereby increasing his credibility as a repairman. When asked what unique service or skills he has to offer in his new solo business venture he remarked that, “I present an artistic approach and I am able to offer flutists in my area repairs that use original maker materials. I also offer options for any personal preference for any particular repair. I have worked on many instruments and feel confident about the service I offer.” To conclude our introduction, I asked Mr. Martinez to sum up the phases of learning when becoming a flute technician. As editor of American Flute Guild, I often receive emails from curious people about how long it takes to become adept at flute repairs. I would like to share with you Adam Martinez’s remarks about his path of learning. The following is not only his honest remark, but also proof of his conscientious dedication and diligence to his craft. “It takes about two to three years to get good at repair. After eight or nine years I feel one can reach a solid consistency. These past 6 years have brought me to a new level of skill that has only encouraged me about my future efforts to get to an even higher level.” To contact Adam Hugo Martinez please email adam@customwoodwind.com or visit www.customwoodwind.com
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