Better Sounds Australia commenced operations in Australia in 1995. Maurice Zahner, the Proprietor, has been a Musical Instrumental Repairer for 30 years. He has extensive national and international experience and is a Fully Government Accredited Qualified Repairer/Technician and Craftsman.

Maurice (also known as Morrie) was encouraged to learn wind instruments at an early age, along with other members of his family. His talent was first recognised at 14, when he received an Australian title in Classical Solos on the trumpet.

Morrie's first apprenticeship was a fitter and turner with the Queensland Government. However, his love for music led him to change directions, and he into repairing instruments for Queensland schools.

Still not quite satisfied, he extended his career into America, studying with various repair factories (in particular Allied Corporation, which was at that time the world's largest repairer of band musical instruments).

With the help of some American friends, Morrie managed to complete this task while playing his trumpet to help support his ongoing quest to obtain skills, tools and learn more about the art of re-building wind, brass and stringed instruments.

After returning from the USA, Morrie worked again with the Government and went on to commence his own business in 1991. He has continued to travel and learn more techniques from manufacturers and repairers throughout America, Asia and Europe.

With enthusiasm from keen interested parties and prompting from our current retail store manager, in 2002 the decision was made to open a retail store, to allow us to display many instruments restored from our factory premises.  Ever since, the store has been providing many exciting instruments and accessories to local Australian and international musicians.

 

 

"No Easy Business" - as told by Maurice Zahner (Proprietor and founder)

In 1976, I began an apprenticeship to repair and distribute musical instruments for Queensland schools. Prior to this, I had been a fitter and turner apprentice for Queensland Railways, and a teller for the Commonwealth Bank.

During my training to repair instruments, many problems were encountered, and often I was driven to utter frustration. In answer to my prayers, I was challenged to travel to the United States and retrain.

With no financial support, I saved, sold, played my trumpet, and borrowed what I could to make the journey. In all I came back and forth spending nearly two years in the USA. At times it would cost four hundred US$ a week to sit beside master craftsmen. Most of the credit and thanks goes to the Allied Corporation and Bob Getzen and his Sons, Ed Strege and Badger State Repair and George Phillips - one of their long time dent removal experts.

There are many other larger factories and private workshops I have visited, and I cannot forget to mention Jo Stankovich, master violin repairer and wood technologists at Andrews University Michigan, whom I had the privilege of working with.

My only intention in life was to be good at what I was given to do. Compelled by an ancient text written by the wisdom of Solomon, “Whatsoever your hand finds to do, do it with your might.” I would also like to give special thanks to the McRoberts family of Boulder Colorado for their Christian support and help through difficult times, enabling me to borrow funds for the purchase of many specialised tools which I needed.

On returning home I never realised how difficult it would be to establish a repair business. The worry of debt repayment and starvation made divine providence open a door for me to return to working for the education department, repairing school owned musical instruments. As time went by, my health was deteriorating, probably from all the stress I had been through. Oh yes, there are many other stories, such as hitch hiking across America as a student, turning up in New York city with only two dollars in my pocket... It was a good thing I knew how to play my trumpet!!

After a few years of working back in Australia, my repair work started to become recognised. From a small humble workshop (thanks to my parents and lots of late night shifts) began the birth of a small business and a coined name ‘Better Sounds’. The name, of course, comes from many customers saying the words: “That Sounds Better!”.

I eventually met someone who motivated me to perhaps bite off more than I could chew.  I ended up visiting factories in Taiwan as a student observer.  I learnt a lot about how they do things, but it all boiled down to business, business, business, and I can assure you that I was not ready for that!

On returning to Australia my health deteriorated even further.  For the past twenty years I have suffered with constant headaches.  In 1994, I spent nearly two and half years in bed diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome.  I could only get up to take short walks, but I spent a lot of this time studying my personal repair material, particularly guitars.

Since recovering, I have repaired and restored hundreds of instruments, and worked on thousands. Flutes, clarinets, saxophones, trumpets, trombones, tubas, guitars and violins.  I’ll be the first to admit that I’ve never not made a mistake, but all I can say is that I’m doing my best.

Today, the business works as a team of dedicated people to provide the highest possible quality of service.  We believe in giving value for money.  Much of our work is on instruments of high personal value,  as we cannot compete with many of the inexpensive imported products.  Repairing is basically the front line of any form of recycling.  That’s what I believe the business is about, but today we have moved forward to providing some other exciting services, as this website will show.

Today, we have thousands of happy Australian and overseas customers, all saying "That Sounds Better!".

And I would like also to thank you, along with them, for their support to this business.  Further more, I would thank my past and present staff, for their dedication and craftsmanship.  Michael, Paul, Robin, Phil, Patrick, Cathy, Daniel, Jason and many other people who have been behind the scenes. Especially my friends Blair and his wife Caroline.

I hope to work with you all as we continue to enjoy Better Sounds, Australia!!!