Woodwind Instrument Repair Services

Need flute repairs? Bass clarinet not playing right? From small to large we service and repair all woodwind instruments. Please find below descriptions for each type of Woodwind repair service. Please feel free to contact us if your instrument requires special attention.

“Adjust & Oil” Repair Service

An “Adjust & Oil” (or A&O for short) includes checking over the entire instrument for playability and making necessary corrections to get the instrument into top playing shape. These types of repairs may include one or more of the following: changing a torn pad, replacing missing key corks, leveling pads that are not covering tone holes properly, re-rounding a poorly fitting tenon, straightening bent keys, replacing a broken spring, and basically repairing any problem with the instrument in order to make it play to the best of its capability. Occasionally an instrument might even need to be completely disassembled and cleaned before the A&O steps.

As every instrument is different and can have almost an infinite variety of problems, there is no set price for an A&O. Instead each instrument is evaluated on an individual basis to assess exactly what is wrong with that particular instrument and what repairs it needs. After we assess what is wrong, we give an estimate of repair cost based on the labor involved and any parts required to fix the problems.

A&O repair charges are based on $80/hour shop charge, with a minimum charge of $20 for ¼ hour. Charges may vary widely depending on the condition of the instrument

Disassemble and Clean Service

General Description for all woodwinds:
Disassemble entire instrument, ultrasonically clean body, silver polish body (flute/piccolo only), oil wood body (clarinet, oboe, and wood piccolo only), wipe down all keys, lightly silver polish keys (flute/piccolo only), re-assemble, and play-test. Please note this service does not include any pad replacements, cork replacements, dentwork, or adjustments. Those repair services are all available at an extra charge in our 'A&O' and Repad Services.

Flute COA Service

Full description coming soon - but basically is what you would expect for a professional flute maintenance COA, not including new pads or springs.

$400 plus tax

Repad Services

Flute & Piccolo Repad

Disassemble entire instrument, ultrasonically clean body & keys, silver polish body, remove minor dents, lightly silver polish keys, replace all pads and necessary key corks, shim all pads to level, replace head joint cork, re-assemble & seat pads, oil all mechanisms, regulate, adjust & play-test. Excessive dentwork, broken springs, tone hole repair, and key fitting are all at extra charge.

Clarinet Repad

Disassemble entire instrument, ultrasonically clean body & keys, lightly polish keys, replace all pads and necessary key corks, replace tenon corks as necessary, level all pads, re-assemble & seat pads, oil all mechanisms, regulate, adjust & play-test. Wood clarinet repad includes special wood cleaning solution & oiling of bore. Broken springs, tone hole repairs, and key fitting are all at extra charge.

Oboe Repad:

Disassemble entire instrument, ultrasonically clean body & keys, lightly polish keys, replace all pads and necessary key corks, replace tenon corks as necessary, level all pads, re-assemble & seat pads, oil all mechanisms, regulate, adjust & play-test. Wood oboe repad includes special wood cleaning solution & oiling of bore. Broken springs, tone hole repairs, and key fitting are all at extra charge.

Saxophone Repad

Disassemble entire instrument, ultrasonically clean body & keys, lightly polish keys, replace all pads and necessary corks & felts, replace neck cork, level all pads, re-assemble & seat pads, oil all mechanisms, regulate, adjust & play-test. Dent work, broken springs, tone hole repairs, and key fitting are all at extra charge.

Bassoon Repad

Disassemble entire instrument, ultrasonically clean body & keys, lightly polish keys, replace all pads and necessary corks & felts, replace bocal cork, re-string tenons as necessary, replace boot cork, level all pads, re-assemble & seat pads, oil all mechanisms, regulate, adjust & play-test. Broken springs, tone hole repairs, tenon repairs, and key fitting are all at extra charge.

Complete Overhaul Service

The biggest and most complex job we perform on an instrument is a complete overhaul. With a complete overhaul, all the keys on the instrument are tightened and refit to exacting tolerances, to remove any side play and end play. Tone holes are resurfaced as necessary. Any necessary dent work or body work is performed. The keys are then lightly buffed to a high shine, cleaned, and the entire instrument is re-assembled in the same fashion as a repad.

Prices for a complete overhaul vary depending on the condition of the instrument, the age of the instrument, and the severity of the key play to be removed. Please contact us to discuss your particular instrument.