Woodwind Instruments, Clarinets, Saxophones & Flute Repairs, Surrey, Croydon, South London, UK

Expert repairs can be carried out on all woodwind instruments

THE SERVICE REQUIRED is usually one of two types:

l) instruments with specific faults, e.g. a broken key, missing pad or cork, loose joint, etc; . . . .OR

2) the need for a general service, instrument not responding, keys rattling, torn/worn pads, etc.

IT IS LESS USUAL for an instrument to need a total re-pad, though clients often give this as a diagnosis of their troubles. (On the other hand there are some who think an instrument just needs 'tweaking' when it actually needs a major overhaul.)

So a useful quotation can only be given after having seen the instrument. But here is a list of charges, offered as an indication only:

A. EMERGENCY REPAIRS: £30 per hour, minutes pro rata;  mostly while you wait. Repairs are usually guaranteed for one year.

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B. SERVICE: CHECK OVER AND REMEDY Test every pad and key for air-tightness and smooth action; remove keys only where necessary, reseat pads and regulate action, spring tensions, key openings, etc, and generally bring to good working order, with three months guarantee:

Clarinets £45.00;   Flutes and Soprano Saxophones £50.00;   simple Oboes £50.00;  Alto and Tenor Saxophones £55.00;   Cor Anglais £65;   Bassoons £75.00 

 Other instruments: please enquire

EXTRAS: there is a modest scale of extra charges for such items as pad or spring replacement, removal of dents, new tenon corks, sax bumpers, etc. Please enquire for specific items.

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C. OVERHAUL includes:  strip all keys off instrument,  clean all parts, tubes, rods and pillars, clean keywork and inside and outside of body of instrument. Burnish screw/rod heads, Replace pads and corks or felts as necessary, using leather where two keys move in contact with each other, take up excess play in keywork action. Reassemble, lubricate all parts, adjust spring tensions and openings, coordinate and regulate the action. Remove 'double action'. Test-play the instrument, finally adjust. To good working order, guaranteed six months.

These are approximate prices:

Flutes: £85 including up to six pads and one new spring

Clarinets: £85 including up to six pads, one new spring and two tenons

Oboes: £90 (student instrument) including up to six pads, a new spring and one tenon

Bassoons: £150; including up to six pads and restore to good working order.

Saxophones: £150, any soprano, alto or tenor, including up to six pads.

Replacements beyond those mentioned would be at extra cost.

IMPORTANT NOTICE:  if any instrument can be truly described as "old" the above charges should be increased by approx. one third.

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D. RE-PAD AND COMPLETE OVERHAUL: same specification as OVERHAUL, except that ALL pads, corks, felts and leather touch-pieces are renewed, and springs and tenon corks as necessary. One year's guarantee of good working order.

Flutes: £145 including materials and new head-cork

Clarinets: £145 including materials, but add £15 for long-lasting leather pads.

Oboes: £160, student system with semi-auto octaves, 2 trill keys, with or without conservatoire key.

Bassoons: £280, excluding any special repairs, e.g. broken key.

Saxophones: £280, using good quality pads with metal reflectors, NOT including repairs, e.g. soldering.

Other instruments: please enquire

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E. SINGLE REPAIRS are usually on a time basis, that is, same as for EMERGENCY REPAIRS above.

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