Woodwind Instrument Restoration & Repair
Based near Scarborough, I run a small workshop where I restore many different types of woodwind instruments. Some that are over one hundred years old to some that are much newer.
Typically they are flutes , clarinets, saxophones, piccolos and oboes etc and I bring them back to playing condition.
This process can be very intensive and lengthy but also sometimes just requires carrying out several small one off repairs along with oiling and regulation.
I am mindful of the external appearance of the instrument and prefer to take a sympathetic and gentle approach to the cleaning of the instrument, in order to preserve it's character and history.
Typical Process
- Complete strip down and thorough clean.
- New neck / tenon cork or new head cork for flutes.
- Clean all rods, hinge tubes, screws, tone holes, bore.
- Check fitting of joints, replace tenon corks where necessary.
- Check pad condition (includes two new pads).
- Replace missing, worn or damaged key corks / felts.
- Replace any missing or damaged springs.
- Lubricate and reassemble the mechanism.
- Check seating of all pads and regulate.
General Repairs
Some examples of general / one off repairs
Saxophone
Fit new neck cork
New Pads
Fit and seat new pads
Oboe , Clarinet etc
Replace damaged or worn tenon corks
Springs
Broken springs replaced
Flute
Tenon adjustment, expand and reduce
