-Our Services-
Servicing.
We recommend a service once a year, with a full service every other year to keep your instrument in good playing order. A regular service includes taking off any necessary keywork, altering anything that is needed, changing any pads that need changing, then reassembling your instrument and ensuring all the regulation is accurate. We then test-play it to make sure nothing’s been missed and then sanitise your instrument before returning it to you. For a full service, we take off all of the keywork and do a much more thorough check of all the parts and pads. We also change all of the lubrication, and check and change any necessary corks.
Repairs.
Accidents happen and instruments can malfunction when we least expect it. But no matter what happens, we’ll always do our best to help. Repairs we offer include crack repairs, dent removal, soldering, water key cork replacement, key straightening, and almost anything else that could go wrong with your instrument. Not only this, but if the worst happens before a concert or exam, we can do emergency same-day repairs (subject to an initial evaluation) to get you back up and playing in the shortest amount of time possible. In addition to this, we can also engineer modifications for your instrument to make for an easier and more personal playing experience.
Repad.
It’s completely normal for pads to wear out over time, and depending on their material, some wear out faster than others. A full repad includes taking off all of the keywork followed by a cleaning process. We then take out all of the old pads and carefully measure and fit a new set of pads to your instrument. Once all of the keywork has been put back on, we then check and adjust your instrument’s regulation before test playing and sanitising your instrument so that it’s ready to be returned.
Overhaul.
Sometimes, an instrument needs a little extra TLC, especially if it hasn’t been played for a long time – this is when we do a complete overhaul. This is similar to a full service, but with a few added steps. During an overhaul, we completely strip the instrument taking off all keywork, and replace all corks, springs and pads. The instrument and its keys are then deep-cleaned before we rebuild the instrument, fitting a new set of pads, regulate, test play and sanitise. Often when an instrument has had this much work done, it may take a couple of weeks of playing for everything to settle back in, and as a result, often needs adjustments made. We fully expect this and so if you bring the instrument back to us, we’ll do all of the necessary adjustments which are included in the original price of the overhaul.