Repairs
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Michael is a member of the National Association of Professional Band Instrument Repair Technicians www.napbirt.org/ |
HornCraft Music’s repair shop is set up to perform most types of repairs on all woodwind, brass, and string instruments. HornCraft will also assess your instrument and provide an estimated cost of maintenance and repairs for free. If you are unsure whether your instrument is working to it’s full potential, let us have a look! We will be able answer that question for you at no charge to you. If you are curious what aspects of your instrument need maintenance and repair periodically, click on the link to your instrument below for a description of a typical inspection and service.
- Flute
- Clarinet
- Saxophone
- Trumpet/Cornet/Baritone/Euphonium/Tuba
- Trombone
- French Horn
- Violin/Viola/Cello/Bass
If your instrument is not on this list it doesn’t mean that we can’t help you. Please contact us to discuss your needs.
Pricing
Pricing estimates are based on averages for standard annual maintenance and do not include pad replacement, cost of parts, or other more involved work. This is meant to give you a general idea of what to expect; however, accurate estimates can only be given once the instrument has been inspected in person. Some jobs will be less than these listed rates and others can be considerably more. Shop rates are billed at $75 per hour.
| Cleaning | Standard Servicing | Cleaning and Servicing | |
| Woodwinds | |||
| Flute | $35 | $35-$65 | $55-$85 |
| Clarinet | $35 | $30-$60 | $60-$80 |
| Alto Sax | $65 | $50-$80 | $95-$125 |
| Tenor Sax | $75 | $60-$90 | $110-$140 |
| Baritone Sax | $80 | $75-$120 | $130-$175 |
| Trumpet/Cornet | $45 | $30-$50 | $60-$80 |
| Trombone | $45 | $40-$60 | $70-$90 |
| Euphonium/Baritone | $50 | $45-$65 | $80-$100 |
| Tuba | $55 | $50-$80 | $90-$120 |
Strings
| Violin/Viola | By estimate only |
| Cello | By estimate only |
| Bass | By estimate only |
Flute
As with all woodwinds, flutes need to have periodic maintenance (approximately once per year depending on frequency of use). Over time the pads will shift slightly with changes in temperature and humidity and due to regular use. You may learn to compensate for these changes since they happen gradually (by tightening your grip); however, keeping your instrument well maintained will ensure that it is in top playing condition and will allow you to play with your instrument, not against it.
A typical service will include some or all of the following:
- the body is inspected for dents or damage and repaired as needed
- all pads are inspected and get replaced if torn, swollen, or brittle
- all key cups are adjusted to ensure the pads create a perfect seal on each tonehole
- mechanical action (how the keys operate individually as well as together) is assessed and adjusted as necessary
- missing corks and felts are replaced
- key heights are assessed and adjusted as necessary
- spring tension is assessed and adjusted as necessary
- tenons are checked for fit and adjusted as necessary
- the head cork is removed and inspected and then adjusted or replaced as needed
- all keys are oiled
- the instrument is play tested
- cleaning involves complete disassembly of the instrument, the body gets bathed in a solution to removed all tarnish, and the keys are hand polished
Clarinet
As with all woodwinds, clarinets need to have periodic maintenance (approximately once per year depending on frequency of use). Over time the pads will shift slightly with changes in temperature and humidity and due to regular use. You may learn to compensate for these changes since they happen gradually (by tightening your grip); however, keeping your instrument well maintained will ensure that it is in top playing condition and will allow you to play with your instrument, not against it.
A typical service will include some or all of the following:
- the body is inspected for cracks or other damage and repaired as needed
- all pads are inspected and get replaced if torn, swollen, or brittle
- all key cups are adjusted to ensure the pads create a perfect seal on each tonehole
- mechanical action (how the keys operate individually as well as together) is assessed and adjusted as necessary
- missing corks and felts are replaced
- key heights are assessed and adjusted as necessary
- spring tension is assessed and adjusted as necessary
- tenons are checked for fit and the cork is adjusted or replaced as necessary
- all keys are oiled
- the mouthpiece is inspected for chips or cracks
- the instrument is play tested
- cleaning involves complete disassembly of the instrument, the body gets bathed in a warm, soapy solution (unless body is wood), and the keys are hand polished. In the case of wooden instruments, the body is treated with bore oil to keep the instrument from drying out.
Saxophones
As with all woodwinds, saxophones need to have periodic maintenance (approximately once per year depending on frequency of use). Over time the pads will shift slightly with changes in temperature and humidity and due to regular use. You may learn to compensate for these changes since they happen gradually (by tightening your grip); however, keeping your instrument well maintained will ensure that it is in top playing condition and will allow you to play with your instrument, not against it.
A typical service will include some or all of the following:
- the body is inspected for dents or other damage and repaired as needed
- all pads are inspected and get replaced if torn, swollen, or brittle
- all key cups are adjusted to ensure the pads create a perfect seal on each tonehole
- mechanical action (how the keys operate individually as well as together) is assessed and adjusted as necessary
- missing corks and felts are replaced
- key heights are assessed and adjusted as necessary
- spring tension is assessed and adjusted as necessary
- the neck tenon is checked for fit and is adjusted or replaced as necessary
- the neck cork is inspected and replaced if necessary
- the neck cork is greased
- all keys are oiled
- the mouthpiece is inspected for chips or cracks
- the instrument is play tested
- light cleaning involves surface polishing of the body and keys and using compressed air to blow out the majority of dust from underneath the keys. The keys are not removed from the body.
- full cleaning involves complete disassembly of the instrument, the body gets bathed in a warm, soapy solution, and the keys are hand polished. This is often the only way to effectively clean an instrument with lots of dirt underneath the keys.
Trumpet/Cornet/Euphonium/Baritone/Tuba
The main maintenance on brass instruments is to fully clean the inside of the instrument and to grease or oil all moving parts. Over time, if the instrument is not cleaned regularly, the minerals from our breath adhere to the inside of the tubing, creating a hard mineralized deposit. This can be removed by submersing the instrument in a mild acid solution. We call this an acid bath.
A typical service will include some or all of the following:
- the body is inspected for dents or other damage and repaired as needed. If damage is extensive, an estimate will be provided prior to any work beginning
- solder joints are checked for breaks or gaps
- valve action is assessed and repaired as needed
- the condition of the valve guides, felts, and springs is assessed and they are then repaired or replaced as needed
- tuning slide action is assessed and repaired if necessary
- waterkey corks are inspected and replaced if necessary
- tuning slides are greased
- valves are oiled
- the instrument is play tested
- cleaning involves complete disassembly and submersion in either a warm, soapy solution or an acid solution as required. All tubing is scrubbed on the inside with flexible wire brushes. For the larger instruments such as the euphoniums, baritones, and tubas, only certain sections may warrant a full acid bath (such as removable valve sections and mouthpipe assemblies).
Trombone
The main maintenance on brass instruments is to fully clean the inside of the instrument and to grease or oil all moving parts. Over time, if the instrument is not cleaned regularly, the minerals from our breath adhere to the inside of the tubing, creating a hard mineralized deposit. This can be removed by submersing the instrument in a mild acid solution. We call this an acid bath. On a trombone, the hand slide requires special consideration. The tolerances between the inner and outer slides is minute and therefore any slight damage to the outer slide tubes results in binding and drag which can make the instrument very difficult to play.
A typical service will include some or all of the following:
- the body is inspected for dents or other damage and repaired as needed
- if damage is extensive, an estimate will be provided prior to any work beginning
- solder joints are checked for breaks or gaps
- hand slide action is assessed and repaired as needed
- the main tuning slide action is assessed and repaired if necessary
- waterkey corks are inspected and replaced if necessary
- the main tuning slide is greased
- the instrument is play tested
- cleaning involves complete disassembly and submersion in either a warm, soapy solution or an acid solution as required. All tubing is scrubbed on the inside with flexible wire brushes and dried thoroughly before reassembly.
French Horn
The main maintenance on brass instruments is to fully clean the inside of the instrument and to grease or oil all moving parts. Over time, if the instrument is not cleaned regularly, the minerals from our breath adhere to the inside of the tubing, creating a hard mineralized deposit. This can be removed by submersing the instrument in a mild acid solution. We call this an acid bath.
A typical service will include some or all of the following:
- the body is inspected for dents or other damage and repaired as needed
- if damage is extensive, an estimate will be provided prior to any work beginning
- solder joints are checked for breaks or gaps
- rotors are disassembled, cleaned, oiled, and adjusted as needed
- tuning slide action is assessed and repaired if necessary
- tuning slides are greased
- rotors are oiled
- the instrument is play tested
- cleaning involves complete disassembly and submersion in either a warm, soapy solution or an acid solution as required. All tubing is scrubbed on the inside with flexible wire brushes.
Violin/Viola/Cello/Bass
String instruments can have a variety of issues relating to improper storage or due to general use. Due to their wood construction, there are a variety of structural issues that can arise and that will be assessed during a typical inspection.
A typical service will include some or all of the following:
- the body and neck are inspected for cracks or split seams and then repaired as needed
- the fingerboard is inspected for cracks, grooves, and proper relief and curvature and adjusted or repaired as needed
- the pegs and pegbox (or mechanical tuning heads on basses) are inspected and assessed for fit
- If the pegs slip, the peg holes may need reaming and the peg string holes redrilled or the pegs may need replacing altogether.
- the nut is inspected and adjusted or replaced as necessary
- the saddle, end pin, tailpiece and fine-tuners are inspected and altered as necessary
- the bridge is inspected including assessing string heights at the fingerboard and may be replaced if necessary
- the sound post is inspected and adjusted or replaced as necessary
- strings are assessed and can be replaced if desired
- the instrument is play tested
