Taking preventive measures as simple as cleaning your instrument can help prevent frequent trips to the repair technician. Even though many musicians take the proper measures necessary to keep their instruments in good shape, sometimes accidents happen, as well as regular wear and tear, that do require a visit to the repair technician. The following guide is about the various types of saxophone repairs.
There are some repair shops that specialize specifically in mechanical overhauls and the restoration of instruments whose prices are arranged according to whether the instrument is a professional or student level model. Other repair shops charge according to the type of instrument that they have to repair. For example, the cost is going to be different to repair a soprano than a tenor saxophone.
Overhaul. An overhaul is one of the most comprehensive repairs because it returns the instrument to its original performance specifications. This type of repair involves disassembling the saxophone and removing the pads. The plated parts are then ultrasonically cleaned and lightly buffed. Depending on the condition of the instrument, key corks, new pads, springs, and cork will be replaced. The technician removes any minor dents from the body of the instrument and then reassembles the instrument. The joints are then lubricated, and performance tested to see if there are any final adjustments to be made. The saxophone is then cleaned to make it performance ready. Re-lacquering is an additional cost from the overhaul that can depend on the saxophone model and type you have.
Individual Repairs. Instrument not ready for a complete overhaul? These types of repairs can also be requested individually. When you take your instrument to the repair technician, provide a detailed explanation of the problem that you are experiencing with the instrument. Be sure to schedule an appointment beforehand, so that you can be there while the repair is taking place, and you can make sure the adjustment is made to your specifications. Individual repairs are less expensive and time consuming, and include replacing or repairing the following:
- Neck cork
- Pads
- Re-round neck tenon
- Solder keys (soft)
- Solder keys (silver)
- Replace water key cork (Bari)
- Replace water key spring (Bari)
- Replace blue needle springs
- Straighten Key Guard
- Tone hole repair
- Solder & adjust octave key
- Neck pickup removal with flush plug
- Neck Expansion/Contraction
- Align bent body or bell
- Damaged or worn tone holes
- Key buffing
- Remove stuck swab
- Clean sticky pads and tone holes
- Engraving
- Refinishing
- Straighten bent hinge rods
- Cut out stuck hinge rods or stuck rollers
- Free binding keys
- Regulate
- Straighten bent keys
Most repair services provide an estimate of how much it costs for the repair needed, as it also depends on the type of instrument and its current state. Repairs for a professional model instrument tend to be more expensive than student models because of the quality and type of material used to make the instrument operational. Prices can also vary if the owner wants to customize or make individual adjustments to their needs. Check out the repair services offered by Lisa’s Clarinet Shop to learn more about saxophone repairs.
