How can we help?
Whether it is tweaking intonation, pinning a crack, or a major mechanical service, we are the experts.
General maintenance- Woodwind instruments have many wearable parts that need periodic replacement or regulation. Cleaning and oiling the mechanisms is a must for preventing rust. Mechanisms go out of adjustment over time and small leaks can occur. Remember, woodwind instruments were developed in the 18th and 19th centuries. The parts are made on modern machinery now, but the basic concepts and materials have not changed in many years. Don’t wait until your instrument stops playing to have it serviced. Your instrument is your tool for musicianship. Keep it in working order to achieve your artistic goals.
Complete overhaul- At Reedhouse, an overhaul is replacing all the replaceable and wearable parts and getting the instrument back to like new playing condition. All the key pads (which seal off the tone holes) are replaced, key silencers and tenon materials are replaced. Any issues with key fitting are also addressed, which can include undersized rod screws, misshaped hinge tubes, too much play between posts, etc. After about 15-20 years of age, is when we typically see instruments for a complete overhaul. The adhesive materials begin to break down and fail. Twenty years is a long time for a little piece of cork or leather!
Cracking- Wood cracks and your instrument was a tree longer than it will be a musical instrument. Woodwind instruments often crack at some point in their life. Most of the time these cracks are repairable. There are different kinds of repairs for different cracks, but most of the time, the repair is permanent and can not be undone if executed poorly. At Reedhouse, we have been successfully fixing cracks for decades. There is no experimenting at our level. Our techniques and results are the envy of industry.
Complete restoration- Making old new again. Our restoration process is a complete mechanical overhaul plus giving the instrument a visual makeover. The mechanisms are buffed to a mirror finish and new silver plating is added. The wood is sanded and varnished to bring out its beauty. Any and all issues with the inside and outside of the instrument are addressed to make it the best possible instrument it can be and also look fresh from the factory, if not better. These projects are extremely labor intensive and usually reserved for instruments that have both an acoustic and sentimental value.
Voicing/Tuning- Wishing that particular note was a bit flatter or sharper? What about darker or brighter? Or more resistant? Or some combination of all those things? Altering the acoustics of your instrument is not to be taken lightly. Much of the time the changes are permanent. We have decades of experience working with clients to help their instruments go beyond what factory designs can offer. Altering tone holes and other interior measurements has become a lost art over the decades. We are one of the only shops equipped with the knowledge and skill to offer this rare service.
