Repairs

Saxophone Repair Services

All repairs begin with a free estimate and end with play-testing. The prices listed below are just starting prices for professional model altos and tenors. Baritones always cost more and sopranos sometimes do as well.

The only way to give an accurate price for any job is to bring the horn to me for a free estimate.

Playing Condition Service

Priced hourly at $80/hr
Addresses any issues that are keeping the horn from playing the full range with good tone, such as the following:
Any bent keys are straightened, dents removed, neck straightened
Pads that are leaking are either adjusted or replaced as necessary
Any missing or damaged adjustment materials (corks, felts, etc) are replaced
Keywork is regulated as needed to ensure proper timing of linked keys

Annual Service - Disassemble, Clean, Oil Change, and Setup

This is your yearly preventive maintenance. If you swab your horn after playing and treat it gently, this should be the only work your horn needs all year and will keep it playing at 100%. I frequently get new customers asking for an annual service on a horn that hasn't been to a repairman in 10-15 years. If this is the case, your horn is well beyond this level of service and will probably require a complete overhaul to bring it to 100% playing condition.

Starting around $300
The horn is completely disassembled and the body, neck, and keys are cleaned, inside and out. Cleaning the dried-up deposits of sweat and grunge annually will help preserve the finish and keep loss of lacquer to a minimum.
Pads and tone holes are cleaned to minimize sticking and maximize pad life.
The old, blackened, gritty oil is removed from the screws and the insides of the keys and fresh oil is applied upon reassembly. This helps prevent rusting of screws and premature wearing of the keywork and helps keep the mechanism quiet and smooth.
Any missing or compromised adjustment materials will be replaced.
Pads and springs are adjusted or replaced as needed.
The horn is re-assembled, set up, and all keywork is regulated.

Complete Overhaul

Every repairman's version of an overhaul is quite different so here's what mine includes at minimum.

Starting around $1600 for pro horns
Every pad, resonator, and adjustment material is replaced. You can choose the resonators or let me decide.
The body tube is straightened if needed and any significant dents are removed and quoted additionally.
Pulled-down necks are straightened to the proper angle.
Key-fitting is addressed to eliminate all loose keywork. This involves straightening and aligning posts, swedging and facing hinge keys, and countersinking pivot screw posts. Hinge-key post holes are peened as needed for a snug fit, eliminating the radial play that occurs when the post holes are too big for the rods.
All tone holes are leveled so that they are perfectly flat. This is crucial for long-lasting pad sealing. This is done by raising any dented areas with dent removal techniques, then using fine diamond rotary files to get them 100% flat while removing as little material as possible - about the thickness of a human hair or less. Once leveled, I remove any burs from the inside and outside and make sure the entire surface is perfectly smooth.
All key cups are leveled, straightened, and aligned over the tone holes.
The instrument is cleaned inside and out, especially the insides of the hinge tubing and pivots.
All hinge rods are cleaned, degreased, lightly polished, and re-oiled.
The neck tenon is properly fitted to the body receiver. This usually involves rounding and expanding the tenon and sometimes requires rounding the receiver if it has been bent as well.
The neck cork is replaced and sized to your mouthpiece.
Springs are inspected, adjusted, and oiled for corrosion protection. Springs are replaced only as needed.
Acoustic adjustments can be made as needed.
Ergonomic adjustments can be made to the keywork on request.
Any re-soldering needed is quoted additionally.
Following the overhaul, the horn is thoroughly play-tested and tuning is checked and adjusted when possible, setting all key heights to their optimal openings for proper tone and tuning.

My overhauls (and all repairs) have a one-year guarantee.

New Horn Setup

Regardless of the brand and price, most new saxophones can benefit from at least some setup work. I often see new horns where most of the pads are poorly seated. They simply can't afford to do detailed work on these instruments at the factory so there is always room for improvement.

Priced hourly at $80/hr
Adjusting spring tensions - Many new horns today come with the spring tensions far too stiff and uneven.
Adjusting key heights for proper intonation and speaking
Sizing the neck cork to fit your mouthpiece
Removing play from the keywork
Fixing any pad leaks - Even brand new horns often have leaks due to wavy tone holes and poor padwork at the factory.

Custom Key Risers

$30 each