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Why do Woodwind instruments
need periodic servicing?

Woodwind instruments do need periodic servicing, this is because they are prone to leaks where the pads cover the tone holes.

If the pads don't make an airtight seal over the tone holes this produces a leak and the result is that the instrument is very difficult and sometimes almost imposible to play.

Many of the keys on a woodwind instrument are connected to each other so that more than one tone hole can be closed at a time. These keys must close at exactly the same time with the same amount of pressure to make an even airtight seal over the tone holes. To keep the contact points between metal keys silent as they touch, cork and felt are placed between the keys to keep them quiet. Both of these materials move and compress with use, this gradually puts the keys out of regulation and causes leaks. Hence a periodic service is needed to keep it playing as it should.

Repair Service

Instrument Repairs Located in Paignton, South Devon, Brian Sage Has been repairing wind instruments since 1987. Brian has regular customers throughout the UK with many of them in the top orchestras and bands around the country.

Whether it's a minor repair or a complete overhaul, your cherished instrument will be in safe hands and the service you receive will be second to none.

Look after your instrument, give your child the best start, keep it regularly serviced and it will give you years of pleasure.

Appointment System Because of the high volume of repairs carried out in our Paignton workshop we run an appointment system, this means your instrument can be booked in and the work carried out on a specified day and ready for collection at an agreed time so you don't need to be without it any longer than necessary.

Why do Brass instruments need periodic servicing?
Brasswind instruments need periodic servicing, much of the servicing on brass instruments is preventative maintenance rather than actual repair work. The majority of brass repair work could be prevented by proper care and maintenance.

The contact of metal to metal surfaces of the tuning and playing slides and piston/rotor valves being in contact with minerals in the wet saliva can cause corrosion and seizing. The instrument should be reguarly flushed out and lubricated.

If a valve instrument is clean inside, has no cracks, deep dents or leaks and still responds poorly, chances are that the pistons need to be re-aligned. When the pistons are correctly aligned, the ports in the piston coincide exactly with the ports in the valve casing. This is usually a simple case of renewing the valve felts, but it should be checked by an experienced repairer as both the upstroke and down stroke of the piston should be checked.

Trombone playing slides can begin to respond sluggish if they have not been maintained regulary.

Rotor valves often go out of alignment when the valve stops begin to wear.

Educational Assisted Instrument Purchase Scheme

VAT FREE for students in full-time LEA education