Oiling Rotors
Last week, we told you about the importance of oiling piston valves. The same ideas hold true for rotary valves but the application is a little trickier. If you look at the picture at the top of the post it … Continued
Oiling Piston Valves
Oiling piston valves is the single most important aspect of everyday playing for brass musicians. You can liken the importance of oiling the valves to the importance of keeping oil in your car. Without it, your car won’t run. Without … Continued
Drum Head Replacement
When was the last time you changed your drumheads? While the material of the drum shell and the quality of the hardware is important to the sound quality of the drum, nothing contributes more to a good sound than the … Continued
What do your Repair Technicians know?
In the world of repair, there is no licensing process. Any person can nail a sign to his or her door and start to work on instruments. There are schools for repair and apprectice programs but there is not a … Continued
All about pads, part 2
Last week we discussed some of the rough points of installing a pad in a woodwind instrument. This week we want to share some information about different types of pads for your horns. There are very few large-scale pad manufacturers … Continued
Aren’t all pads the same?
Let’s talk about pads! Many times we will be asked to change a pad in a woodwind instrument on-site or bring a pad with us to replace (i.e. “Can you bring a Bb pad for a clarinet? An Eb pad … Continued
Purchasing an Instrument
Buying an instrument can be a confusing and difficult process, but it doesn’t have to be! You just have to know what features you want, your price range for spending, and a reputable source for your purchase. You can consult … Continued
Tenon Replacements
How do you avoid a tenon replacement on your bassoon or bass clarinet? These instruments are very long and are sometimes difficult to handle for a student that is a little more vertically challenged. Try using a neck strap to … Continued
Timpani Repair
Are your timpani players frustrated because the pedals will not stay in the correct position? Understanding the basics of timpani mechanics can help you resolve this issue quickly and get your percussionists playing the correct pitches. The pedals are held … Continued
What are the long term costs?
Something to consider when you are purchasing a new instrument, how much are the replacement part costs? Manufacturing companies are very diverse in their parts department. Some companies do not make replacement parts at all, some make them but they … Continued