Government-Mandated Instrument Sterilization – Coming Soon To YOUR State?!
Undoubtedly over the course of the past few weeks you have seen the posts going around on Facebook and other social media outlets as well as some news services about the state legislature of Massachusetts requiring the sterilization of all … Continued
What’s the best way to store my instrument?
As the marching season comes to a close, many instruments will be put away until Summer Band Camp. If you are indeed going to put your instrument up for an extended period of time, here are some helpful tips to … Continued
All screws are not created equal!
Recently in the shop we have come across several instruments that have the incorrect screws in the posts or guards. We are here to tell you that NOT all screws are the same and they are definitely not interchangeable. There … Continued
What do you do about sticky pads?
We have all been there. You are in a practice room or on a stage and that dreaded silence killer comes back to haunt you, the sticky pad! Before we can address how to fix the sticky pad we need … Continued
“Cheap” Saxophones – Is there such a thing?
As U.S. instrument manufacturers continue to merge with one another or close up shop altogether it’s getting more and more difficult to purchase quality student (and sometimes even intermediate) level instruments. Not long ago we could tell a student’s parent … Continued
Overhaul or Lamp – Brass Edition
Just like with woodwinds we always see lots of “closet / attic” brass instruments coming in to the shop this time of year. We’re all looking to save a little money wherever we can so when it comes to … Continued
Overhaul or Lamp? Woodwind Edition
We see so many instruments at the beginning of the school year that have been hiding out in a closet for the last twenty or so years just waiting patiently for someone to play it again. When it emerges from … Continued
Clean your mouthpieces!
In our shop the technicians have their own mouthpieces to play test every instrument that they repair. It’s a good thing too because the mouthpieces that we see in the cases are gross!!! We often go over swabbing out woodwinds … Continued
Oiling Key Mechanisms
Too many times this year we have had the displeasure of trying to remove an extremely rusted hinge screw from a binding key and post. There is a very simple solution to prevent your instrument from looking like this: … Continued
Brass Care and Maintenance
As Repair Technicians there are certain maladies we see every day that are totally preventable if instruments are treated with care and properly maintained. In the most recent issue of the School Band and Orchestra Magazine (SBO), there is an … Continued