Frequently Asked Questions

Definitions of Services
Clean, Oil & Adjust (COA)

This is the standard annual service woodwinds should get. This service is intended to catch minor problems before they become more serious and require physical compensation by the player to overcome. Instruments that have not had service in more than 18 months are likely to require additional work and cost more.

The "Clean" in a COA is a mechanical cleaning. Some cosmetic polishing can be done, but the presence of installed pads and bumpers make the degree of cleaning on the keys limited.

Specific service varies by type of instrument. Standard processes in a COA involve a complete disassembly of the instrument, washing the body, removal of old oil/grease and applying fresh lubrication, straightening of bent keys, replacing of missing/damaged bumper materials, reshimming/refloating pads as needed, adjusting mechanisms as needed.

Pricing starts at $300

Custom Set-up

This service is a step beyond a standard COA. A COA is generally employed on instruments that have regular service. Instruments that have not been to see a tech in more than a couple of years often have more complex problems or in general require more work. The Custom Set-up is often a general reset of the mechanisms to a known quantity through replacing bumper materials, but other tasks may be addressed as needed. This is also a common service as the first service on a relatively new instrument where certain materials or mechanism geometries are deemed satisfactory from the factory or maker, but have proven to have future failure concerns. The billing is done at an hourly charge beyond the COA. Every Custom Set-up is a little different.

Pricing starts at COA price + 20%

Mechanical Overhaul

This is the top shelf repair for most instruments. The final product is often several steps above and beyond the mechanical standards for a new instrument. Many professional and artist grade woodwinds will require several of these comprehensive repairs throughout their lifetimes to continue operating at an optimal level. A mechanical overhaul is required for the successful installation of certain types of pads.

The instrument is disassembled and meticulously inspected. Keys and hinges are made to fit to extremely tight tolerances. Toneholes are leveled and resurfaced to very exacting standards. Hinges are replaced as needed. Pads are installed to achieve a positive seal with the lightest touch. Pads are further adjusted to seal perfectly under real world conditions (springs and gravity causes flex in bodies). Key venting and joint fit is obsessively adjusted for the optimum response.

Pricing for professional/handmade level instruments starts at: Simple flutes ≥ $450, Concert flute ≥ $1350, Piccolo ≥ $1150, Low Flutes ≥ $1100, Soprano Clarinets ≥ $800, Harmony Clarinet ≥ $1350,

Oboe/English Horn ≥ $1100, Bassoon ≥ $1800, Saxophone (SAT) ≥ $1600, Bari ≥ $2200

Pad Satisfaction Guarantee

There are many new types of highly engineered pads on the market today and some pads will make your instrument play differently. When receiving a mechanical overhaul on your instrument at Jeff's Woodwind Shop, if you choose a new-to you pad set in Straubinger, Muramatsu, or JS pads, you have the peace of mind that if you do not like the pads it will not cost a whole overhaul again to remove the pads you do not care for. Play on your freshly overhauled instrument for 6-8 weeks. After that time, if the timbre or response of the pads is not to your liking, they will be replaced with a style of pad like what was there before with no additional labor charge. All you pay for is the new-new set of pads. (Does not apply to traditional pads or resonators)

Repad

A repad is the basic pad replacement job at JWS. When you have your instrument overhauled and the pads wear out before the mechanism experiences wear, a repad is the way to go. This service is only available to instruments previously overhauled at JWS. Pad selections are limited with this option to traditional pads regularly stocked.

Every pad on the instrument is replaced, keys are refit as needed, toneholes are leveled and dressed as needed, key bumpers are all replaced, joints are refit, and the instrument is set up for optimal intonation and response within its design.

Pricing variable and unique to each instrument.

Rebuild/Restoration

This is the most thorough repair offered by Jeff's Woodwind Shop. In certain rare circumstances a mechanical overhaul is not enough. This procedure addresses the basic construction of the instrument where solder may have become faulty with age, wood bores have distorted, or vital components are so worn that there is no option but to literally start from scratch. This unique procedure is often reserved for historical pieces or great playing instruments that have extreme sentimental attachment but are also extremely worn out.

Pricing variable and unique to each instrument.

Heated Immersion Oiling Treatment

This is a restorative process for piccolos, oboes, clarinets, and some wood flutes that has been proven to restore bore condition, correct warping, and stabilize wood that fluctuates due to moisture intake. This process has been utilized by Jeff's Woodwind Shop for over 10 years on a wide range of instruments from antique flutes, to unstable late model clarinets, to oboes thought to be "played out". The Treatment is done in conjunction with a mechanical overhaul and adds 6-8 weeks to the regular required overhaul time.

All pricing subject to change without notice.

IF YOU ARE BACKED UP 6 MONTHS NOW, HOW ABOUT I CALL YOU IN 5 MONTHS TO SEE WHAT'S OPEN?

HOW LONG BEFORE MY APPOINTMENT DO I NEED TO GET MY INSTRUMENT TO YOU?

Can you squeeze in a quick repair?

The best way to get on my schedule is to use the contact form on this site (button below). The more details you can provide the better, although messages similar to "Hey can you fix my axe?" are not unheard of.

I try to respond to emails by the next business day. I do not operate on weekends so messages sent after Friday afternoon will not be seen until Monday.

I will contact you and we will find you a spot on the calendar.

How do I schedule a repair?

How Long will my repair take?

If an appointment block is scheduled to begin on Monday the 5th, ideally I would like to have the instrument in the shop on Friday the 2nd so I can hit the ground running on it first thing. Communication is the key. If you can't drop it off until Tuesday the 6th, just let me know.

Since I run a pretty tight schedule with my one-man shop duties, if you schedule for 10:30 please try to be there around that time and call or text if you anticipate delays.

Baltimore, MD

Can I ship my Instrument to you?

Schedule an Appointment

Oboe

Service by appointment +1.7164305296 repairs@woodwindfixer.com

This is actually a surprisingly common question.

With the exception of Spring and Summer 2020, I have been scheduling 4-6 months out for several years. If you contact me in January and my next opening is in May, there is a very good chance that if you were to check back in April my next opening would be in September or later.

Don't wait for it to break, plan ahead and grab times that work for you when they are available.

Every instrument and every repair is unique, so this question can only be addressed in general terms. Plan on a Clean/Oil/Adjust (COA) repair to be in the shop for about a week. Customers receiving overhauls should plan for their instrument to spend 2-3 weeks in the shop. I cannot give firm estimates of time or cost without seeing the instrument in person.

Emergency and fast turn-around repairs will be available again after pandemic precautions are lifted. Faster service does command higher pricing.

There are 2 routes for quick repairs: Emergency repair and flex fridays. Flex fridays can give you a 1-2 hour block of time for the quick-fast-in-a-hurry repairs that pop up. These are regular appointments I make available on Fridays only, as I have time. Details on the Contact page.

Emergency repairs bear a higher hourly rate.

I do not have a large shop and if I have a very rare or expensive instrument in pieces on my bench, not only do I have to break my concentration and rhythm to deal with your quick repair (which adds to your cost), I have to safely move the pieces of the current instrument out of the way (which adds to your cost).

You can certainly ship instruments to me. Follow these guidelines and contact me if you have questions:

Let me know it is coming. Communication is the key.
Always require a signature on delivery. My shop is in my home and we don't want your instrument left sitting on the porch.
Make sure you have proper insurance coverage. Note your serial number on any forms.
Proper packing. Immobilize the instrument in the case, use adequate packing material (2 inches all around) and a sturdy box in gooc condition.
Include your name, address, etc. inside the case.

Jeff's Woodwind Shop