Woodwind Checkup

The Horn Doctor offers the highest quality Horn Health Care for all woodwinds; Clarinets, Flutes, Oboes, Piccolos, Bassoons and Bass Clarinets. Repair includes anything from a simple tenon cork replacement, to Professional/Symphony Level Overhauls, Repads, crack pinning, key straightening, braising broken keys, spring replacement, and everything in between.

What we do for Playing Condition check-ups:

Thoroughly inspect the complete instrument, Inspect and replace key corks as necessary, Inspect and replace needle springs and flat springs as needed, Inspect and replace pads as needed, Level any pads that are out of alignment and re-seat properly, Straighten bent key work, Inspect and replace tenon corks/ head corks as necessary, Adjust throughout to put the instrument into good playing condition.

What we do for our Professional/Symphony Level Overhaul Surgeries:

Remove all key corks and pads, Remove and inspect all keys, Replace all key corks, Replace all pads, Replace any tenon corks, Adjust tenon clearance to facilitate ease of assembly and to prevent cracking, Clean interior and exterior body surfaces and all key work, Align and center all key cups, Balance and equalize spring tensions to owner's playing preference, Calibrate all key heights and openings to facilitate maximum tuning accuracy and playing responsiveness, Calibrate all key work to ensure maximum allowable travel tolerances, Custom fit all key work; swedging and /or straightening keys as necessary to allow tight fit to the body of the instrument, Hand polish key work to a high gloss, Hand polish silver instrument bodies and key work, Inspect all body surfaces, exterior and interior, Inspect all rings for looseness, Inspect and clean octave and register tubes, Inspect and replace needle springs and flat springs as necessary, Level tone holes as necessary, Match keys and rods for free flowing action, Oil exterior and interior wood instrument body surfaces, Remove all lost motion between key adjustments, Oil all key work, Play test Instrument to ensure ease of playing and balance throughout all ranges.

Special techniques are utilized throughout the entire range to give each instrument a special "feel" that set it apart from ordinary instruments.

What we do for our Repad Operations:

Completely disassemble the instrument, Remove all the old pads & corks, Remove and inspect all keys, Clean interior and exterior body surfaces and all key work, Align and center all key cups Replace all key corks, Replace all pads and level to exacting specifications, Replace any tenon corks, Oil exterior and interior wood instrument body surfaces, Inspect and replace needle springs and flat springs as necessary, Straighten bent key work, Remove dents as requested, Adjust as necessary to put the instrument into good playing condition, Oil all key work.