Our on-site repair department in our Hove store is very important to us. It is the backbone of our business and is what makes us more than just another music shop.
We undertake hundreds of repairs every year, from a replacement pad to a complete overhaul, from a broken string to a complete restoration. We also offer free advice and estimates to everyone.
All instruments sold through the shop are thoroughly checked and regulated before being sold. All new instruments are guaranteed for one year. If anything goes wrong with a new instrument we can usually put it right while you wait. We offer continued backup for our customers, with a prompt and efficient repair facility.
We are members of NAMIR (National Association of Musical Instrument Repairers). In fact, Brian Ackerman is vice president of the Association and has taught many of the repairers working in the UK today during his time as a lecturer at Merton College.
Please contact one of our shops to find out more or just pop in with your instrument. We will take any instruments brought in to our Crawley, Chichester or Brighton stores to our repair centre in Hove. We have a good turn-around time of instruments, some jobs can even be completed while you wait. But, due to our popularity as a repair centre, you should expect to leave your instrument with us for about a week. When your instrument is ready, we will take it back to the most convenient store of your choice for your collection. Easy.
Woodwind Instrument Repairs
Woodwind instrument repairs are carried out by Geoff Lewis and Brian Ackerman within our on-site workshop.
Instruments include flutes, clarinets, oboes, bassoons and saxophones.
Common woodwind repairs include:
- Check-over (the instrument is checked to ensure it is functioning correctly)
- Service (the instrument is dismantled, cleaned and faults put right)
- Re-pad or overhaul (all pads and most corks are replaced, along with the work done in a service)
A check-over should be requested whenever the instrument seems not to be playing at its best, or before an exam or concert. A service on these instruments should generally be carried out every one to two years. Typically after this time the instrument will start to look a little dirty with fluff accumulating behind the keys. At this point it is likely that a few of the pads may no longer be seating as accurately as when new and the rod screws will need oiling.
A re-pad becomes necessary when most of the pads are becoming worn or seat badly and cannot be improved without a great deal of work, which would not necessarily provide a lasting solution. Re-pads are not often required on instruments less than five years old unless there has been some damage to them not directly related to playing.
We will give you advice on what would be best for your instrument.
Brass Instrument Repairs
Brass instrument repairs are carried out by Geoff Lewis within our on-site workshop.
Instruments include trumpets, cornets, french horns, euphoniums, tenor horns, baritone horns and tubas.
Common brass repairs include:
- Mouthpiece removal
- Servicing of valves and slides (and their removal when stuck)
- Servicing of water-keys
- Removal of foreign objects from the tubing
- General bodywork repairs
- Re-lacquer
We can give you advice on what would be best for your instrument and a quote for the work to be carried out.
Orchestral String Instrument Repairs
Orchestral string instrument repairs are carried out by Vincent Purcell in his workshop in Hove.
Instruments include violins, violas, cellos and double basses.
Common orchestral string repairs include:
- Refit pegs
- Fit a new bridge
- Replace soundpost
- Replace fingerboard
- Refit spike holder
- Touch-in varnish
- Repair cracks in the wood
- Bow re-hairing
We can give you advice on what would be best for your instrument and a quote for the work to be carried out.
Guitar Repairs
Guitar repairs are carried out by Pedro Martins in his workshop in Hove.
Instruments include acoustic guitars, classical guitars, electric guitars, bass guitars, ukuleles, banjos and mandolins.
Common guitar repairs include:
- Re-string
- Repair the bridge
- Re-fret the instrument
- Replace the machine head
- General body repairs
We can give you advice on what would be best for your instrument and a quote for the work to be carried out.
