Saxophone Repair
Saxquest specializes in mechanical overhauls, and total instrument restorations as well as personalized setups and custom key work. Our focus has always been on YOU as a player. Our shop philosophy is to approach each repair as a partnership with you. In that spirit, if you have a pad or resonator preference that you’d like us to use, we’re happy to oblige. Otherwise, we have a wealth of experience with what works best for different scenarios and we’re happy to make suggestions for you.
Minor Repairs are billed at a rate of $65/hr shop rate
Professional Model Saxophone
price for dent work and parts not included
New or Recently Repadded Saxophone SET UP
Soprano/Alto/Tenor sax: $325 – Bari sax: $400 (average 5-6 hours)
| Instrument completely disassembled, keys and body carefully cleaned with mild detergent | Tone holes and pad cups checked and leveled where necessary |
| Precise key-fitting accomplished during reassembly | Factory installed key corks, felts, synthetics replaced where needed to facilitate a positive feel |
| Factory pad Installation checked and additional shellac added where needed | Each pad adjusted for a perfect seal from front to back and side to side with the lightest touch |
| Spring tensions evened out and adjusted to players personal preference | Key heights adjusted for optimal intonation and response |
| Instrument allowed to settle, play tested and readjusted where necessary | |
| 1 Year Warranty | |
Mechanical Overhaul for Professional Model Saxophones
Sopranino sax: $1095 – Soprano/Alto/Tenor/C-melody sax: $950 – Bari sax: $1295 – Bass: $1300-$1600
| Instrument completely disassembled, keys and body carefully cleaned with mild detergent | Tone holes and pad cups checked on jeweler’s anvil for flatness and leveled where necessary |
| Body tube checked for proper alignment | Minor dent work addressed |
| Posts checked for proper solder and for precise alignment | Hinge tubes and rods checked for precise alignment |
| All keys swedged to eliminate any lateral play | All new key corks, synthetics, felts, and neck cork installed |
| Each pad adjusted for a perfect seal from front to back and side to side with the lightest touch | All new pads installed with shellac using customer’s preference of pad and resonator type (prices of pads and resos vary) |
| Cork and felt work meticulously adjusted to remove any lost motion in the keywork | Key Heights regulated to optimized for intonation, response and feel |
| Springs replaced with Blue Needle Springs where needed (extra charge) | Spring tensions set to customer’s preference with an even feel |
| Optimize the fit of the neck tenon to the receiver | Lube rods and screws |
| Mouthpiece cleaned and checked for damage, if desired | Neck-pipe cleaned and checked for damage |
| Case cleaned and checked for instrument safety | Instrument allowed to settle, play tested and readjusted where necessary |
| 1 Year Warranty | |
Complete Mechanical Restoration/Rebuild for Professional Saxophones
All instrument types: by quote only
A complete rebuild may be required for saxophones that have been neglected, suffered fire damage, suffered water damage, severely dented, missing keys or are otherwise compromised for one reason or another. These instruments can only be evaluated on an individual basis. Work required may involve making or installing new hinge rods, posts, keys, rollers, rods, tone holes, vent tubes, pearls etc… This work is all done in house and our repair experts will work with you to determine if such work is practical depending on your particular situation.
Each Technician on an Individual Basis will quote Professional Custom Shop Repairs
Student Model Saxophones
price for dent work and parts not included
PC (Playing Condition) for Student Model Saxophones
Soprano/Alto Saxophone/Tenor/Bari: billed at $65/hr (average 1.5-5 hours)
| Pads adjusted by floating and/or replaced where needed using shellac and all pad leaks removed | Loose screws and rods tightened and/or replaced where needed |
| Worn or missing key corks, felts, and bumpers replaced (including neck cork) | Body tube checked for proper alignment |
| Posts checked for proper solder and for proper alignment | Hinge tubes and rods checked for proper alignment |
| Grime and/or corrosion removed from hinge tubes, hinge rods, and pivot screws | Key mechanisms regulated and lost motion addressed |
| Spring tensions adjusted and springs replaced where needed | Lube rods and screws |
| Mouthpiece cleaned and checked for damage | Neck-pipe checked for damage and cleaned |
| Case cleaned and checked for instrument safety | Instrument given a final play test |
| 30 Day Warranty | |
Mechanical Overhaul for Student Model Saxophones
Soprano/Alto/Tenor Saxophone: $550 – Bari Saxophone: $695
| Includes everything in a student PC, plus: | |
| Tone holes checked and leveled where necessary | Keys swedged to eliminate all lateral play |
| All new Ferree’s B-52 pads installed using shellac with choice of brown plastic or bulk metal resonators | All new key corks, synthetics, felts, and neck cork installed |
| Instrument properly adjusted to remove any lost motion in the keywork | Key Heights and spring tensions regulated to optimize for intonation, response and feel |
| The instrument receives a final play test and is checked for tuning as well as efficiency of tone production | |
| 6 Month Warranty | |
Individual Services for Saxophone:
| Neckcork | $25.00 | ||
| Pads | $10.00-$30.00 each depending on size and type | Re-round neck tenon | $25.00 |
| Solder keys (soft) | $15.00 (w/spot lacquer add $10.00) | Solder keys (silver) | $25.00 |
| Replace water key cork (bari) | $6.00 | Replace water key spring (bari) | $8.00 |
| Replace blue needle springs | $9.00 each | Straighten key guard | $10.00 minimum repair |
| Tone hole repair | $30.00 minimum repair | Solder & adjust octave key | $25.00 minimum charge |
| Neck pickup removal w/ flush plug | $75.00 | Neck Expansion/Contraction | $35.00 minimum charge |
By Quote Only:
| Align bent body or bell | Case repair | Clean sticky pads and toneholes | Cut out stuck hinge rods or stuck rollers |
| Damaged or worn tone holes | Dent Removal | Engraving | Free binding keys |
| Key buffing | Key fitting | Refinishing | Regulate |
| Remove stuck swab | Replace rollers | Straighten bent hinge rods | Straighten bent keys |
Request a quote and/or time frame for saxophone work.