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Saxophone Repairs at Dawkes Music
The Dawkes Music Instrument Repair Workshop is open by appointment from Monday-Saturday 9.30am-5.30pm. We repair all Woodwind Instruments, not just Saxophones. We work on Alto Saxophones, Tenor Saxophones, Baritone and Soprano Saxophones. To keep your Saxophone in good working order, we recommend that you have it maintained and serviced at regular intervals. Saxophones purchased from us qualify for a 10% discount on all Woodwind Repairs (subject to verification). This does not affect the standard 12-month guarantee.
Repair Appointments:
Repair Department: Instrument Repairs
Looking to get your Wind or Brass instrument repaired or serviced? Book an in-store appointment with our workshop to have your instrument assessed.
- 30 min repair appointment in-store
- Your instrument will be assessed by a specialist Technician
- ‘On the spot’ work may be possible, or we will advise booking in for further work
Please Note: This is not a courier collection booking for remote repair assistance. If you have an instrument to send to us for quote/repair we suggest using the Royal Mail Home Collection service. You can purchase the postage on their site and then arrange for Royal Mail to collect the item directly from your home, or you can take it to a local post office. More details and booking can be found on the Royal Mail Collection Site. Please contact us before sending in any instruments so we can advise on current waiting times.
Meet the Saxophone Repair Workshop
Do you feel your saxophone isn't playing as it should or as well as you remember from when you first received it?
Here our saxophone repairers explain some of the issues that may affect your instrument now or in the future. If we don't address the particular problem you are experiencing or your present concern then you may ask them directly by calling, visiting or using this contact form
On the spot Saxophone repairs
If you have a minor problem with your saxophone we have a team of repairers available to perform saxophone repairs whilst you wait. Our on the spot service is intended for quick adjustments and minor repairs which can take up to 30 minutes. We also do our best to accommodate any emergency repairs as we understand how important it is to have your saxophone working at its best should you have an upcoming performance or exam.
Saxophone Check-Down
Here we check your saxophone fully but without dismantling the instrument. Having this done every year ensures that you are getting the best out of your saxophone.
Saxophone Re-Pad's and Services
There are other specialist repairs we can perform such as dent removal, re-soldering broken parts, customising key-work, silver plating or gold plating key-work, and re-facing mouthpieces. This presentation shows you exactly what we do on every standard saxophone service or re-pad.
We firstly inspect the Saxophone for any dents or damage to the body. We have the latest Saxophone tools in the Workshop so we can tackle most dent work. We have a full selection of dent balls as well as a very powerful magnetic set which are ideal for those hard to reach areas, such as the bottom bow.
Below is a before and after image of the Saxophone to show the dent removal (click to enlarge image):
Dent before removal
After dent removal
- 1.The Saxophone is dismantled
- 2.Pads, and keys are cleaned
- 3.The crook and body are washed through with our Saxophone cleaning bath
- 4.Tone-holes are checked for imperfections
- 5.The solder joints on the guards, and crook receiver are checked for damage
- 6.Pillars are checked to ensure that they are securely attached to the body
- 7.Each spring is checked to make sure none are rusty, loose or broken
- 8.Any old pads are removed and shellac or glue removed from the pad cup
- 9.Both octave tubes are cleaned through
- 10.The bell to bow seal is checked and re-sealed if necessary (removed on re-pad)
- 11.Any old pads are removed and shellac or glue removed from the pad cup
- 12.We check that the crook fits well and can be tightened by the neck screw.
- 13.The crook cork is inspected and changed (re-pad only - charged extra on a service)
- 14.Old oil is removed from each rod and hinge tube
- 15.Key corks are replaced for either felt, teflon or synthetic cork where required or as requested
- 16.Pads are replaced using premium deluxe pads (Option of Premium, Plastic or Metal reflector pads)
- 17.Amber shellac is used to fix the pad into the pad cup
- 18.Each key is re-assembled and re-lubricated
- 19.Mechanical play is removed from key-work
- 20.Each pad is seated as required using a high power leak light (see below)
- 21.Bumper corks are adjusted as required
- 22.Spring tensions are adjusted
- 23.Key-work regulation is adjusted
- 24.Venting (pad height) is checked on all key-work
- 25.Double action is removed on keywork
- 26.The balance of the key-work is checked
- 27.We fully blow test the full range of the instrument
- 28.The customer's mouthpiece is checked and cleaned
- 29.The inside and outside of the case is cleaned
- 30.Final polish and put-away
Woodwind Repairs - Maintenance Videos
What people say about our saxophone repairs
"Hi I would just like to say thanks to the young lady in the repair shop Abi ? for the on the spot repair to my Conn 10m today I had almost given up trying to get it to play as a 10m should , but an hour in her expert hands and it screams !!" Steve
"I just wanted to say a massive thank you for incredible customer service. The telephone was answered swiftly on my initial telephone call. Sam was very helpful, and my daughter's flute was repaired and despatched the same day it was received. I received a telephone call to tell me what the problem was and to ask how I would like it sent. Unfortunately there was a hold up with the carriers which delayed it by a day, but even so, having posted it Monday evening, and having it returned Thursday morning is fantastic service! My daughter will be very please when she comes home from school. It is good to see that there are still the odd one or two companies who will do their utmost to provide such a service. It is much appreciated. THANK YOU." Sue Jeans
"I recently purchased a Yanigisawa Baritone B901 from a friend and when I played it, I was impressed, however, it was only when I compared to another B901 I noticed the difference, I couldnt see any leaks that would diminish the tone etc., so I brought it up to Dawkes last Monday and collected it Thursday. The same evening I played at rehearshal. Totally amazing,the baritone is so responsive especially on the bottom notes and allowed me to play a sub-tone whenever the music required it. My greatful thanks to Ivan, for the brilliant repair. Its such a pity I waited so long to get the sax inspected. i will return next week to collect my Alto B991 which also has been overhauled. Well Done Ivan." Colin Campbell-Baritone Royal Marine Association Concert Band
"What a wonderful repair department you have. The local repairer had written off my old Dolnet tenor sax, but it now plays as well as ever - and looks extremely neat! It really doesn't matter where you are in the country because of the arranged courier service, so Dawkes is once again my local music shop/repairers, even though I now live in Cornwall" Neville Witham
"I recently brought my sons alto sax in for a minor repair and wanted to thank Ivan for his helpfulness and willingness to carry out the work on the spot. My son needs his sax most days of the week as he's in several groups and to be without it for a number of days would have been quite difficult for him. It has just served to cement my good judjement in choosing Dawkes in the first place! Thanks Again!"Mrs K Wright - Parent
"I bought my very first alto from Dawkes (aged 11!), and I've yet to find a better place for looking after my saxes. Regardless of whether one is a student or a professional, the team really cares about the needs of the individual - it's great peace of mind to know that your instruments are being treated well by people who know the way you play. I've just had my Mark VI tenor restored to perfect condition, and if you're looking for more than just an "instrument shop", and service from experts who are passionate about wind instruments."Richard Shepherd - Ronnie Scott's Jazz Orchestra
"I find the technicians in the repair department at Dawkes Music are always friendly, knowledgeable and ready to help whenever I bring in school or private instruments to be repaired. Wherever possible instruments are repaired on the spot, or else they are booked in, giving me an instant date for the repair. During the 36 years that I have visited Dawkes I have always found repairs to be of the highest quality."Heather Leech-Bendell - Professional Woodwind Tutor
"When using or recommending their workshop, no job has ever been too big or too small, and I have never been met with raised eyebrows or sucking of teeth!!! The staff are friendly, knowledgeable, experienced and clearly a dab hand with more than just a screwdriver!!"Louise Williams - Flute Tutor, www.flutesalad.org / www.lwmusic.org.uk
"Abi did a great job on my soprano neck/crook and my sax was also ready before I needed it for practice. What can I say...superb service and attention." J Moriarty
"I am just writing to thank you for the totally excellent service you carried out on the Yanagisawa Tenor Sax this week. I played it last night at the Woodley Concert Band practice and the instrument plays even better now than I can remember. Well done!"Mr P Cowley - Sax Player
"Dawkes is one of the few places I trust with my instruments, whether for minor adjustments or major repairs. The staff are friendly and helpful, happy to spend time adjusting instruments to specific requirements, and the turn-around time is much faster than others. My saxes and clarinets have been in many times and always come back playing like new. Dawkes is the only repair department I recommend to my pupils!"Alastair Penman - Sax/Clt Tutor, Bucks http://www.alastairpenman.co.uk/
"I am very pleased to endorse the Repair Shop at Dawkes Music for their prompt and efficient service. They are always most corteous and helpful, and as a professional musician I am most appreciative of their willingness to make instant repairs and adjustments when needed.In my guise as Sax/Clt teacher at Eton College, I can confirm that Eton Music School are very satisfied with the performance of the Repair Shop."Peter Ripper - Sax/Clt Tutor at Eton College, ex BBC Radio Big Band, London Sax Quartet
"Dawkes are the region's premier wind and brass specialists, and we are lucky to have them on our doorstep here in Maidenhead. With a warm welcome from their fantastic team of staff, whether you are looking to try, hire or buy an instrument or accessories, need aminor repair or major overhaul or just advice, you are guaranteed the best level of service, expertise....and even a cup of coffee!"Caroline Owen - Clarinettist with Chamberhouse Winds, Area Senior Leader for Berkshire Maestros
"On the countless times I have brought instruments in for repair (anything from replacemant pads through to full overhauls and even reconstructing a badly damaged French Horn) over the last 20 years the service has been expert, at times exceedingly quick and always done with good humour. I can't recomend them highly enough."Simon Carr - Professional Woodwind Player & Head of Woodwind at Radley College, Oxford.
"Just got my treasured Conn 30M Tenor back from a complete overhaul by Tony in the workshop - a fabulous job & it's blowing better than ever...probably better than the day it left the factory in 1937!With this and the great jobs you did overhauling my Buescher & Yamaha Altos earlier this year, I'll certainly be recommending you to everyone that I know."J McKellow - www.saxappeal.net / www.thesoulmates.co.uk
"Excellent workmanship and friendly service! Work always carried out with an eye for detail and the good of the player in mind." Jeremy Shoobridge - Woodwind Teacher, Kent