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Musical Instrument Repair & Service
With a combined total of over 50 years of trained repair experience plus a yearly volume of over 2,500 repairs, The Horn Doctor's repair shop has the expertise to repair wind and percussion instruments of any description. Led by John Kagerer, Alaska's only fully factory trained and certified band instrument technician, we can easily repair and service the most complicated or unusual repairs.
Repair & Service Job Descriptions
How to Get The Most From This List:
This list describes the job categories that we use for estimating service and repairs. Each instrument is unique and will be estimated accordingly. Carefully read all of the job descriptions for your instrument, and please keep the following in mind:
- Pricing is based on an average amount of work done in each category, based on many years of repair experience.
- Prices on repairs are firm upon our visual inspection of the instrument.
Guaranteed Quality
All instruments we repair are warranted for six months, except for re-pads and overhauls, which are warranted for one year to play in “like new” condition (warranty does not cover damage or neglect).
Flutes & Piccolos
| Job #1 | Clean and steam seat all pads, precision key adjustments, lubrication, play test |
|---|---|
| Job #2 | Includes all services in Job #1, plus replacement of necessary pads (up to four pads), replace necessary key corks, tuning cork checked and adjusted, minimal cleaning |
| Job #3 | Includes all services in Jobs #1 and #2, replacement of up to eight pads, minor joint re-fitting, replacement of tuning cork if necessary, springs replaced if needed. |
| Job #4 | Re-Pad Includes all services in Jobs #1, #2, and #3, plus ultrasonic cleaning, replacement/steam seating of all pads, tone holes leveled, complete precision key adjustment and regulation, minor dent removal, joints re-fitted, tuning cork replaced |
| Job #5 | Full Overhaul Includes all services in Jobs #1, #2, #3, and #4, plus all corks replaced, key mechanism is machined and fit to closest tolerance. |
Polishing & Buffing
Instruments can also be buffed to a jewelry finish for an added charge.
*Additional charge for re-pads on professional and open-hole flutes.
*Additional charge for re-pads on professional and open-hole flutes.
Straubinger Overhauls
John Kagerer is the only “Straubinger Certified” flute technician in Alaska, having studied pad installation technique with David Straubinger. If you have a professional, handmade flute, you may wish to consider the benefits of a Straubinger overhaul. For more information, please contact us, or visit www.straubingerflutes.com.
Clarinets, Oboes, & Bassoons
| Job #1 | Re-seating pads as necessary, adjustments, lubrication, play test |
|---|---|
| Job #2 | Includes all services in Job #1, plus replacement of necessary pads (up to four pads), adjustments necessary to re-seat new and original pads, replace necessary key corks, one tenon cork replaced, minimal cleaning |
| Job #3 | Includes all services in Jobs #1 and #2, replacement of up to eight pads, replace necessary key and tenon corks, up to two springs replaced |
| Job #4 | Re-Pad Includes all services in Jobs #1, #2, and #3, plus replacement and seating of all pads, all necessary springs replaced, ultrasonic cleaning, tenon rings re-fitted, complete precision key adjustment and regulation |
| Job #5 | Full Overhaul Includes all services in Jobs #1, #2, #3, and #4, plus replacement of all tenon and key corks, key mechanism is machined and fit to closest tolerance |
Polishing & Buffing
Instruments can also be buffed to a jewelry finish for an added charge.
*Additional charge for re-pads on professional and open-hole flutes.
*Additional charge for re-pads on professional and open-hole flutes.
Saxophones - Alto, Tenor, Soprano & Baritone
| Job #1 | Full adjustment of both stacks, lubrication, play test |
|---|---|
| Job #2 | Includes all services in Job #1, plus replacement of necessary pads (up to five pads), adjustments necessary to seat new and original pads, replace necessary key corks, neckpiece cork replaced if necessary, one spring replaced if necessary, minimal cleaning |
| Job #3 | Includes all services in Jobs #1 and #2, replacement of necessary pads (up to ten pads), up to two springs replaced, if necessary |
| Job #4 | Re-Pad Includes all services in Jobs #1, #2, and #3, plus ultrasonic cleaning, replacement of all pads and corks, replace neckpiece cork and all felts, tone holes leveled, complete adjustment and regulation |
Additional charge for professional instruments.
Small Piston Brasses - Cornet, Trumpet
| Job #1 | Ultrasonic cleaning, new corks, felts, springs where necessary, lubrication, play test |
|---|---|
| Job #2 | All services in Job #1, plus minor dent removal*, light soldering, stuck tuning slides** freed, slide alignment or valves precision adjusted |
| Job #3 | All services in Jobs #1 and #2, plus major dent removal*, major soldering |
*When dent removal necessitate dismantling of the instrument, there will be an extra charge based on an hourly rate.
**When slide is frozen so badly that it requires dismantling of the instrument, there will be an extra charge based on an hourly rate.
**When slide is frozen so badly that it requires dismantling of the instrument, there will be an extra charge based on an hourly rate.
Trombones - Slide, Bass & Valve
| Job #1 | Ultrasonic cleaning, new corks, felts, springs where necessary, lubrication, play test |
|---|---|
| Job #2 | All services in Job #1, plus minor dent removal*, light soldering, stuck tuning slides** freed, slide alignment or valves precision adjusted |
| Job #3 | All services in Jobs #1 and #2, plus major dent removal*, major soldering |
*When dent removal necessitate dismantling of the instrument, there will be an extra charge based on an hourly rate.
**When slide is frozen so badly that it requires dismantling of the instrument, there will be an extra charge based on an hourly rate.
**When slide is frozen so badly that it requires dismantling of the instrument, there will be an extra charge based on an hourly rate.
Background Brasses - French Horns, Baritone Horn, Sousaphone & Tuba
| Job #1 | Ultrasonic cleaning, new corks, felts, springs where necessary, re-string and align rotary valves, new bumpers installed, lubrication, play test |
|---|---|
| Job #2 | Includes all services in Job #1, plus minor dent removal, light soldering, stuck tuning slides** freed, piston valves precision adjusted |
| Job #3 | Includes all services in Jobs #1 and #2, plus major dent removal* including partial dismantling, valves precision refitted |
*When dent removal necessitate dismantling of the instrument, there will be an extra charge based on an hourly rate.
**When slide is frozen so badly that it requires dismantling of the instrument, there will be an extra charge based on an hourly rate.
**When slide is frozen so badly that it requires dismantling of the instrument, there will be an extra charge based on an hourly rate.
Additional Work
| Springs Replaced | $30.00 each |
| Lead soldering (includes lacquering) each additional point (includes lacquering) |
$45.00 first point $35.00 each |
| Silver soldering | $60.00 + per point |
| Flute tuning cork replaced/sealed | $30.00 |
| Flute joint re-fitting | $40.00 + |
| Tenon corks replaced (Bb, alto, bass clarinet, oboe, or bassoon) | $35.00 |
| Sax neckpiece cork replaced | $35.00 |
| Handmade cork pads | $30.00 to $45.00 each |
| Re-fit clarinet rings | $10.00 each |
| Dents removed | by estimate only |
| Cracks pinned | by estimate only |
| Key fitting | by estimate only |
| Key fabrication | by estimate only |
| Custom work | by estimate only |
Shipping to the Horn Doctor
If you need to ship your instrument to us for repair, follow these instructions for the best results:
Shipping your instrument to The Horn Doctor
Customizing Your Instrument
We have the ability to professionally customize or modify your instrument to your exacting specifications, and have developed modifications that not only enhance the artistic performance of your instrument, but also increase its value.
The Horn Doctor prides itself in providing our customers with service we feel is unavailable elsewhere else in Alaska, as well as many areas in the Lower 48. Please ask us about custom work available for your instrument. We can provide references from working professional musicians across the country who use our services.
Ultrasonic Cleaning
What is Ultrasonic Cleaning?
Meet the newest member of our hard-working staff! We've recently installed a 90-gallon ultrasonic cleaner to safely and gently clean your instrument. The tank is large enough to dip a full size tuba, and yet cleans mechanisms on the most delicate of instruments. Ultrasound is a state-of-the-art method to clean objects through the introduction of sound waves into a tank of mild cleaning solution.
Environmentally Friendly
Previous methods utilized harsh acids, which were difficult to work with, and a hazard to the environment. We're thrilled with the superior results, and we think you will be, too!