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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.

 

 

John & Jeff in the shop...two guys with a passion for quality work.


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.
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.

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.

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.

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.

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
 
Justin, talented musician and tech, makes a precision adjustment on an alto sax.

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!

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