How often should I get my instrument serviced?

If you've had your instrument for a while, you might be wondering how often it actually needs to be serviced. As a general rule of thumb - we'd recommend having a musical instrument checked or serviced every 12 to 18 months.

However, there isn't a fixed answer that applies to every instrument. How often you play, how well you look after the instrument and the type of instrument all make a difference.

Our general advice is quite simple: if it ain’t not broke, don't fix it. If your instrument is playing properly and everything feels as it should, you may not need a full service simply because 12 months have passed.

Why do musical instruments need servicing?
Musical instruments gradually wear through normal use.
Woodwind instruments such as saxophones, clarinets and flutes have lots of moving parts, pads and keywork. They also use materials such as cork and felt, which naturally wear down over time. There are also tension springs that keep keys operating as they should, which can weaken over time or, in some cases, come out or break completely.

As these materials wear and the instrument is played regularly, its adjustment can gradually change. This can eventually affect how the instrument feels and plays.
Brass instruments have their own servicing requirements. As you play, moisture and saliva can build up inside the valves and slides. Over time, this can contribute to deposits and, particularly on brass surfaces, verdigris (the greenish corrosion you sometimes see on brass).
Regular cleaning helps remove these deposits and keeps the inside of the instrument clean and moving parts working properly. That's why an instrument can sometimes need attention even when nothing has suddenly gone wrong.

How often should a saxophone be serviced?
Saxophones have almost the most moving parts out of all instruments, and have pads, rods and keywork, as well as cork and felt that naturally wear down over time.
For someone who plays regularly, we'd generally suggest having a saxophone checked every 12 to 18 months. However, if the saxophone is playing well and the keywork is working properly, it may only need a quick check or a small adjustment.

How about a clarinet?
The same general rule applies to clarinets. A clarinet that's played regularly will gradually need adjustments as the pads, corks and keywork settle and wear.
If it's playing properly, there may be no need for anything major. A check-down or minor adjustment can often be all that's required.

And flutes?
Flutes can also benefit from regular checks, particularly because the keywork needs to be correctly adjusted for the pads to seal properly.
Again, 12 to 18 months is a useful rule of thumb, but the condition of the instrument is more important than simply sticking to a date. If your flute is playing well and the keys feel good, there may be no need for major work.

What about brass instruments?
Brass instruments benefit from regular servicing, again, particularly if they're played regularly. Over time - dirt, grease and deposits can build up inside the instrument and around the places that metal has to slide against other metal. Valves and slides become less smooth as lubricants wear off and deposits build up.
For brass instruments that do need a service - we strip the instrument down and give it a thorough clean. We have an ultrasonic cleaning bath, which allows us to clean the instrument thoroughly and remove built-up dirt and deposits from areas that can be difficult to reach by hand. We also check the valves, slides and other moving parts, replacing or adjusting anything that needs attention, for example, dampening felts that may be perishing after a long time of moisture build up.
Sometimes, however, a brass instrument may only need a minor repair or adjustment rather than a full service. If the valves or slides are working properly and the instrument is playing well, there may be no reason to carry out more work than is necessary.

As with woodwind instruments, 12 to 18 months is a useful rule of thumb, but if the instrument is playing well and everything is working as it should, there may be no need for a major service.

What are the signs that an instrument needs a service?

One of the biggest signs is that the instrument doesn't feel or play the way it normally does.
For example, you might notice:
•    Certain notes are difficult to play
•    Some notes don't speak properly
•    The key action feels sluggish
•    Keys don't seem to be closing properly
•    The instrument feels different from how it normally does
•    You need to work harder than usual to get the instrument to play

These don't necessarily mean that the instrument needs a major service. Sometimes it can be something very simple.
For example, a saxophone or clarinet might have one pad that's leaking slightly and simply need that pad reseating or adjusting. A small problem like this can make an instrument noticeably harder to play.

Does every service mean a full service?
No, not always. At Play It Again UK, we generally think about repairs and servicing in three categories:

• Minor repair
  Sometimes an instrument only needs a small adjustment or repair. It could be something as simple as adjusting a key, reseating a pad or fixing a small issue that's affecting how the instrument plays.

 

• Check-down
  A check-down is a more thorough inspection and adjustment of the instrument.
  We'll check the instrument over and make any adjustments that are needed to get it playing properly. This can be a good option when an instrument is generally in good condition but hasn't been checked for a while.

 

•    Full service
  A full service is more involved and includes a full strip-down and clean, which can result in a quieter and smoother key action. Any springs and corks that need replacing are included in the price of a full service.
  The only additional cost (for woodwind instruments) would normally be for pads if they need replacing. More often than not, pads don't actually need replacing just because they're leaking. If a pad is still in good condition, it can often simply be re-seated or adjusted to stop the leak.
  A pad would generally only need replacing if it is torn, damaged or too old to work properly. This means that a full service doesn't automatically mean replacing every pad on the instrument. We assess the condition of the pads individually and only replace those that genuinely need it.

 

Does an instrument need a complete re-pad?
Usually not.
A complete re-pad is something that can be done when an instrument genuinely needs it – in situations when it is a certified vintage instrument needing restoration or there was major damage to your instrument - but it's relatively uncommon for most instruments and certainly not need at every service. It won't be necessary, and it can be costly work, depending on the instrument. 
In many cases, only the pads that actually need replacing will be replaced. If the rest of the pads are working correctly, there is little point in replacing them simply because one or two have worn out. A good repairer should be able to assess the condition of the instrument and recommend the work that is actually needed.

Does an instrument need servicing if it's not being played?
Not necessarily.

If you're putting an instrument away and don't intend to play it for a while, we'd recommend having it serviced or checked before putting it away. Once it's in good condition, it should be fine if it's stored properly and not played.

Ideally, keep the instrument somewhere with a stable temperature and humidity rather than somewhere that experiences large fluctuations, especially during season changes.
If an instrument has been stored for a long time, it's still worth checking it every couple of years before you start playing it regularly again.

At Play It Again UK, we carry out brass and woodwind repairs and servicing in-house at our Bournemouth workshop. If you're not sure what your instrument needs, we're happy to take a look and let you know whether it needs a minor repair, a check-down or a full service.