Covid19

What a year this is turning out to be!

We are open for business and here for you. 
What better to do if you're stuck at home than play an instrument? It can be one of the best things to keep your mind active and spirits up.
Keep supporting local businesses and services as much as possible. The self-employed tend to get little government support in times of need, so we rely on our customers for our survival.

As a small firm with few customers there isn't much risk coming here.  We will keep our distance as much as possible and will be implementing ways of working to stay virus-free.

The virus can stay on surfaces for up to 3 days so we may have to put your instrument aside before we work on it.
Brass instruments such as trumpets can be easily washed to  ensure they are clean, but the case isn't so easy to deal with. We could wipe the outside but the porous inside is harder to deal with so just putting them aside for a few days seems like the best option. We don't want to damage peoples property trying to steam clean etc.

From the customer's side we recommend the same process. Wash your hands after visiting us and handling your instrument. Then leave the instrument aside to be sure any contamination isn't transferred.
If you wish you can wipe surfaces with isopropyl alcohol , if you have it. 

So if you want your instrument repaired please don't stay away. If we need people to stay away we'll make it clear. We only want people with cold or flu symptoms to stay away - if you're healthy we'll be glad to help you.

Good luck - stay safe.

November November ....

Gosh it goes to show I'm not much good at posting blogs. Nearly a year has gone by.
Well we have been busy, and I do try and keep the instrument information up to date.
This time of year people should be getting instrument in good order, ready for the festive concerts.

Come and get a service.

We have a selection of a few instruments for sale. I try and buy things that are well made and reliable. They aren't always the best known makes. But that is how I can get them and sell them on at  a reasonable price.

We've got saxophones, flutes and clarinets. Let us know if there is anything you are wanting.

Happy New Year !!!

Here we are again at the start of a new year. Hope it's a good one for all out customers.
We've sold some of the saxophones but still have a few on offer. The Keilwerth tenor is still here, which is a surprise. I have it at a bargain price so if you fancy a tenor, come and have a look.

The news for sax students isn't good as Roz Sluman has been unwell. We send our best wishes to Roz for a speedy recovery. Get well soon, Roz !!!

We look forward to seeing customers in 2018. It's getting harder and harder to keep the flag flying for music, so keep supporting your local bands, venues, teachers and local music shops and us repairers. We're all under pressure with budget cuts and the like affecting everyone. With the added complications of Brexit around the corner it's hard to see how things will pan out for the music industry. We shall see .. ... ..

The three tenors

What do they say about buses? Wait all day for one and then three show up. Well, it seems the same goes for tenor saxophones. All of a sudden I've got three come in looking for new homes.
Firstly is a Keilwerth EX90. These are German built instruments. In recent years there have been Keilwerth's built in Taiwan and China (?) but this is the real McCoy. Top of the range was the SX90r which had tone-hole rims - similar to rolled tone-holes except they weren't rolled. They just had a piece soldered on top. That could lead to uneven or wonky tone-holes, until they seems to improve their method of manufacture.  http://www.shwoodwind.co.uk/Reviews/Saxes/Tenor/Keilwerth_sx90r_tenor.htm  So there's something to be said for your ordinary tone-hole, which is what we have on the EX90.
The EX90 is very similar to the SX90 but it lacks some of the fancy add-ons that they included on the SX90 - adjustable palm keys, extra arms on F and a no-stick G mechanism.  How good these extra actually are is debatable, so the 'cut-down' EX90 is actually a rather more reliable horn than the SX90. If you fancy a Keilwerth, this is well worth a look.

Then we have  a Jupiter 787 - 789. It's always confusing when they muck about with model numbers. the 787 is the tenor version of the popular 767 alto. The 789 version is a later revision with some manufacturing improvements.
Some Jupiters of the past didn't play well. It wasn't they way they were made so much as the way they were padded. Usually you stick in a pad and then level it. Jupiter stuck the pad in and then sucked or pressed them down and hoped for the best. You'd often come across pads in the upper section that wouldn't seal properly so they didn't play well. Once the pads were leveled properly, the instrument sounded very nice indeed. So it was a shame they didn't spend a bit more time getting the padding right. Well by the time of the 789 it seem thy had improved things and the pads seal. A 787-789 is usually a very decent instrument. They were classed as a beginners saxophone but by todays standards I think they are more of an intermediate standard. The build quality is good and it has all the keys to take a player all the way through the grades.  For the price these horns can be picked up they are an absolute bargain. If you can't afford that Keilwerth, this is a great option.

And finally we have an Elkhart series II tenor. This little beast is perhaps in the best condition of the three. It doesn't look to have been used a great deal. It is a similar build quality to the Jupiter being made in Taiwan as well. These were the beginners range from Selmer and were a good reliable choice. Elkhart instruments have been used in schools quite a lot and they tend to have stood the test of time.
As a beginner instrument they chose not to add the upper F# key which is only really used in the upper grades. Frankly you don't need it. Most Selmer MkVIs never had the F# key, though it was an option. The alternative key to use is in almost the same position.
This is quite a sweet sounding instrument. It's very pleasant to play. If I didn't have another tenor I'd be very happy to use this. But if I wanted a darker sound, of the three it's have to be the Keilwerth that I'd go for.  Which do you fancy ?

Stuff to buy

It's that time of year when you may be looking out for things to buy for the woodwind player in your house.
We have some odds and ends that might interest you. Clarinet barrels made of cocobolo wood which can subtly alter the sound. Hand-finished, these can improve the tone of plastic instruments as well as wooden ones. Check the Acessories section for more details.
We also have alto sax mouthpieces  which are refaced to make an easy blowing piece - a cheaper option to step up from  beginners mouthpieces. These are based on a Meyer design but with a different facing curve and baffle.
We have a small number of Brancher style ligatures. These will fit alto sax ebonite mouthpieces or clarinet mouthpieces. They are gold plated and look great on the instrument. They come in a specially shaped presentation box.  
There are other things on offer. Oiler pens to keep the mechanism running freely. Mouthpiece patches. BG ligatures. Come and see.!

Cumbrian Floods

Horrible scenes are Cumbria is devastated by more serious flooding. Heartfelt best wishes to all involved. We hope to see Cumbria on the mend soon.

We are out of the floods and OPEN FOR BUSINESS.

I'm not sure how many can get here at the moment, but as our original slogan went, "We're Here For You!"

We have some experience of repairing flooded instruments so if you have suffered this keep the instrument for assessment. It is costly to sort out but can be done so don't chuck everything out!

We can do free estimates so if you need something looking at, let us know.

Anyone who left instruments with us rest assured - they are safe and sound.

Anyone out of the area wishing to help out, this is the main place for donations.
http://www.cumbriafoundation.org/give-now

Instrument Service Time !!!

It's that time of year when the Christmas concerts are fast approaching. We often get people in a panic trying to get a problem on their instrument sorted. Maybe it'd be good to get things checked out now?
Get your instruments in for a check-up or service and make sure the busy period ahead is less traumatic.

Summertime

Well it seems the summer has hit at last after a rather cold spell.
Despite thoughts turning to outdoor pursuits people are still using their instruments  (as was seen recenlty on the BBC Music Day along Hadrian's Wall, started by our very own Roz Sluman http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02szh0s ) 

- so don't forget about getting them serviced. Get your woodwind and brass in to Marshall McGurk for a check up !!!

Another tenor !

We seem to have a number of tenor saxophones in just now.
This one is a very nice Yamaha Custom that is in nearly new condition. It's in the original case with the original mouthpiece.

I'll post some pictures and further details later, but if you're after a good professional quality instrument this could be the one for you.

(NOW SOLD)

Buffet Super Dynaction

It's not often you come across a Buffet Super Dynaction saxophone. We have a tenor in from one of our customers who'd like to sell it on. It's been sitting for some time and has a bit of pitting, but it is a nice instrument and has a big tone. The keywork is more in the modern style than usually found on older instruments like Conns and Martins. It feels good in your hands and has a sound that grows on you.
It has the original case and mouthpiece.
A very decent instrument and a rare find.
Price negotiable. We're looking around £1000  (NOW SOLD)

Return of an old Friend

We have for sale an instrument I worked on a long time ago. I've had it through my hands since and sold it to a local player who has decided to move it on again.

The Selmer MkVI tenor saxophone is a very sought after instrument. It is what most professional players used since its introduction in the mid-fifties. On the MkVI they achieved a design that worked so well nearly all the modern instruments are basically copying the MkVI layout.
Some people think the MkVI has its reputation because of the sound but there is more to it than that. It has an ergonomic key layout. It has a reliable octave mechanism.

If you fancy getting your hands on a musical legend come try the MkVI we have on offer.

Saxophone for sale

We still have the Selmer Balanced Action alto sax for sale. It's a great sounding horn.
Some people prefer these to Selmer Mk VIs.
This particular horn has had a couple of repairs. The foot of the low C guard had come off which can often happen with early BAs as they have just two, rather than the usual three attaching it to the instrument.
The owner had secured the foot by applying soft solder around it which had burnt the surrounding lacquer. I've removed the soft solder and reattached the foot with silver solder and soldered it back in place - which looks better but there is still the area of burnt lacquer visible.
The horn also has a microphone fitted to the neck. These were popular in the seventies and you can see them in use on Top of the Pops clips on Youtube with bands like Frank Zappa's.
For some the horn doesn't look great, but the beauty of this alto is in how it sounds.  It's a horn that deserves to be played.

Any offers?. 

A New Year

A Happy New Year to all our customers.
We're back to work with the wild weather swirling around us. The west coast is taking a pounding and we are seeing flooding and coastal damage locally. (We have some experience with repairing flood damaged instruments, if anyone is experiencing such problems.) Let's hope things improve soon!

In the meantime don't forget to shop local and get your instruments serviced and checked over. Keep your instrument in good order and it will keep playing well for many years!

Altos for sale

We have a couple of alto saxophones that are well worth a look for serious players.
Firstly is a Yamaha YAS62. This is one of the best modern instruments. Highly regarded and thought to be very close to the Selmer MkVI sound.  This one is a great example of an early 62 with the 'Purple logo' badge and long bell key guard. (Modern ones have Selmer style guards and I've heard some arent' built in Japan any more. ) Great  instrument to upgrade to.

The second one is a Selmer Balanced Action. One of the best sounding altos ever made. This is great for a soloist. It stands out with a big edgy sound. The not-so-good news it has had a knock or two in the past and repairs are quite visible. But that means it's cheaper than it should be, so here's a chance to grab a super horn.

Come and give them a try. (See Saxophone section for pictures and further info. )

Get palm key risers on your sax !

Palm key risers on a modern tenor sax

Saxophones are instruments that have changed gradually over time. The older ones may need a little adjustment for today's play. An example of this is in the palm keys. You can buy rubber palm key risers and these do help play the instrument - BUT they also have a problem in that they can come off or move.

We use a silicone putty to mould palm key risers to suit the player exactly. They won't fall off.

Older saxophones may need more silicone to make them fit your hand, but even newer saxophones can benefit from having palm key risers fitted. You may need just two on a newer sax. (As in the top picture.) The lower picture shows three palm key risers fitted to an old Selmer 'Cigar Cutter' alto.

Autumn - service time?

As the weather turns and the leaves start following, it's nice to stay warm inside and play some music. The baritone appears to be sold, pending payment, but we have a few more instruments.

We have a number of beginner-intermediate flutes, mostly made in America. These are built far better than most of the new instruments you see today for the beginner, which are made in China.

There are vintage and nearly new alto saxophones. These are very versatile instruments as you can play blues, rock and jazz on them as well as classical etc. It isn't so easy rocking on a clarinet!

We have just a few clarinets. A couple of beginner instruments and a couple of wooden ones. I'll be looking to get one or two in to keep stocks up.

But if you already have your instrument then perhaps it's time to be thinking of getting it in for a service. Before long we'll be into the festive season where instruments tend to be used a lot with many concerts taking place.

So get your instrument serviced now, so it'll be ready for when you need it. 

A Couple of Pics

We've got two piccolos in that are now ready to sell.

The first is a Czechoslavakian intermediate level instrument with a wood body. Almost certainly this will be from the Amati factory. Many people here know the cheap clarinets, but they did make better quality instruments too as this shows.

Piccolos aren't the easiest instrument to play partly because of the tiny embouchure hole. This one has a shaped lip-plate which makes it easier to play.

It has been repadded and is an instrument with a nice warm tone.

The second piccolo is a Bundy. Basic student instrument from the States. Sturdy construction similar to Yamaha 32 but now at a fraction of the cost.

These are a good choice for occasional use. 

In the flute dept, we have some Artley flutes as well as the similar Gemeinhardts. They are well-built, beginner/intermediate model instruments. Most of the new instruments for the beginner are now made in China and we feel these American flutes are much more reliable.

See our FLUTE page for more information.

Baritone Reduced !

It's been a difficult year with everyone struggling so we've reduced the price of our Selmer MkVI baritone hoping to find a new home for it. It is certainly worth more then that, so grab it before it goes.

Selmer Mk VI baritone with low A now £4750

Selmer MkVI Baritone.

We have a nice example of a Selmer MkVI baritone in for sale. It's one I worked on some years ago when it had a different owner. The instrument had a full overhaul and I'm pleased to see it is still playing well.(Though I have given it a service and done any minor tweaks necessary.)

These classic Selmers do seem to be a good investment. A few years ago Selmer baritones were half the price they are today. So the price now may seem a bit high but these instruments more than keep their value!

If you fancy a decent investment a Selmer MkVI seems liek a good bet. And you get a decent instrument to play with too.

See the saxophones section for more details.

French Horn

We get some different things in from time to time. Recent items to sell on commission are a French Horn with compensating valve, a Selmer baritone and an old Boosey and Hawkes Regent clarinet.
The old Regents were a solid reliable bit of kit. There were lots of them used in schools and after 30 or 40 years they are still going strong. This one needs a bit of work before I sell it but it should make for a good useable beginners instrument.
The baritone is a 1970s Selmer Mk VI. Highly regarded instruments, this is a good blower whcih comes in the original case, which is a pretty neat shaped case. I need to check it over before selling it, but it is in good condition and well worth a look.
The French Horn is a Lehmann of Hamburgh. Probably Carl Lehmann. It has detachable bell whcih appears to be gold plated. This has had a fair bit of use and been knocked about a little, but it works well and looks to be well made.
I'm not sure who will want these but if you know anyone that might be interested please pass on out details!