Clarinet Repair
Saxquest specializes in mechanical overhauls, and total instrument restorations as well as personalized setups and custom key work. Our focus has always been on YOU as a player. Our shop philosophy is to approach each repair as a partnership with you. In that spirit, if you have a pad preference that you’d like us to use, we’re happy to oblige. Otherwise, we have a wealth of experience with what works best for different scenarios and we’re happy to make suggestions for you.
Minor Repairs are billed at a rate of $75/hr shop rate
New or Recently Repadded Clarinet Setup/Playing Condition
Soprano Clarinets: $165 – Soprano Clarinets (With Cork Pad Replacement): $225
Alto Clarinet/Basset: $225 – Bass Clarinet: $375 (Low Eb), $425 (Low C) – Contra Clarinets: $425
| Instrument completely disassembled, keys and body carefully cleaned with mild detergent (heavy tarnish remediation charged separately) | Light swedging of keys and alignment of posts performed (excessive keyfitting billed separately) |
| Rod straightness and post fit inspected | Tenon to socket fit adjusted |
| Existing key corks, felts, synthetics replaced with highest quality materials where needed to facilitate a positive feel and lasting regulation | Factory pad Installation checked and additional shellac added where needed |
| Each pad adjusted for a perfect seal from front to back and side to side with the lightest touch | Spring tensions evened out and adjusted to players personal preference |
| Key heights adjusted for optimal intonation and response | Instrument allowed to settle, play tested and readjusted where necessary |
| 1 Year Warranty | |
Professional Model Clarinet
price for dent work and parts not included
Mechanical Overhaul for Professional Model Instruments
Wood Soprano: $700 – Wood Alto/Basset: $1000 – Wood Bass: $1300
Straight Contralto/Contrabass: $1700 – Curved Contralto/Contrabass: $2100
| Instrument is checked for loose pads, screws, rods, and tenon corks | The mechanism is lubricated |
| Key corks, felts, synthetics replaced with highest quality materials where needed to facilitate a positive feel and lasting regulation | Any foreign material in the bore is removed |
| Corrosion is removed from hinge tubes, hinge rods, and pivot screws | Any loose posts are tightened |
| Lost motion is removed from the key mechanism | Pad leaks are eliminated by floating the pads |
| The key mechanism is regulated to playing condition and the venting height is adjusted | Mouthpiece is cleaned and checked for damage |
| The instrument is disassembled and the mechanism is refit (swedged) to proper tolerances | Straighten rods and keys as necessary |
| Spring tensions evened out and adjusted to players personal preference. | Reface tone holes, secure posts, and adjust springs and replace when necessary. |
| Seal posts, screws, octave well, and caps. | All new pads, key corks, and tenon corks are installed. Pad leaks are eliminated by floating pads. |
| Regulate to top playing condition. | Posts fitted to rods. |
| All new pads, key corks, tenon corks, and springs (as needed). | Special attention to venting of pads to assure proper pitch and clarity. |
| Seal posts, screws, octave wells. and caps. | Correction of intonation if needed. |
| The keys are refit to closer tolerances. | Pads are leveled to closer tolerances. |
| Keys and body buffed and polished | Case is cleaned inside and out |
| The instrument receives a final play | |
| 1 Year Warranty | |
Student Model Clarinets
price for dent work and parts not included
Student and Intermediate Model Clarinet Overhaul
(pads included in pricing)
Plastic Soprano $350 – Plastic Alto $550 – Plastic Bass $795
Wood Soprano – $400 – Wood Alto $625 – Wood Bass $895
| The instrument is disassembled and the mechanism is refit (swedged) to proper tolerances. | Straighten rods and keys as necessary. |
| The instrument parts are cleaned in detergent then oiled (heavy tarnish remediation charged separately). | Reface tone holes, secure posts, and adjust springs and replace when necessary. Excessive tonehole repair assessed and billed separately. |
| Seal posts, screws, octave well, and caps. | All new pads, key corks, and tenon corks are installed. Pad leaks are eliminated by floating pads. |
| Regulate to top playing condition. | The instrument receives a final play test and wipe down. |
| 1 Year Warranty | |
Individual Services for Clarinet:
| Tenon corks (First) | $20 | Tenon corks (Additional or with Playing Condition) | $15 |
| Loose body rings tightened | $25 | Adjust/Reinstall neck tenon$30 minimum | $30 minimum |
| Refit bass clarinet neck | $25 minimum | Key Transfers (per joint +pads) | $150 (plus cost of pads) |
| Oil body and bore (as service add-on) | $20 | Oil body and bore (standalone, per joint) | $65 |
| Rod Fabrication | $15/each | ||
| Spring Replacement | $9/each | Full Spring Replacement | $125 |
| Solder (silver) per joint | $25 | Remount thumb rest (+parts) | $50 |
| Carbon Fiber Crack Banding | $100 | Crack pinning | $20/pin |
Key Buffing:
| Soprano$45 | |||
| Alto-Bass$65 | |||
| Contra-Bass | |||
By Quote Only:
| Case repair | Tonehole Repair | Tonehole Undercutting | Cut Out Stuck Hinge Rods |
| Damaged/Worn Tone Holes | Dent work | Free Binding Keys | Key fitting |
| Make New Hinge Rods | Chip filling (body & toneholes) | Regulate | Removal of stuck swab |
| Replace Cork | Replace or Repair Tenons | Sticky Pads & Tone Holes | Straighten Bent Hinge Rods |
| Straighten Bent Keys | Straighten body or bell | Tenon/Socket Replacement | Wood sanding or refinishing work |
Request a quote and/or time frame for repair work.