Repairs and Overhauls

After training as a silversmith, I was hired by Flutemaker’s Guild of London where I learned to make instruments from beginning to end: the body, mechanism, padding, and headjoint.  I then collaborated with the famed Albert Cooper, working alongside him in his garden shed workshop.  This work led to my move to America to work with Brannen Brothers Flutemakers in Boston, stringing and padding their instruments.  Before beginning my own business, I worked with Dana Sheridan of Sheridan Flutes.

For the past 35 years, I have worked as a highly skilled generalist, taking on assignments with all of the major flute and piccolo-making companies:  Verne Q. Powell Flutes, Burkart Flutes and Piccolos, Wm. S. Haynes, and others, while also working on component parts for a select group of international flute companies.

I am accepting private overhauls as I have done throughout my career.  It is in the making of custom headjoints and crowns, engraving, and repair of instruments that I find the most interesting and rewarding work in the flute world.

C.O.A. (Clean, oil & adjustments)

Start at $400 -

With a clean, oil and adjust, your flute is disassembled, mechanism tubing is cleaned out, and steels are cleaned. The mechanism is re-assembled after being checked for excessive play between keys along with any other issues that interfere with the free movement of assemblies. A new headjoint cork is included.

In addition, any issues requiring pad replacement or mechanism repairs, (beyond cleaning) will be, as far as possible, discussed with the client, and a cost estimate will be given prior to beginning work on the instrument.

Complete Overhaul

$1,600.00 for felt pads

$1,800.00 for synthetic pads

A complete overhaul includes:

The breakdown of the instrument, the removal of tarnish, dents, and scratches as well as a full polish (with a result as close to new as possible), and all new pads, tail felts and adjustments plus a new headjoint cork.

NOTE: Unless synthetic pads were original to your flute, they are not necessarily suitable for all instruments. I can determine on inspection whether or not they should be installed on a particular instrument.