Contacting me

The best way to contact me is to call me on: 07734 543011 - I only check for texts and emails occasionally! Please leave a message and state the make and model of the instrument concerned, and I will respond during my work hours. For help identifying your instrument please click here. Visits are strictly by appointment only with appointment slots available Mon-Fri in the morning from 9.00 am to 1.30 pm (and also at 4.30 pm for drop off / collection only). Please note: I only respond to communications during my workshop hours.

I suggest that once you know the make and model of the instrument, you type this information into a search engine - you will then see similar items for sale and have an idea of the value of the instrument, and this will help you decide on how much you are prepared to spend on having it repaired.

Assessment of repairs needed (and time and cost)

I repair Clarinets, Flutes, Saxophones, Piccolos, Oboes, and Bassoons. I usually need to examine the instrument (particularly if I have not worked on it previously) in order to give an accurate assessment of any repairs required; although if you provide me with enough information (such as the make, model, service history, and age of the musical instrument) I can sometimes give a rough assessment of time and cost over the phone. I usually charge £21 to examine an instrument in the workshop (£42 for Soprano & Baritone Saxophones and Bassoons) but this fee is dropped if I carry out a repair to the instrument. If the fault with the instrument is very minor, and I happen to fix it whilst examining it, I will charge £21 for the repair. If an instrument is dropped off for assessment before 1 pm then I will usually assess it while you wait.

Generally a musical instrument requires either a specific repair (where a minor or sometimes major thing has gone wrong with an instrument that is otherwise in good condition) or some level of service or overhaul to deal with deterioration caused by damage and/or wear and tear over a period of time. If I carry out a service, overhaul, or repad, the instrument is completely stripped down so that I can find all the problems and deal with them; this enables me to give a three-month warranty on this level of repair work.

For more details about repairs to Clarinets, Flutes , Saxophones, Oboes, Bassoons and Piccolos (and for a guide to my charges) please see the Repair Work page; for other information and advice relating to woodwind instruments, including buying or renting new or second-hand instruments, please visit the Information Sheets page.

Consultations

Sometimes players are unsure as to whether it is themselves that are are fault rather than the instrument - this is particularly the case with regard to tuning. In these instances I check the instrument and if I find no fault I often observe the player whilst they play and advise how to remedy the situation. I usually charge £21 for such a consultation.

Visiting my workshop

Peterborough is a transport hub and is easily accessible from Huntingdon, March, Ramsey, St Neots, and Wisbech in Cambridgeshire; Bourne, Grantham, Spalding, and Stamford in Lincolnshire; and Corby, Oundle, and Thrapston in Northamptonshire. My workshop is located within 15 minutes walk of both Peterborough railway station and Peterborough (Queensgate) bus station (the No 4 bus stops in Aldermans Drive). My workshop is located at the end of the ground floor passage to the side of number 83 Aldermans Drive (on the left hand side of the street going north away from Thorpe road).

You cannot park legally in Aldermans Drive however there are plenty of free parking places nearby. For free parking: enter postcode PE3 6AT into to your 'Sat Nav', this will guide you via Aldermans Drive to Percival street - you can park on the left-hand side of Percival Street for a limited time; if you do not find a parking space by the time you reach the end of Percival street, turn left and left again into the parallel street (Clifton Avenue) and again you can park on the left hand side for a limited time; if you do not find a parking space then at the end of Clifton Avenue, turn right and right again into the next parallel side street (Williamson Avenue) where you can park on either side of the street for a limited time; if you do not find a parking space then at the end of Williamson Avenue, turn left and left again into the next parallel street (Mayors Walk) where you can park on the left hand side of the street outside the parade of shops before the traffic lights for a limited time. Once parked, walk to Aldermans Drive and cross the road to find my workshop at the end of the ground floor passage to the side of number 83 Aldermans Drive.

Sending instruments by taxi

Customers who are unable to visit the workshop during opening hours can have their instruments delivered and/or collected by taxi (not courier). If you wish to do this you must inform me in advance and the musical instrument must be delivered and/or collected at an agreed time within my normal working hours.

About Me

I am a fully qualified woodwind instrument repairer and I am a professional member of the repairer's trade association NAMIR. I have been repairing woodwind instruments since 1990 and I established my repair business in Peterborough in 1995. I have a fully equipped workshop with a comprehensive range of spares.