Woodwind instrument advice, reviews, care, repair & maintenance.
Whether you're interested in buying an instrument,
maintaining your flute or clarinet, hints on saxophone repairs or
just plain curious about woodwind - you'll find something to interest
you here, presented in a clear and relaxed manner.
As I write this we're about to say goodbye to 2020
- and no doubt many of you are thinking "Good riddance!".
I don't blame you at all.
But what better way to see out a crappy year than catching up with
a review of the Selmer 130th Anniversary alto and a new entry in
the Notes section? I mean, what else d'you have to do?
With regard to this poxy virus, I'm still adhering to recommended
best practices - which you'll find in my
policy for handling repairs for the duration. Please be aware,
though, that I'm extremely busy at the moment - so there may be
a delay in taking your work on.
As for the rest of the site, you'll find hard-hitting reviews that
show no fear or favour; commonsense advice about looking after your
instruments; myths debunkified; clear explanations and maybe one
or two laughs. So fill your mug/glass/pipe/atty, give your mouse
a buff and click on. You know it makes sense....
Latest reviews: "Don't blow it -
bench it!"
New:Not
quite a review - but a detailed look at the Selmer 130th Anniversary
Edition alto.
Recent:
Not one, but two Hanson
LX tenors find their way onto the workbench.
'Very heavily influenced' by the Selmer MkVI is the selling
point of this horn - but does it live up to the sales blurb?
In
the market for a modern low Bb baritone? There's a new contender
in town, and it's a game-changer...
Recent:
The Selmer (London)
Super Pennsylvania tenor. I find out what it is, and whether
it's super.
Updated:
The Martin Committee III alto review gets an update with the
addition of a review of the Magna. Is it just a blinged-up Comm.III,
or is there more to it?
Updated:
After 15 years I revisit the Selmer Reference 54 alto review.
Has anything changed?
The Gear4Music Ultra-Cheap bari sports a new badge, but has
it got any better? Check out my overview of the Rosedale BTS-500G.
Recent:
It ain't light on your
wallet...or around your neck. The £7500 Yanagisawa T-WO32
Elite tenor.
The Eppelsheim bass saxophone. Put it on your bucket list.
Updated:
Another addition to the rolling review of the Keilwerth
SX90R tenor sax. This time it's a 129xxx model. Looks nice...but
is it all show and no blow...?
Supercharged
- the Andy Sheppard Autograph series tenor.
A very British affair - possibly the best Hawkes & Son
XX Century alto out there.
Handy Hints: Hints, tips and maintenance
advice
The SHWoodwind F.O. Guide
To Octave Key Problems.
(Warning: It's long. It's very long. It's very long indeed.)
Updated
(again): Oiling the action - for geeks. Testing the
'multigrade method' of oiling.
Miscellaneous: All the other stuff...
Glossary: What does it all mean?
Updated:
The Black Museum's latest exhibit: The Fly.
All
you need to know about point (pivot) screws...and more.
Testing...Testing: What works, and what
doesn't
Notes...from a small workshop
Updated:
Dealing with green spots (AKA Verdigris). An overview of mechanical
and chemical methods of removal (Addendum added March 2020).
Going
viral - the dog shit protocol
Haynes saxophone & clarinet manuals
Benchlife...the workshop rolling blog
Everything
you need to know about looking after your sax or clarinet.
A
section devoted to the (almost) daily dabblings on and
around the workbench. Latest entry: Button
it!
All material on this site copyright Stephen Howard
Woodwind, unless otherwise stated. 31/12/2020