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.

Another round of updates, and TJ's boffins have buffed up the RAW and let me loose on a sample. There's devilish delight in the dubiously named Holton 666 alto, the bronze Conn Selmer Avant 200 drops its trousers and I say what needs to be said about the late-model Weltklang tenor. There's an update to the surprisingly good Boosey soprano...and the latest entry to the Black Museum will make your eyes pop out. And when you've put them back in, there's something new to chuckle at in the Notes section. And there's a brand new section too! Benchlife - my in-house rolling blog. It's a load of old rubbish...but it's good rubbish.
As usual, you'll find hard-hitting reviews that show no fear or favour; commonsense advice about looking after your instruments; myths debunkified (is that even a word?); clear explanations and a maybe one or two laughs. So fill your mug/glass/pipe, give your mouse a buff and click on. You know it makes sense....

Latest reviews: "Don't blow it - bench it!"
Preview: A facelift and a new outfit - the TJ RAW gets a makeover. Updated: The new Vintage crook arrives.	New: More midrange malarkey, with Conn Selmer's bronze Avant 2000 tenor.
New: The Devil's Horn! It's the Holton Collegiate 666 alto. Yes, they really called it that.	New: It's cheap, its not very cheerful - yes, it's the dreaded late model Weltklang tenor.
Updated: Another Boosey & Co soprano arrives on the bench. It's an earlier model than the one originally reviewed, and it has some interesting differences.	Stencil surfing - or how to buy a Keilwerth for under half a grand. The Schenkelaars tenor has a few tricks up its sleeve.
The RAW on a budget. TJ's midrange SR alto squares up to its bigger brother.	The rise of the contemporary soprano - Yamaha's YSS61.
As rare as it's distinctive - the YSS62R...Yamaha's (slightly) curved soprano	Ah, the ubiquitous Yamaha YTS23. This is a horn with a punch-for-price rating that's very hard to beat, which is why I call it 'The giant killer'. Go find out why...
There's a lot of buzz around the new Yani horns, but are we talking the bees knees - or a bulldog chewing a wasp? The AWO2 hits the bench.	The archetypal tenor, the Selmer MK VI. Is it all it's cracked up to be? Does the myth hold up against the reality...?
Handy Hints: Hints, tips and maintenance advice
Fancy a leaklight for two quid? 'Course you do - and here's how to make (and use) it.	Oiling the action. Why you should do it, how to do it and what to use...in detail.
Miscellaneous: All the other stuff...	Glossary: What does it all mean?
Updated: The Black Museum's latest exhibit: The unedifying spectacle of Goldfinger's Couesnon.	All you need to know about point (pivot) screws...and more.
Testing...Testing: What works, and what doesn't	Notes...from a small workshop
G# geometry - striking a balance between friction and functionality.	New: Of cash and kudos - the search for remojofication.
Haynes saxophone & clarinet manuals	New Section: Benchlife...the workshop rolling blog
Everything you need to know about looking after your sax or clarinet.	New: A whole new section devoted to the (almost) daily dabblings on and around the workbench. Latest entry: Call me Mr Picky

All material on this site copyright Stephen Howard Woodwind, unless otherwise stated. 22/05/2017

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