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.
It's been a hopeful start to 2021, what with the
roll-out of the Covid 19 vaccines - and in the meantime I've been
busier than ever. The extra work (and income) has allows me to take
more time out to muck about with tooling, and in the latest entry
in the Benchlife Blog I share my thoughts and experiments on a cheap
but effective way of tackling worn octave key mechs. Plenty of nice
horns have come in lately, and out of them all I've picked the glorious
King Super 20 Silversonic alto for the full review treatment. I've
also - for the first time in 16 years - reviewed an Ultra-Cheap
soprano. Have they got any better?
Until we're given the all-clear with regard to the 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 still 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:
The King Super 20 Silversonic (Series IV) alto. Not just all
show.
New:
First Ultra-Cheap soprano review in 16 years! I do a number
on the Gear4Music SS-100G soprano sax.
Updated:
Had a Yanagisawa T-WO33
tenor in for a service, so added my thoughts on it to the
review of the T-WO32
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?
Recent:
Not quite a review - but a detailed look at
the Selmer 130th Anniversary Edition alto.
Recent:
The Selmer (London)
Super Pennsylvania tenor. I find out what it is, and whether
it's super.
Recent:
In the market for a modern low Bb baritone? There's a new contender
in town, and it's a game-changer...
Updated:
After 15 years I revisit the Selmer Reference 54 alto review.
Has anything changed?
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:
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...?
The Eppelsheim bass saxophone. Put it on your bucket list.
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: Octave
swivel pin reduction.
All material on this site copyright Stephen Howard
Woodwind, unless otherwise stated. 29/03/2021