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

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