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.

With the recent slight relaxation in the Coronavirus lockdown it's now much easier for clients to drop by the workshop. You are welcome do to so (by appointment), but until the situation changes radically 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 busy as I am, I just can't resist the opportunity to run up reviews of interesting horns - and when two Hanson LX tenors came in I just had to put them through their paces. And check out my review of the Selmer (London) Super Pennsylvania tenor. It's better than you might think...
I've also had the chance to add the Martin Magna to the Martin Committee III alto review. It's an interesting comparison. And I've also revamped my 2005 review of the Selmer Reference 54 alto.
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 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?	New: The Selmer (London) Super Pennsylvania tenor. I find out what it is, and whether it's super.
Updated: The Martin Commitee 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 boys are back in town...it's the return of the Jericho alto.	Recent: It ain't light on your wallet...or around your neck. The £7500 Yanagisawa T-WO32 Elite tenor.
The Gear4Music Ultra-Cheap bari sports a new badge, but has it got any better? Check out my overview of the Rosedale BTS-500G.	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.	Updated: It took 16 years, but I've finally found the time to update my review of the Pan American bass sax.
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).	Third time lucky - the mysterious case of the bent A key.
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. 19/05/2020

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