The Problem with Used Woodwind Instruments

Posted by Charles Fail on


Woodwinds are somewhat complex instruments, consisting of many keys that cover tone holes with pads, regulate key heights with cork and felt, and activating all of this with steel springs. Clarinets, flutes, piccolos and flutes use pads made of felt covered with fish skin while Saxophone and bassoon pads are made of felt covered with thin leather. One important characteristic of all woodwind instruments is moisture, and this dramatically limits the life expectancy of pads.
The used market is filled with cheap woodwind instruments of various quality and in various mechanical condition. As professional technicians, we have often hear parents say “She is only a beginner so we don’t want to put much into this instrument.” Unfortunately, this often dooms a beginning student before they start. Leaking woodwind instruments simply don’t play correctly and many people don’t seem to understand why. Here is what we have learned from experience:
(1.) Small leaks in woodwind instruments often manifest themselves as intonation problems. The instrument will still play but out of tune.
(2.) Moderate leaks in woodwind instruments may be sporadic. When pads are hard from age, they may not respond well until sufficiently moist and then respond better.
(3.) More severe leaks make an instrument impossible to play.
We see lots of woodwind instruments for sale on the market and these almost always are in need of re-padding or a complete overhaul to make them dependable. Since such repairs are expensive, buyers are often surprised to discover that the “bargain” they purchased requires a much larger investment in labor and supplies to make the instrument usable. Since most of these sellers don’t perform this work in-house, they can’t afford to make this investment or if they do, they seek out the lowest price work they can find using the lowest cost materials.
At Golden Era, LLC, we use only the best pads and cork we can buy, and we don’t cut corners. Most often, this material is of better quality than the original manufacturer used. We also overhaul almost all the instruments we sell. If the instrument isn’t almost new, we know that it likely needs new pads and corks. We want every instrument, regardless of its age, to play properly.
As you evaluate the asking price for a used woodwind instrument, be sure to consider the age of its pads and cost to replace them in your buying equation. ~ Charles

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