Sail in for your sales or service needs
Brands We Carry
Your Custom Woodwind Refresh Includes:
Raising the thumb rest if needed
Lowering the rings for easy play-ability
Adjusting all pads and key heights
Evening the spring tensions for ease of playing
Lubricating all bearing connections
Replacing necessary corks and felts
Oiling the bore as necessary
Tenon corks, parts and pads are extra
Your Custom Brass Refresh Includes:
Disassembly of slides and valves
Ultrasonically clean body, slides, valves and mouthpiece
Reassembly using new felts and corks
Using high quality grease on threads and slides
Removing minor dents
Major dents, solders or part replacements are extra
Specialized Tools To Repair Your Instrument
This is a jig used to straighten bent woodwind keys.
Magnehelic tool used to find leaks in woodwind instruments.
A specialized vise used to hold round mandrels.
This is a mini Z used to remove dents in brass instruments.
This a custom jig used for holding a sousaphone.
The custom jig at work.
Repair
An instrument repair is something that is not in the normal scheme of things. This usually occurs when you find something wrong with your instrument, such as:
Key corks or felts replaced
Cracks filled
Major dent work
Solder or broken parts
Refresh
An instrument refresh is a just like an oil change in your car that should be done on a regular basis. Your instrument should be refreshed once a year to keep your instrument in top playing condition.
So if it’s time for your yearly check up, let’s set up an appointment:
Checking all key heights for proper venting
Lowering the rings for easy play-ability
Evening the spring tensions
Lubricating all bearing connections
Replacing necessary corks and felts
Cleaning the body or oiling the bore as necessary
Fitting of tenons as needed
Aligning valves and slides
Minor dents
Restore
An instrument restoration is a complete tear down of an instrument that replaces old materials with brand new parts as well as fixing anything wrong with the instrument. This usually needs done approximately every 5 years. Depending on how often the instrument is played:
Disassembly of keys including unpinning of mechanisms
Ultrasonic instrument cleaning of body and keys
Hand polished silver plated/solid silver instruments with light polishing of keys included
Dents (where possible) repaired and tenons refit
New corks, felts, and high quality pads installed
Waxed crown, tenon, and neck corks
Reassembly, tightened loose keys, leveling tone holes, key cups, and pads
Valve alignment
How Much Does an Instrument Repair Cost?
All repair rates are calculated around my current shop repair rate of $78 an hour plus cost of parts. There will be a 3% discount for cash or check. Solders and excessive dents are extra. Repairs are booked by appointment so that they spend the least amount of time in my hands and the most time in yours.
Testimonials
“Fred always provides the highest quality repairs and overhauls. He tailors each repair to my personal references.”
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- J. O’Flynn, Professor at Utah State University
“Being a traveling musician, I need my gear up to par not only for live venues, but also for studio work. Lighthouse Music was a clear choice for my Custom Yamaha Tenor. Not only was I invited into the shop as Fred walked through what he was going to do on my horn, but he also gave some advice on how to maintain the work that was being done.”
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- T. Gauldin, Band Director and Professional Musician
“Fred’s work is unbelievably precise and thorough; he doesn’t miss anything! My horns have never played or sounded better!”
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- J. Whitmore, Professional Woodwind Musician
“Fred is an outstanding saxophone mechanic. There is no other individual I would trust more with my instruments.”
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- B. Cold, University Professor
About Fred
Growing up in sunny Tucson, Arizona, one of my biggest influences was the band Chicago — a trumpet, trombone and saxophone lead band was the first of its kind. It inspired me.
The clarinet was my first instrument beginning in fifth grade and eventually I took lessons in clarinet and saxophone.
Between my junior and senior year of high school my school band was invited to play at the First International Band Festival in Vienna, Austria in 1972. We traveled to 5 different countries. One performance that has always stuck with me was performing at the same music hall where Mozart’s music was played.
Receiving my Bachelors of Science in Industrial Arts Education, I taught industrial arts and repaired instruments part time. After teaching for 4 years the school closed my department down so I pursued solely a musical instrument repair career.
My interest in mechanical things started in elementary school by building soap box derby cars and working with my hands. Then in 1973, I had the opportunity to start training with Charlie Unruh who was the Selmer Company’s first flute apprentice. In addition to three years with Charlie, I also spent two years with the owner of Desert Winds Music in Tempe, Arizona. Through their expertise, I have learned a lot about attention to detail and quality customer service.
Having worked in several shops in three different states, I launched Lighthouse Music Services in 2003 and it grew into a full-line music store. My company continues to operate full-time from my home workshop performing repairs on all woodwind and brass instruments for clients all over the country.
I’m honored to have been sought out for my knowledge on repair by teaching over a hundred clinics in four states. I have also created several YouTube videos for music educators.
I’m currently a member of:
National Association of Professional Band and Instrument Repair Technicians (NAPBIRT)
I love the opportunity to work with wood metal and plastics and get to watch the results of my work being played up on stage with good players.
I am committed to providing you with the friendliest experience and the shortest turnaround time possible.
