Until recently, all instrument repairs aside from full overhauls and restorations have been billed strictly on an hourly basis, however, as demand continues to grow for my services, it has become necessary to clarify and streamline billing. I have three objectives in introducing this new pricing structure:
- To offer greater transparency to clients, who should no longer need to worry or guess about their upcoming repair bill. Clearer, simpler estimates make it easier to plan ahead.
- Improved time management and efficiency, resulting in quicker turnaround times; flat rates allow me to perform maintenance services without “watching the clock.”
- My range of flat rate services will (I hope) encourage often-neglected “preventive care” for instruments, whereas hourly billing caters to a culture of reactive or emergency repairs, which in many cases is significantly more costly in the long run, and often results in instruments that are perpetually performing below their potential.
Hourly billing remains available for clients who prefer it and for targeted repairs to address specific problems. Certain services—such as crack repairs, damage repairs, and all gouging machine work—are still billed hourly due to their variable nature.
Please use the dropdown arrows to view details and pricing for each of the services I offer. Note that all services are subject to a pre-repair inspection to determine the most appropriate treatment for your instrument. Any estimate provided should be considered a guideline; if the need for additional work is discovered during repairs, additional charges may apply.
Flat Rate Services:
Oil / Adjust
Description:
A basic service that involves oiling the mechanism via needle-oiler and the regulation of all adjustment screws to ensure ideal function of the keywork and proper pad seating, as well as the removal, cleaning, and re-sealing of the octave vents if needed or requested.
Ideal if…
…your oboe was recently serviced by a reputable oboe specialist and is in good working order, and the key oil is not old or dirty enough to require cleaning/replacement. The Oil/Adjust service is meant as an inexpensive check-up to be performed between more extensive services, especially when the player does not adjust and oil their own mechanism.
Does NOT include….
….disassembly of the mechanism or removal of old key oil. Does not include replacement of pads, bumpers, or other parts.
Professional Oboes and English Horns: $125
Student Oboes: $100
Clean / Oil / Adjust (COA)
Description:
All keys are removed and cleaned internally. Body is dusted and lightly cleaned. Key oil is thoroughly removed from all moving parts and replaced with fresh oil (essential in preventing mechanical wear and tear.) Includes an octave vent cleaning + the replacement of up to three worn or missing bumper corks. Can also include requested adjustments to spring tensions and other minor customization if desired.
Ideal if…..
…your oboe is functioning relatively well, but has not been to a reputable oboe specialist recently and you feel it may require minor maintenance. A COA is a good regular 6-months to 1-year service (depending on use and instrument age) in order to maintain an instrument and prevent the need for more extensive repairs as much as possible and to keep your instrument playing its best.
Does NOT include….
…pad work, key-fitting (i.e. swaging), repairs of cracks or damage, extensive polishing, keywork modifications, tuning or voicing work, tenon cork replacement or anything else not explicitly mentioned in the description. Additional work needed or requested will be billed on an hourly, though it will be less expensive since the keys will be off the instrument already!
Professional Oboes and English Horns: $350
Student Oboes: $300
Full Service
Description:
A Full Service offers everything included in a Clean/Oil/Adjust, plus the replacement of up to four additional worn or missing bumper corks (7 total) as needed, the replacement of up to three pads, and the replacement of one or both tenon corks as needed.
Ideal if…..
…your oboe is in functional condition, but has experienced significant wear and tear since its last service, or you feel as though your oboe is functioning below its potential while not requiring extensive repairs or a complete overhaul.
Does NOT Include….
…significant tonehole or keyfitting work, tuning/voicing work, repairs of damage to wood, etc. Also does not include bocal cork replacements on English Horns. Additional work exceeding the scope of a “full service” will be billed on an hourly basis.
Professional Oboes and English Horns: $475
Student Oboes: $400
Overhaul
Description:
I define an overhaul as a replacement of ALL pads, bumpers, and tenon corks regardless of condition, plus all necessary mechanical repairs and the cleaning/polishing of all metal parts. With overhauls, players have the opportunity to select their own pad and bumper configurations, and make other custom requests regarding their instrument will be set up.
True overhauls are less commonly performed on oboes than other woodwind instruments, with many oboists preferring to have their instruments repaired on a rolling basis, however there are many cases when an oboe is “too far gone,” due to age, neglect, or sub-par repair work, necessitating an overhaul.
Ideal if….
…you have an oboe that is playing at least somewhat well (or it played well in the recent past), but that is rather old or “high mileage” to the point of needing more than one third of the pads and bumpers replaced. I rarely encourage full overhauls however some players prefer a “clean slate” and some instruments simply need them!
Professional Oboes and English Horns: $1800
Student Oboes: $1200 – $1500 (depending on key system)
Restoration
Description:
A restoration includes any and all services required to put a cosmetically and mechanically rough condition oboe into like-new condition (or as close to it as is feasible.) This includes up to 6 keys re-plated as necessary, extensive polishing of body and keys, Repair of severe wear or damage to keywork and body as needed, and more.
Ideal if….
…you have an oboe in truly rough condition due to age and/or neglect, that requires significant mechanical and/or cosmetic restoration in addition to all new pads and bumpers. Restorations are, at times, not financially advisable, as the cost can exceed the re-sale value of some instruments, so they are best reserved for instruments with historical or intrinsic value, or instruments with at least relatively high resale value. Please note that some instruments may be rejected as candidates for restoration due to a number of possible factors
Does NOT include….
…a full re-plating of the entire mechanism, keywork modifications, replacements, or the addition of extra keys (like left-F keys), synthetic bore liners, replacement of instrument joints. These services may be available on a case by case basis but will be billed separately.
Professional Oboes and English Horns: $2500
(student oboes are not accepted for restorations.)
Hourly Services:
General Repairs
Description:
General repairs are billed by the hour and include any and all of the following when not covered under the purchase of a flat rate service: pad and bumper cork replacement, tenon cork replacement, spring replacement, repairs to damaged keywork, leveling of toneholes, key-fitting (swaging), key-height corrections not accomplished via adjustment screws, repairs to bent rods, loose posts, stripped screws and screw threads, etc. etc. etc.
Please note that crack repairs, keywork modifications, tuning/voicing work, and anything else not mentioned in the description may be billed at a different hourly rate.
$130 per hour + parts & materials
Crack Repairs
Description:
Repairs of cracks in wooden oboe and English Horn bodies. Can involve simple gluing and polishing to fill and hide minor cracks, metal pins to stabilize more serious cracks, and synthetic tonehole liners as necessary.
Please note that I do not offer carbon fiber banding, or any other non-traditional crack repair method.
Every crack is unique and may require its own approach based on its location and severity. It is best to consult with me in advance regarding what is appropriate for the crack in question. Crack repairs are billed at a higher rate than playing condition repairs due to the careful planning and expertise they require.
$150 per hour + parts & materials
Tuning and Voicing
Description:
Modifications to toneholes and other aspects of oboes in order to alter the tuning and voicing of an instrument.
Tuning and voicing modifications must only be done on an instrument in perfect mechanical condition. They are best done just after being serviced by me to ensure that toneholes are not being modified in order to compensate for leaks or poorly regulated key heights.
$150 per hour