2027 Service & Instrument Intake Policies

As the shop has grown, so has the demand for specialized flute repair. Beginning in 2027, I will be narrowing the instruments I routinely accept in order to focus my bench time on the work and instruments that best fit my area of specialization.

My primary focus will be the maintenance, mechanical repair, and restoration of modern professional, handmade, pre-professional, and high-quality intermediate flutes and piccolos.

Instruments I Routinely Service

I regularly welcome instruments played by professionals, college and university students, advanced students, teachers, and serious amateur musicians.

This includes professional and handmade instruments from makers such as Powell, Haynes, Brannen, Burkart, Miyazawa, Muramatsu, Sankyo, Altus, Nagahara, and others, as well as pre-professional and high-quality intermediate instruments such as Haynes Q-series, Yamaha 500- and 600-series, Miyazawa 202, and comparable instruments.

If you are unsure whether your instrument falls within the shop's service scope, please contact me before scheduling.

Vintage & Older Instruments

Flutes 30 years old or older require an initial evaluation before service can be scheduled.

Older instruments can present considerations that are uncommon in modern flutes, including mechanical wear, previous repairs or modifications, obsolete or unavailable parts, and construction or design characteristics that require additional bench time.

The evaluation fee is $120 and is separate from any subsequent repair or service charges.

Acceptance of an older instrument for service will be determined after evaluation.

Entry-Level & School Instruments

Beginning in 2027, the shop will no longer routinely accept entry-level student flutes and school-model instruments.

This change allows me to reserve more bench time for professional, pre-professional, and higher-level intermediate instruments, where specialized mechanical and maintenance work is the primary focus of my practice.

If your instrument falls outside my current service scope, I am happy to recommend other repair shops that routinely service student and school-model instruments.

Deferred Maintenance

Regular complete servicing is important to the long-term mechanical health and reliability of a flute.

If an instrument has not received a Clean, Oil & Adjust (COA), or equivalent complete service, within the previous three years, a $120 deferred-maintenance surcharge will be added to the scheduled service.

After extended periods without complete service, oils can deteriorate or dry, mechanisms can become difficult to disassemble, and pads and mechanical components frequently require substantially more corrective work than is normally included in routine maintenance.

The deferred-maintenance surcharge accounts for this additional bench time.

Service Warranty

The shop's standard service warranty is available for instruments that have received a Clean, Oil & Adjust (COA), or equivalent complete service, within the previous 18 months.

Instruments that have gone more than 18 months without a COA or equivalent complete service are  welcome for service, but the work performed will not include the standard service warranty.

Minor repairs, adjustments, or emergency visits do not reset the 18-month service interval.

A More Specialized Shop

These changes are not a reflection of the musical value of older, student, or factory-made instruments. They reflect the direction of my repair practice and the increasing demand for specialized flute work.

By narrowing the instruments I accept, I can devote the necessary time and attention to the work my shop is best equipped to provide while maintaining reasonable scheduling and turnaround times.