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Instrument Repair

Experienced. Knowledgable. Committed.

Marshall Music has been in the business of repairing musical equipment since the early 1960s, and our operation has been growing ever since! We now service over 700 schools weekly across the state of Michigan. Our repair department offers well-equipped, well-stocked facilities and skilled repair technicians capable of performing a wide range of instrument repairs.

Quality & Service Oriented

At Marshall Music, we pride ourselves on promoting a safe, positive, and efficient work environment that is vital to successfully performing our craft. We have well-stocked and supplied facilities, industry-leading repair equipment, and a team of long-time repair specialists who are dedicated to passing on the culture and traditions instilled by the Marshall family to new generations of technicians. All of our full-service technicians must accumulate 10,000 hours of on-the-job repair experience before being considered fully trained. Through their training, they are exposed to thousands of unique repair situations and are guided by the knowledge and wisdom of our master technicians (15+ years of experience). And many of our technicians are actively performing or are professional musicians who have a working knowledge of instrument performance and industry standards.

 

As a family-owned company, we understand what it means to work within a budget. That’s why we have some of the most competitive repair rates in the country. And when it comes to customer service, we have built a strong reputation for taking care of our customers through our dedication to providing service after the sale.

ABOUT OUR REPAIR DEPARTMENT

At Marshall Music, our Band & Orchestra Repair departments have a lot to offer our customers:
 

  • We have a massive inventory of OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) parts.

  • We have a large stock of high quality after-market parts that are used to service obsolete instrument models.

  • Our technicians and department employees care.

  • Our operation is school service oriented and we offer easy weekly pickup and delivery of instruments.

  • We offer FREE repair estimates and resale appraisals (fee for formal insurance appraisals).

  • We strive for a fast one week turn-around time on repairs. (On occasion, repair times may take longer during periods of high volume or if special parts must be ordered to complete a repair.)

  • We offer FREE loaner instruments for our customers to use while we repair theirs.

Band Repair Divisions

Band_Repair

Brass Repair

ABOUT OUR BRASS REPAIR DIVISION

Our brass repair division is proficient in performing a wide range of repairs including full overhauls, custom work, part fabrication, and chemical cleanings with our industry-leading, proprietary cleaning process, which includes ultrasonic equipment. Our facilities are also fully-equipped to handle all damage repair, including final polish and oven bake epoxy finishes. We continue to advance in our implementation of environmentally conscious practices, which include the use of lead-free solders, natural plant-based degreasers, and non-toxic chemicals and valve oils whenever possible.

BRASS REPAIR TYPES:

  • Cleanings

  • Valve Repair/Rebuild

  • Damage Repair

  • Hand Slide Repair/Rebuild

  • Stuck Slides

  • Mouthpiece Repair/Replating

  • Alignments

  • Solder Work

  • Refinishing

BRASS INSTRUMENT CLEANING

Marshall Music’s brass instrument cleaning process is a model of efficiency and sustainability. The process begins with a gentle degreasing using an environmentally safe, naturally-derived degreaser rather than the harmful petroleum-based degreasers used by some shops in the industry. Some instruments or individual parts are then then dipped in a static bath of mild acid to aid in the break down of calcium deposits before undergoing a polishing process that utilizes a non-abrasive, crystal powder-based acid compound to scrub the male and female sections of the instrument. This produces a highly polished finish that does not rely on scouring or damaging the instrument by removing material, unlike other methods utilized throughout the industry.

 

Our instruments are then submerged in our industry standard ultrasonic cleaning machine, which uses a solution of 90 gallons water to one gallon of a mild acid, combined with sound waves, to gently and effectively scrub away deposits. The cleaning process is completed following a treatment with soapy water and a non-abrasive brass bristle wheel on raw slide tubes and some valves. This removes staining and polishes away any remaining deposits to leave a shiny and mechanically smooth finish. In addition to improving the aesthetic qualities of the instruments we service, our process of cleaning both interior and exterior components improves instrument functionality by ensuring maximum mechanical and acoustical performance.

DENT REMOVAL, POLISHING, & CLEANING OF SILVER PLATED TRUMPET

At Marshall Music, we use classic industry standard tools, as well as a magnetic dent removal system, to remove dents and folds from the brass instruments we service. To restore the silver plated trumpet shown, our brass technician first begins by removing all dents before using our ultrasonic cleaner to remove corrosion and calcium deposits. The instrument then undergoes a polishing process which utilizes various chemicals and polishing compounds to remove tarnish. Finally, hand polishing is also used on occasion to clean up detailed areas of the instrument.

PRO SERVICES

Besides performing day-to-day repairs, our brass shop is capable of executing a wide range of professional and custom brass work services, including custom finishes, overhauls, valve rebuilds, and precision valve alignments (PVA). Precision valve alignments include both vertical and rotational alignments as needed. If you are interested in getting custom work done on your instrument, we invite you to contact us for details and pricing.

Woodwind Repair

ABOUT OUR WOODWIND REPAIR DIVISION

Our woodwind repair division is equipped to handle major body repairs in plastic, granadilla, and maple, including tenon and socket rebuilds. We use only the highest quality natural materials (pads, corks), and intelligently use the highest quality synthetic materials where applicable and in accordance with modern industry standards.

WOODWIND REPAIR TYPES:

  • Playing Condition

  • Cleanings

  • Adjustments

  • Regulations

  • Pad Work

  • Mechanical Overhauls

  • Body Repair/Rebuild

  • Parts Replacement

  • Instrument Body Refinishing

  • Minor Mouthpiece Repair and Refinishing

PLASTIC CLARINET REPAD & MECHANICAL OVERHAUL

Performing a repad and mechanical overhaul is one of the most intensive processes we can perform on a woodwind instrument. A repad begins with the removal of all dirt, food deposits, and corrosion from the instrument. We then replace all wearable items, including pads and corks. All parts are then cleaned and all bright work polished. The instrument is then carefully inspected by a technician before being padded, corked, reassembled, adjusted, and regulated to factory specifications. At Marshall Music, we stand by the quality of our repair service. This is why we offer a 12-month materials and workmanship warranty on all of the repads/mechanical overhauls that we perform.

ALTO SAXOPHONE CLEANING, REPAD, & MECHANICAL OVERHAUL
(Key Guard Removed to Reveal Pad and Tone Hole)

Even with older instruments that have endured years of use and in some cases cosmetic damage, our technicians can restore functionality and acoustical performance with a thorough cleaning, repadding, and mechanical overhaul, which includes adjustments and regulations. With this intensive process, even the most unattractive instruments can be made to sound like they’re brand new.

BLADDER PAD REPLACEMENT
(Flute Pads Shown)

Over time, bladder pads can dry up and tear, losing their ability to seal properly over the tone holes. We use only high quality, double skin, natural felt pads for all of our woodwind repairs. Unlike the cheaper, low grade synthetic felts used by others shops in the industry, which don’t seal well and lack precision, we use high quality, natural, needle-pressed or woven felt pads, which seat better and last longer. We choose these higher grade felts for their precision and durability at a higher cost to us because we believe in protecting your repair service value and improving the performance of your instrument.

LEATHER PAD REPLACEMENT
(Saxophone Pads Shown)

As leather pads age, they dry out, shrink, harden, tear, and eventually lose their ability to seat properly against the tone holes of a woodwind instrument. Constant exposure to saliva, food deposits, condensation, and sugars inevitably causes deterioration and failure, which means pad replacement is required on a regular basis. We stock only the highest quality pads that feature consistent pneumatic leather sealing surfaces and dimensional stability. By using high grade materials in all of our pad work, we help ensure that you get the best performance and the longest life out of your instrument.

BASSOON TENON REBUILD

Our technicians have the knowledge, experience, and equipment to perform some of the most challenging woodwind repairs. Socket and tenon rebuilds are procedures that require great skill and precision to perform successfully. The slider above shows the transformation from a broken bassoon tenon to a repaired and functioning joint.

 

A technician begins by counterboring the broken joint to create a foundation for the new tenon. With the use of a machine lathe, the technician then custom builds a tenon that matches both the internal dimension of the counterbore and the factory specifications of the original tenon. The newly built tenon is then grafted onto the counterbored joint and subsequently strung or corked. The final result is a tenon that has been restored to its original factory specifications and fits the instrument’s existing socket.

CLARINET SOCKET REBUILD

To perform a socket rebuild, a technician begins by using a machine lathe to turn down (remove) the existing broken socket and prepare the joint for a new socket graft. A stock piece of raw material, which is chosen to match the instrument body, is then machined to the specifications of the original socket. The new socket is then grafted onto the prepared joint to complete the structural phase of the repair. Finally, the finish of the grafted piece is restored to best match the original finish of the instrument.

Fixing a Violin
Orchestral_String_Repair

Orchestral String Repair

ABOUT OUR ORCHESTRAL STRING REPAIR

Our string repair department is a small team of trained luthiers (orchestral instrument makers and/or repair technicians) of over 20 years, and their apprentices.  Orchestral instrument repair is considered an artisan trade, meaning that our skilled technicians hand-make many of the necessary tools and parts for repair and refurbishment.  In our shop, we are set up for a multitude of repairs for violins, violas, cellos, and basses.

ORCHESTRAL STRING REPAIR TYPES:

Including, but not limited to:

  • Bow Rehair

  • Sound Adjustment

  • Bridge Replacement

  • Gluing of Cracks or Open Seams

  • Fitting and Fabricating New Parts

  • Full Set-Ups

Percussion_Repair

Percussion Repair

ABOUT OUR PERCUSSION REPAIR

Our shops are experienced in servicing percussion instruments and associated gear, including drums, keyboard percussion, marching band equipment, instrument stands, and hardware.

PERCUSSION REPAIR TYPES:

Repair, adjustment, or replacement of the following:

  • Drum Heads

  • Hardware

  • Hoops

  • Snare Strainers

  • Lugs/Tension Rods

  • Parts Fabrication for Obsolete Models

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