National Association Of Musical Instrument Repairers
The Association was formed in 1993 by a group of musical instrument
repairers wishing to provide a forum for the profession of musical
instrument repairer.
The National Association
of Musical Instrument Repairers has
many members listed on their website in the Members
List section
who frequently get asked questions such as:
"I've just sat on my flute ..can you repair
it?"
"My trumpet valves keep sticking ..can you
repair it?"
"I've just found a split in the back of
my violin ..can it be repaired?"
"It was my Grandmother's piano, I think it
needs a lot more than tuning..can it be restored?"
and are quite used to giving the
answer "Yes".
But it is important to find the right repairer for the instrument and
it is useful to understand a little of what is to be done.
Woodwind Repair
Most musical instrument repairers offer to carry out on woodwind
instruments the following category of repair: - checkover and put
right, service (when the instrument is dismantled, cleaned and
faults put right, and re-pad or overhaul (when all pads and most
corks are replaced) along with the work done in a service. A
checkover should be requested whenever the instrument seems not
to be playing at its best, or before an exam or concert. A
service on these instruments should generally be carried out every
one to two years. Typically after this time the instrument
will start to look a little dirty with fluff accumulating behind
the keys. At this point it is likely that a few of the pads
may no longer be seating as accurately as when new and the rod
screws will need oiling. A re-pad becomes necessary
when most of the pads are becoming worn or seat badly and cannot
be improved without a great deal of work, which would not necessarily
provide a lasting solution. Re-pads are not often required
on instruments less than five years old unless there has been some
damage to them not directly related to playing.
Brass Instrument Repair
Repair work on brass instruments essentially includes servicing
of valves, servicing of slides (and their removal when stuck),
servicing of waterkeys and general bodywork repairs as required
by the customer. In addition many brass instrument
repairers also will arrange for a brass instrument to be re-lacquered
or re-plated when desired by the customer. When a brass instrument
fails to speak in its normal manner this will be because there
is either a constriction somewhere in the tubing (you would be
amazed at some of the things extracted from brass instruments - including
live gerbils!) or there is a leak somewhere. Perhaps a leak due
to poorly fitting valves, a joint that has become unsoldered or
a tube that has split from internal corrosion. All of these faults
can usually be repaired.
Stringed Instrument Repair
String instruments fall into two categories, unfretted (violin
family) and fretted (guitars and mandolins etc) and not all repairers
carry out work on both families of instruments. It is important
that when any of these instruments are stored unused for a length
of time that they are not put in a loft or other uncontrolled environment.
Considerable damage can occur to the wooden bodywork of these instruments
under these conditions, with joints opening up and cracks appearing,
all resulting in an expensive repair.
Piano Tuning and Repair
Repairs to Pianos fall into several categories. Most
become identified when the piano tuner visits the instrument for
the first time. Repairers can replace damaged parts of the
action and where necessary make new parts for the keys or other
moving items, as spares are rarely available. Missing
ivories can be replaced with attention given to matching the colour
of the original. When the case is damaged or the French polish
in poor condition, repairers can generally restore the instrument
to a good standard of appearance. Repairs can
also be made to the frame where it is no longer able to take the
tension imposed by the strings. Some piano tuners also
carry out repairs but others will refer the customer to a repairer
when necessary.
Percussion Instrument Repair
Repairs to percussion instruments include all types of repair
to drums. Marching drums, such as snare drums, tenor
and bass drums can be serviced and can also be recovered to alter
the marking when required. Replacing the heads on these drums
is sometimes done by the player but will be done by the repairer
on request. With timpani repair, the repairer can overhaul the
pedal mechanism, replace the heads and deal with bodywork damage
as requested. Some
percussion repairers also offer to restore old rope tension drums
that can be used as decorative features rather then for playing.
Retuning of mallet instruments such as the xylophone is a specialist
repair, but some repairers offer this. Where significant
damage or tuning problems occur it may be more economical to buy
a new one.
Further information can be found on their website
www.namir.org.uk
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