Ron Parello is our Woodwind Repair Specialist and is also the Manager for the entire Repair Dept. at The Music Den. He has a Bachelor's of Music Education/Performance from HARTT College of Music and a Masters in Performance from East Carolina University.

Ron has been a Music Educator for 30 years including private instruction at The Music Den and other shops, as well as 25 years as a sax instructor at William Patterson University. Ron has been repairing instruments at The Music Den for over 10 years.

Important Things to know about Woodwind Instrument Repair

Common repairs needed to be done to Woodwinds are:

Recorking- The corks used to join mouthpieces, necks, and other components of wind instruments will eventually wear down or even come apart. Fortunately, this is one of the simplest and most common repairs to have done. It's a good idea to have your corks checked once a year.

Replacing Springs- The springs that keep tension on the keys can become loose and sometimes even break off. Proper tension on springs allows the instrument to react to the technique of the player.

Repadding- You have probably heard wind players complain about "leaks" in their instrument. You know a pad has a leak whenever you hear a high pitched squeal when you try to play a particular note. (Note: Sometimes this may also be an indication of poor technique by the student. Consult a teacher to be sure.) Leaks are caused by poor alignment of the keys or by old pads that don't completely seal anymore and need to be replaced. Pads can also become sticky with age. You know a pad is in good shape if you hear a subtle 'pop' when you close the key. Pad replacement is a difficult job, only to be done by a skilled repairman. Fortunately, in most cases not all of the pads on an instrument need to be replaced.

Regulation- This is where taking your instrument to a skilled repairman is critical. Regulation is the task of adjusting the keys and pads of the woodwind instrument so that they are aligned correctly and are at the right height over the tone holes. This can vary widely from instrument to instrument and you would be surprised at how precise it must be.

Dents and Dings- In most cases, dents and dings can be removed from instruments. This is an important repair because numerous dents may affect the tone quality of the instrument.

Overhaul- An overhaul is just as massive as it sounds. The instrument is completely taken apart and put back together again with new springs, corks, and pads, has dents removed, is freshly lubricated, and is completely regulated. It is the closest you can get to restoring your instrument to new condition and is the most expensive and longest repair.

How to bring your instrument to the Music Den for Repair

1.Simply bring your instrument to our any of our store locations which are open Monday - Saturday, 10AM-9PM, Sunday 12PM-5PM. There is no need to call ahead. At the store, the saleperson will take your instrument and forward it to our Repair Department and will give you a receipt showing that you dropped it off.

2. Once at the repair shop, our staff will check your instrument and will call you personally with an estimate of how much it will cost to repair it and any other suggestions they may have. All woodwind instrument repair estimates at The Music Den are free! No repairs will begin and no charges will be applied until the repair dept has received your 'OK' to begin.

3. Once the repair is completed, the instrument will be returned to the store location where you originally dropped it off and you will be promptly notified that your instrument is ready for pickup. Please note, no instrument may be picked up until all charges are paid in full.

For any questions regarding placing repairs please call (800) 479-1189.
For questions regarding repairs that are already in process, please call (800) 479-1184 x 203.