2114 Cherokee St... | St. Louis, MO 63118 | 314-664-1234 | info@saxquest.com

Saxophone Repair

Saxquest specializes in mechanical overhauls, and total instrument restorations as well as personalized setups and custom key work. Our focus has always been on YOU as a player. Our shop philosophy is to approach each repair as a partnership with you. In that spirit, if you have a pad or resonator preference that you'd like us to use, we're happy to oblige. Otherwise, we have a wealth of experience with what works best for different scenarios and we're happy to make suggestions for you. Minor Repairs are billed at a rate of $75/hr shop rate

Professional Model Saxophone

price for dent work and parts not included

New or Recently Repadded Saxophone SET UP

Sopranino/Soprano/Alto/C-Melody/Tenor Sax: $375 - Bari Sax: $450 - Bass Sax: By Quote Only (average 5-6 hours)
Instrument completely disassembled, keys and body carefully cleaned with mild detergent Tone holes and pad cups checked and leveled where necessary
Light swedging of keys and alignment of posts performed (excessive keyfitting billed separately) Factory installed key corks, felts, synthetics replaced with highest quality materials where needed to facilitate a positive feel and lasting regulation
Factory pad Installation checked and additional shellac added where needed Each pad adjusted for a perfect seal from front to back and side to side with the lightest touch
Spring tensions evened out and adjusted to players personal preference Key heights adjusted for optimal intonation and response
Instrument allowed to settle, play tested and readjusted where necessary
1 Year Warranty

Mechanical Overhaul for Professional Model Saxophones

Sopranino/C-Soprano Sax: $1315 - Soprano/Alto/C-Melody/Tenor Sax: $1250 - Bari Sax: $1600 - Bass: $2000 - Contrabass, Tubax, Etc.: price by quote only

Complex Saxes such as Leblanc Rationale, Grafton, Padless, etc.: By Quote Only ($1400 minimum)

Instrument completely disassembled, keys and body carefully cleaned with mild detergent (Tarnish removal and polishing of instrument incurs additional $100 cost) Minor dent work addressed (Major dent work, resolders, part fabrication, etc., incur additional cost by quote only)
Body tube checked for proper alignment Tone holes and pad cups checked on jeweler's anvil for flatness and leveled where necessary
Posts checked for proper solder, precise alignmet, and fitment to rods Hinge tubes and rods checked for precise alignment
All new pads installed with shellac using customer's preference of pad and resonator type (prices of pads and resos vary) Highest quality corks, felts, tubings, and synthetic materials applied facilitate a positive feel and lasting regulation
Each pad adjusted for a perfect seal from front to back and side to side with the lightest touch All keys swedged to eliminate any lateral and radial play
Cork and felt work meticulously adjusted to remove any lost motion in the keywork Key Heights regulated to optimized for intonation, response and feel
Springs replaced with Blue Needle Springs where needed (extra charge) Spring tensions set to customer's preference with an even feel
Optimize the fit of the neck tenon to the receiver Mechanism lubricated
Mouthpiece cleaned and checked for damage, if desired Neck-pipe cleaned and checked for damage
Case cleaned and checked for instrument safety Instrument allowed to settle, play tested and readjusted where necessary
1 Year Warranty

Complete Mechanical Restoration/Rebuild for Professional Saxophones

All instrument types: by quote only

A complete rebuild may be required for saxophones that have been neglected, suffered fire damage, suffered water damage, severely dented, missing keys or are otherwise compromised for one reason or another. These instruments can only be evaluated on an individual basis. Work required may involve making or installing new hinge rods, posts, keys, rollers, rods, tone holes, vent tubes, pearls etc... This work is all done in house and our repair experts will work with you to determine if such work is practical depending on your particular situation. Each Technician on an Individual Basis will quote Professional Custom Shop Repairs


Student Model Saxophones

price for dent work not included

Student Model Saxophone Overhaul

Alto/Tenor Saxophone: $795 (price includes pads) - Baritone Saxophone: price by quote only
Pads adjusted by floating and/or replaced where needed using shellac and all pad leaks removed Loose screws and rods tightened and/or replaced (at additional cost) where needed
Factory installed key corks, felts, synthetics replaced with highest quality materials where needed to facilitate a positive feel and lasting regulation, (including neck cork) Body tube checked for proper alignment
Posts checked for proper solder and for proper alignment Hinge tubes and rods checked for proper alignment
Grime and/or corrosion removed from hinge tubes, hinge rods, and pivot screws Key mechanisms regulated and lost motion addressed
Spring tensions adjusted and springs replaced where needed Lube rods and screws
Mouthpiece cleaned and checked for damage Neck-pipe checked for damage and cleaned
Tone holes checked and leveled where necessary Keys swedged to eliminate all radial play
All new Ferree's B-52 pads with brown plastic resonators installed using shellac All new key corks, synthetics, felts, and neck cork installed
Instrument properly adjusted to remove any lost motion in the keywork Key Heights and spring tensions regulated to optimize for intonation, response and feel
The instrument receives a final play test and is checked for tuning as well as efficiency of tone production Case cleaned and checked for instrument safety
1 Year Warranty

Intermediate Model Saxophone Overhaul

price for dent work and parts not included

Soprano/Alto/Tenor Saxophone: $795 (price excludes pads)

Includes everything in a student Overhaul, plus:
Pads and resonators are billed separately and selected to the client's preference More attention is given to keyfitting to address both lateral and radial play
More thorough consideration is given to tonehole levelling
1 Year Warranty

Individual Services for Saxophone:

Neck cork $25 Re-round neck tenon $25
Solder keys (soft) $15(w/spot lacquer add $10) Solder keys (silver) $25
Replace water key cork (bari) $6 Replace water key spring (bari) $8
Replace springs $9/each (blued steel, stainless, or phosphor-bronze), $10/each (nickel-plated), $12/each (gold-plated) Full Spring Replacement $150 (blued steel or stainless), $195 (nickel-plated), $225 (gold-plated needle, or stainless Norton)
Rod Fabrication $20 (long), $15 (short) Solder & adjust octave key $25 minimum
Neck pickup removal w/ flush plug $125 (brass), $175 (sterling) Neck Tenon and Receiver Fitting $35 minimum
Tarnish Removal and Polishing $100 (only available on Setup and Overhaul services) Keyguard Straightening $10 minimum
By Quote Only:
Align bent body or bell Body Patch Fabrication Case repair Clean sticky pads and toneholes
Cut out stuck hinge rods or stuck rollers Damaged or worn tone holes Dent Removal Engraving
Free binding keys Key buffing Key fitting Refinishing
Regulate Remove stuck swab Replace rollers Straighten bent hinge rods
Straighten bent keys

Pads and Resonators:

Saxquest stocks Valentino Model 350 Premium Untreated Sax Pads, Pisoni Pro Sax Pads, and Ferree's B52/B53 Sax Pads. Other pad types (e.g. kangaroo leather or synthetic) are available upon request and at additional cost.

Saxquest stocks nickel-plated brass seamless dome resonators, nickel-plated riveted Selmer S80 style dome resonators, melt-back brown plastic dome resonators, melt-black brown and black cone-shaped resonators, brass-backed brown plastic resonators, and riveted flat disc resonators. Other resonator types (e.g. Noyak/Maestro/Star/Waffle or TM Custom Screwback) are available upon request and at additional cost.



Request a quote and/or time frame for saxophone work.