What? I Need to Get my Instrument Check Up Twice a Year? Here’s Why Instrument Care Matters for Every Musician
- Feb 28, 2023
- 3 min read
Updated: Sep 11
Instrument care is something you need to consider now that you are a part of our world of music! Every instrument has a unique procedure for upkeep and care. We always like to compare the service and maintenance of an instrument compared to a car. You either know what's going on or you just need to bring it a mechanic (in this case a repair tech). There is a lot to know about each instrument and how we take care of it--- but lucky you, you found us! We like to keep things straightforward and informative! Our goal is make all this gobbledygook easy to understand so you can keep your instrument in tip-top shape-- And remove the worry of super expensive instrument repairs.
What is instrument care?
Instrument care is just what it sounds like. It is how we treat our instrument on the day-to-day, on the weekly, monthly and yearly. Each instrument has a unique set of guidelines on how to take care of it. Surprisingly, this the part most people forget about in their music journey! When we first start, we just get so excited to make music that we don't even think about what happens when our instrument faces a problem or gets accidentally bumped-- or the fact that all instruments need a tune up on occassion.
How do I know if I need to get my instrument fixed?
There two big indicators that we tell clients to look out for: if it's been more than 6 months, you should probably get it checked in or if it just doesn't work! For me, as a professional musician, it’s pretty easy to tell before it needs any major work because I just feel it. Our instruments become so familiar to us that we just know the moment something isn’t working. But for the younger musicians, it might be tougher to distinguish if you are not as familiar with the the instrument mechanisms.
Worst case scenario, you can always bring it to the experts.... yes that's a shameless plug. Bring it to us for a free estimate. Of course there are other ways you can check your instrument (we'll make another blog soon enough on How to do Self-Inspection). Or you can always ask your teacher to evaluate the instrument as well. But if you don't have access to a music educator as a rule of thumb, you want to get the instrument checked ever 4 to 6 months.
How long does it take to get my instrument repaired?
For us, it you can expect an instrument to be in the shop for less than a week. But it all depends on the condition of the instrument and what is needed to be repaired. If it's just a string replacement on a violin, we might finish it same day (assuming we are not swamped) but max 3 business days. But if it is a complete re-pad on a saxophone, then we are looking at about 2 weeks.
Ok, how much will it be to get my instrument repaired?
Ugh, I know you hate this answer but it really depends on a lot of factors. This is all dependent on the instrument and the amount of damage on the instruments. We find that most repairs run $50-$150 but depending on your area and repair technicians, it can vary.
But...
Just as an fyi, there's a possibility that an instrument is beyond repair or instruments that would cost more to fix than just buying a new one. Of course, we will advise you on the best course of action. We will revive pieces that have sentimental value as well-- It really comes down to your decision! We always go with with what you decide.
But I don't want to pay that much to get my instrument
repaired!
I get it. It's expensive and sometimes the budget is tight. The best way to avoid costly repairs to an instrument is doing preventative care. Wiping instruments down with the right materials and proper care will keep you out of the repair shop. Each instrument has a unique set of guidelines (and we will eventually get there and write about that too!) but even the best care to an instrument, you still need to bring it on the regular to keep it in tiptop shape. We always recommend every 6 month check in will dramatically lower your cost on each visit (assuming that you're taking good care of it.
Bottom line on why regular instrument check-ins are essential to any musician:
It's like anything, you gotta take good care of it and you have to get an expert repair tech to not only evaluate the instrument but also fix it up. Fortunately, we got you. Our expert team (I'm talking about you Jordan!) will check your instrument (for free) and provide an estimate on repairs.
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