Store Info

2114 Cherokee Street
St. Louis, MO 63118

314-664-1234
[email protected]

2114 Cherokee St. St. Louis, MO 63118    314-664-1234    [email protected]

Clarinet Repair

Clarinetquest 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 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


New or Recently Repadded Clarinet Setup/Playing Condition

Soprano Clarinets: $165 - Soprano Clarinets (With Cork Pad Replacement): $225 - Alto Clarinet/Basset: $225 - Bass Clarinet: $375 (Low Eb), $425 (Low C) - Contra Clarinets: $425
Instrument completely disassembled, keys and body carefully cleaned with mild detergent (heavy tarnish remediation charged separately) Light swedging of keys and alignment of posts performed (excessive keyfitting billed separately)
Rod straightness and post fit inspected Tenon to socket fit adjusted
Existing 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

Professional Model Clarinet

price for dent work and parts not included

Mechanical Overhaul for Professional Model Instruments

Wood Soprano: $700 - Wood Alto/Basset: $1000 - Wood Bass: $1300 - Straight Contralto/Contrabass: $1700 - Curved Contralto/Contrabass: $2100
Instrument is checked for loose pads, screws, rods, and tenon corks The mechanism is lubricated
Key corks, felts, synthetics replaced with highest quality materials where needed to facilitate a positive feel and lasting regulation Any foreign material in the bore is removed
Corrosion is removed from hinge tubes, hinge rods, and pivot screws Any loose posts are tightened
Lost motion is removed from the key mechanism Pad leaks are eliminated by floating the pads
The key mechanism is regulated to playing condition and the venting height is adjusted Mouthpiece is cleaned and checked for damage
The instrument is disassembled and the mechanism is refit (swedged) to proper tolerances Straighten rods and keys as necessary
Spring tensions evened out and adjusted to players personal preference. Reface tone holes, secure posts, and adjust springs and replace when necessary.
Seal posts, screws, octave well, and caps. All new pads, key corks, and tenon corks are installed. Pad leaks are eliminated by floating pads.
Regulate to top playing condition. Posts fitted to rods.
All new pads, key corks, tenon corks, and springs (as needed). Special attention to venting of pads to assure proper pitch and clarity.
Seal posts, screws, octave wells. and caps. Correction of intonation if needed.
The keys are refit to closer tolerances. Pads are leveled to closer tolerances.
Keys and body buffed and polished Case is cleaned inside and out
The instrument receives a final play
1 Year Warranty

Student Model Clarinets

price for dent work and parts not included

Student and Intermediate Model Clarinet Overhaul

(pads included in pricing)

Plastic Soprano $350 - Plastic Alto $550 - Plastic Bass $795 - Wood Soprano - $400 - Wood Alto $625 - Wood Bass $895

The instrument is disassembled and the mechanism is refit (swedged) to proper tolerances. Straighten rods and keys as necessary.
The instrument parts are cleaned in detergent then oiled (heavy tarnish remediation charged separately). Reface tone holes, secure posts, and adjust springs and replace when necessary. Excessive tonehole repair assessed and billed separately.
Seal posts, screws, octave well, and caps. All new pads, key corks, and tenon corks are installed. Pad leaks are eliminated by floating pads.
Regulate to top playing condition. The instrument receives a final play test and wipe down.
1 Year Warranty

Individual Services for Clarinet:

Tenon corks (First) $20 Tenon corks (Additional or with Playing Condition) $15
Loose body rings tightened $25 Adjust/Reinstall neck tenon$30 minimum $30 minimum
Refit bass clarinet neck $25 minimum Key Transfers (per joint +pads) $150 (plus cost of pads)
Oil body and bore (as service add-on) $20 Oil body and bore (standalone, per joint) $65
Rod Fabrication $15/each
Spring Replacement $9/each Full Spring Replacement $125
Solder (silver) per joint $25 Remount thumb rest (+parts) $50
Carbon Fiber Crack Banding $100 Crack pinning $20/pin
Key Buffing:
Soprano$45
Alto-Bass$65
Contra-Bass
By Quote Only:
Case repair Tonehole Repair Tonehole Undercutting Cut Out Stuck Hinge Rods
Damaged/Worn Tone Holes Dent work Free Binding Keys Key fitting
Make New Hinge Rods Chip filling (body & toneholes) Regulate Removal of stuck swab
Replace Cork Replace or Repair Tenons Sticky Pads & Tone Holes Straighten Bent Hinge Rods
Straighten Bent Keys Straighten body or bell Tenon/Socket Replacement Wood sanding or refinishing work
Request a quote and/or time frame for repair work.