Musikinstrumente + Verlag GmbH

MOECK • Lückenweg 4  D-29227 Celle

Tel +49-5141-8853-0  info(at)moeck.com

When your recorder needs servicing or repair

Wood has many good qualities and is ideal for making recorders. Nevertheless: it is a natural material which can become warped especially under the influence of moisture. Even if you have played your recorder in and looked after it carefully, the tone can change, or it can clog too often, the higher registers are difficult to achieve or some other defect becomes apparent. Now is the time to send your instrument back to the original maker or any other professional instrument maker. In nearly all cases, the tone, response and the intonation can be improved to make your recorder sound like new.

The procedure for repairs

First your recorder is given a repair number which is then saved in the computer with your address to ensure you receive your own instrument back.

The instrument maker then reads the covering letter and plays the recorder to see and hear what you wish to have improved. Any queries arising are cleared on the phone. Your instrument is then carefully checked and a repair plan drawn up. If further problems arise which entail extra cost or are not mentioned in the covering letter, you receive an estimate and can decide whether further work should be completed.

Your recorder then passes through various stages until it is repaired to our satisfaction and can be returned to you. The invoice is written and your recorder packed for posting.

What are the most common problems and how are they solved?

The tone is poor

There are many reasons for this but it is usually due to a dirty or warped windway. The block is removed and cleaned. The windway, the chamfer, the window and the labium are also cleaned either with steel wool or with a file covered with sand paper. If the windway is too narrow, the block is filed down to the right height and the chamfer is adjusted.

Your recorder does not respond in the higher register

Again the windway and the labium are cleaned and adjusted. If the inner bore is warped, it is filed and adjusted to its original shape. The finger holes are cleaned and adjusted as required.

The cork has come away

The rest of the cork is removed completely and all residual glue, oil and grease is cleaned off the tenon. New natural cork is then glued on to last.

The connection is too loose or too tight

If it is too loose then thicker cork is used. The cork is filed down if it is too tight.

A crack has formed

Usually small cracks are easily glued and filed down. Larger cracks can also be repaired. In some cases ,eg. when the labium is pressed in, the particular joint that is cracked has to be renewed.

Your recorder is out of tune

This is usually due to the narrowing of the inner bore or finger holes. The inner bore is reamed anew, the finger holes are cleaned and, if necessary, enlarged or reduced in size.

The thumb hole is (badly) out of shape

A lining made of artificial ivory or artificial horn is inserted, the thumb hole regains its original shape. (This repair is not possible under guarantee).

The key does not close properly

The padding is renewed and the key is adjusted accordingly.

The key does not open / shut any more

The spring of the key is renewed and the hinge is cleaned, oiled or replaced if necessary.

The keys make too much noise

Cork or felt is inserted. Very often the padding has become stiff and needs replacing.

These are the most common repairs which are required. We also renew the block, foreshorten the recorder if the basic tuning is too deep and put rings made of artificial horn or metal on the upper and lower parts, renew the threading and put on extra keys as requested.

Recorders last a long time when properly cared for. Even so, many players do not realize that it is still necessary to have their instruments looked over every now and then. Repairs are always worthwhile and make your recorder sound as it should.

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