Tech/maintenance Repair Techs Surrey & Sussex ... HELP!

[Honkin Ron Howe]

Has anyone got any recommendations for sax repair techs near to Gatwick Airport ... Surrey and Sussex?

Sax.co are shutting up shop in Crowborough and all the tech work is now moving to the London store. I've been driving to Crowborough for repairs and service for rmany years now when Colin and then Amy Craig did my saxes .

I've tried to contact Stephen Howard (SHWoodwind) but had no reply yet ... his place is driveable. I know Dawkes but they are some distance round the M25 and it's just not practical to get a train up and down to Sax.co London several times ... I certainly wouldn't want to attempt to drive into London these days anyway.

For many years I chose John Coppen (Coppen and Healey), and actually drove into London in those days but, John moved to Spain years ago anyway (probably to get away from me). I first met him at TW Howarths in about 1980, when we were both youg(er)! It would seem that sax repair techs are as rare as hen's teeth.

 

[cappers]

@Honkin Ron Howe

My teacher is also a qualified woodwind tech and lives in Eastbourne if that's not too much of journey for you; nice day out by the sea. Let me know if you want his details and I'll message you.

Shame about SaxCo Crowborough as it's not far from me either.

 

[mizmar]

I've tried to contact Stephen Howard

Try @Stephen Howard

"@": Pester Power, Café style

 

[Merryfisher]

Stephen Howard is top man, so is Rupert Noble in Worthing

 

[Nick Wyver]

Another vote for Rupert.

 

[jonf]

I'm interested in this thread, @Honkin Ron Howe I live near you, and at one point actually worked in Horley.

I used to use @griff136 who was in Croydon one day a week - a short drive from Horley, with easy parking. However, I think, from what it says on his website, he's now retired. If you do find someone in the area I'd be very interested to hear.

 

[griff136]

I'm interested in this thread, @Honkin Ron Howe I live near you, and at one point actually worked in Horley.

I used to use @griff136 who was in Croydon one day a week - a short drive from Horley, with easy parking. However, I think, from what it says on his website, he's now retired. If you do find someone in the area I'd be very interested to hear.

Indeed @jonf I have semi retired, so I've stopped travelling to Croydon each week from Devon. 20 years of it and it was time to call it a day. I work 1 day a week from home now.
Jim Prior now does the saxes at Just Flutes/Jonathan Myall Music in Croydon. We were at college together learning our craft back in 2005. He also works from home in Seaford. His number at the workshop in Croydon is 02086628420.

 

[Jimmymack]

It's a shame that Griff has hung up his bunsen. The last time I saw him he was talking about doing somethings else but thought he might keep on some of the sax work. I had plans to have him do an overhaul for me but that's obviously off the cards.

 

[jonf]

Indeed @jonf I have semi retired, so I've stopped travelling to Croydon each week from Devon. 20 years of it and it was time to call it a day. I work 1 day a week from home now.
Jim Prior now does the saxes at Just Flutes/Jonathan Myall Music in Croydon. We were at college together learning our craft back in 2005. He also works from home in Seaford. His number at the workshop in Croydon is 02086628420.

Hi @griff136 , thanks for the update, and for Jim's details. Good to know. I have also retired, fully in my case, I was just done with the whole world of work!

Jon

 

[Honkin Ron Howe]

Crikey, loads of sax techs retiring and it's never been easy finding a tech! I have managed to contact Steve Howard but he's really busy. Dawkes at Maidenhead have a decent workshop as does Sax.co on the South Bank in London. I'm yet to find out what Amy Craig is gonna do. I can't find details for Rupert Noble in Worthing but I have a mobey number. I actually do some of my own repairs but there are things that baffle sometimes and the tools are flipping expensive! Levelling pads is a hit an miss art requiring the patience of a saint and a good suppy of different thickness pads and plenty of shellac. These are the details for Dawkes, Sax.co and Just Flutes:

Dawkes Music
(by appointment)
Monday-Saturday 9.30am-5.30pm.
Dawkes Music & Windcraft Ltd
Reform Road, Maidenhead, Berkshire SL6 8BT
T: 01628 630 800
E: repairs@dawkes.co.uk
W: https://www.dawkes.co.uk

Sax.co
SAX WORKSHOP (by appointment)
Tuesday - Fri: 10am - 6pm
Saturday: 10am - 5pm
26 Stamford Street, London SE19LQ
T: 01892 662 533
E: help@sax.co.uk
W: Saxophone Repairs - SAX Workshops

Just Flutes
(by appointment)
Tuesday – Friday 9:30am – 5:30pm
Saturday – 10:00am – 5:00pm
46 South End, Croydon CR0 1DP
T: 020 8662 8400
W: https://www.justflutes.com/content/our-services/repair-workshop

 

[Selmer10G]

Justyna McEwan (CONTACT | jmrepairs) has done repairs for me and I can recommend.
google says that's a 45 minute from gatwick. good luck!

 

[cappers]

@Honkin Ron Howe

My teacher is also a qualified woodwind tech and lives in Eastbourne if that's not too much of journey for you; nice day out by the sea. Let me know if you want his details and I'll message you.

Shame about SaxCo Crowborough as it's not far from me either.

@Honkin Ron Howe
As I mentioned above Rob Sansom my teacher in Eastbourne - Rob Sansom Teacher Home Page is very good and not too dear. Full check up, service and replacement of 6 pads on my alto for £160; check up service and one pad on my tenor for £50.

I have nothing to gain by promoting him, only reminding you as E/B is probably easier to drive to from Surrey than central London.

 

[Honkin Ron Howe]

Stephen Howard is top man, so is Rupert Noble in Worthing

Stephen is certainly a notoriety. I have his well dog-eared Haynes sax repair manual. I also visit his site frequently looking at sax reviews and picking up on supplementary repair tips. I bought my Thomann Low Jazz bari on the basis of his musings.

 

[Merryfisher]

Stephen is certainly a notoriety. I have his well dog-eared Haynes sax repair manual. I also visit his site frequently looking at sax reviews and picking up on supplementary repair tips. I bought my Thomann Low Jazz bari on the basis of his musings.

he a magician. He has done several of my horns recently, each of them fettled to perfection. Yep, as with all top craftsmen they are super busy…but he is well worth waiting for…..it just about planning ahead.

 

[Honkin Ron Howe]

he a magician. He has done several of my horns recently, each of them fettled to perfection. Yep, as with all top craftsmen they are super busy…but he is well worth waiting for…..it just about planning ahead.

It's good to have back-ups, and spare horns, so you never have to be in a rush to get anything repaired or serviced. Thankfully, while on the road over the decades, I've never had an emergency. That's the beauty of picking up cheap back-up horns.

 

[thomsax]

We have been talking about higer saxophone prices .... the price for having your sax repaired is also increasing? So how are hobby saxophone players going to deal with future sax repairs? The number of sax techs is decreasing and many saxophone players have to lay down their horns because there are no sax techs?

 

[Honkin Ron Howe]

We have been talking about higer saxophone prices .... the price for having your sax repaired is also increasing? So how are hobby saxophone players going to deal with future sax repairs? The number of sax techs is decreasing and many saxophone players have to lay down their horns because there are no sax techs?

That will be a challenge to face. It worries me as an OAP now!