The Dawkes Music Instrument Repair Workshop is open by appointment from Monday-Saturday 9.30am-5.30pm. We repair all Woodwind Instruments, not just Clarinets. We work on Bb Clarinets, A Clarinets, Alto Clarinets and Bass Clarinets. To keep your Clarinet in good working order, we recommend that you have it maintained and serviced at regular intervals. Clarinets purchased from us qualify for a 10% discount on future repairs of that specific instrument (subject to verification). This does not affect the standard 12-month guarantee.
Looking to get your Wind or Brass instrument repaired or serviced? Book an in-store appointment with our workshop to have your instrument assessed.
Please Note: This is not a courier collection booking for remote repair assistance. If you have an instrument to send to us for quote/repair we suggest using the Royal Mail Home Collection service. You can purchase the postage on their site and then arrange for Royal Mail to collect the item directly from your home, or you can take it to a local post office. More details and booking can be found on the Royal Mail Collection Site. Please contact us before sending in any instruments so we can advise on current waiting times.
Do you feel your clarinet isn't playing as it should or as well as you remember from when you first received it? Below, our clarinet repairers explain some of the issues that may affect your instrument now or in the future. If you’d like to book a drop-off or repair slot with our team, please contact us
If you have a minor problem with your clarinet we have a team of repairers available to perform clarinet repairs whilst you wait. Our on the spot service is intended for quick adjustments and minor repairs. We also do our best to accommodate any emergency repairs as we understand how important it is to have your clarinet working at its best should you have an upcoming performance or exam.
Here we check your clarinet fully but without dismantling the instrument. Having this done every year ensures that you are getting the best out of your clarinet. One method for checking that your clarinet is air-tight is by performing a suction test on the top and bottom joints of your instrument, it gives a fair indication of whether your clarinet is working as well as it could. You can attempt this yourself by following these instructions.
If you don't get a pronounced pop as you release the keys you may need to visit our shop. It may be that we will need to replace any worn or missing corks and make sure your clarinet is regulated (where one key goes down with another). Basically it means we get your clarinet working without doing too much cleaning!
Same as points 1 and 2 above but this time blow down the top or bottom joint of your clarinet. If you hear air escaping from either joint then it's possible that the springs of your clarinet are not functioning properly or key-work regulation is not as it should be.
There are other specialist repairs we can perform such as repairing broken tenons, customising key-work, silver plating or gold plating key-work, re-facing mouthpieces and filling cracked clarinets. This presentation shows you exactly what we do on every standard clarinet service or re-pad.
Our workshop keep a very high standard when it comes to performing clarinet servicing and follow a checklist with each service or re-pad. This presentation shows you exacttly what we do on every standard clarinet service or re-pad. To navigate, either click the side buttons or swipe the page if you have a touch screen device.
"I just wanted to say a massive thank you for incredible customer service. The telephone was answered swiftly on my initial telephone call. Sam was very helpful, and my daughter's flute was repaired and despatched the same day it was received. I received a telephone call to tell me what the problem was and to ask how I would like it sent. Unfortunately there was a hold up with the carriers which delayed it by a day, but even so, having posted it Monday evening, and having it returned Thursday morning is fantastic service! My daughter will be very please when she comes home from school. It is good to see that there are still the odd one or two companies who will do their utmost to provide such a service. It is much appreciated. THANK YOU." Sue Jeans
"Good morning I wantede to say a big thank you to Abi. My bass clarinet arrived safely yesterday and played like a beautiful melting dream last night in the band, just delicious. Everyone noticed it was back!" Maggie Fisher
"Had the bass clarinet serviced recently and just wanted to say a HUGE THANK YOU!!! It is playing it so beautifully and soaring over the octave as its never done before!!! Thanks!!!" Louise Rayner
"Just a short email to thank Ivan for doing a wonderful repair on my lovely old bass clarinet. It plays beautifully now and his care and attention to detail is very much appreciated. With kind regards Robin Aitken" Robin Aitken
"I would like to pass on my thanks to the Dawkes repair workshop for the fantastic job you've done on my clarinet. It looks and plays like new - money well spent and I wish I'd done it sooner."Duncan Murray
"Dawkes is one of the few places I trust with my instruments, whether for minor adjustments or major repairs. The staff are friendly and helpful, happy to spend time adjusting instruments to specific requirements, and the turn-around time is much faster than others. My saxes and clarinets have been in many times and always come back playing like new. Dawkes is the only repair department I recommend to my pupils!" Alastair Penman - Sax/Clt Tutor, Bucks http://www.alastairpenman.co.uk/
"I am very pleased to endorse the Repair Shop at Dawkes Music for their prompt and efficient service. They are always most corteous and helpful, and as a professional musician I am most appreciative of their willingness to make instant repairs and adjustments when needed.In my guise as Sax/Clt teacher at Eton College, I can confirm that Eton Music School are very satisfied with the performance of the Repair Shop." Peter Ripper - Sax/Clt Tutor at Eton College, ex BBC Radio Big Band, London Sax Quartet
"Dawkes are the region's premier wind and brass specialists, and we are lucky to have them on our doorstep here in Maidenhead. With a warm welcome from their fantastic team of staff, whether you are looking to try, hire or buy an instrument or accessories, need aminor repair or major overhaul or just advice, you are guaranteed the best level of service, expertise....and even a cup of coffee!" Caroline Owen - Clarinettist with Chamberhouse Winds, Area Senior Leader for Berkshire Maestros
"On the countless times I have brought instruments in for repair (anything from replacemant pads through to full overhauls and even reconstructing a badly damaged French Horn) over the last 20 years the service has been expert, at times exceedingly quick and always done with good humour. I can't recomend them highly enough." Simon Carr - Professional Woodwind Player & Head of Woodwind at Radley College, Oxford.
"Excellent workmanship and friendly service! Work always carried out with an eye for detail and the good of the player in mind." Jeremy Shoobridge - Woodwind Teacher, Kent
Abi came to Dawkes Music in 2008, through a trial apprenticeship under (then) manager Gary Hobdell. She gained a wide range of experience through working with and studying under a number of excellent woodwind and brass repairers, including in-house and external training. She is a hardworking technician, with an impressive knowledge of parts, instruments, supplies and techniques. She is committed to taking the time to investigate and resolve the most subtle of faults, and will strive to ensure every player leaves our shop with confidence in their instrument. Abi is also our resident Bassoonist, and particularly enjoys taking on Bassoon servicing work.
Ivan joined us in 1992 after receiving City & Guilds Certificate from Merton Technical College. Ivan is the only member of our team that didn't originally play a wind instrument; he is a Jazz Drummer, but turned to the path of woodwind and is now one of the very pillars of our Workshop team. Ivan has patience like no other, and combined with his long experience, good will and persistence he can handle the most challenging woodwind repairs. A familiar face for our regular customers, he is faithfully entrusted with vintage saxophone overhauls on a regular basis. His supportive and calm demeanour makes him a role model and inspiration for his fellow repairers.
Sunniva joined us in 2014 after receiving a Diploma in Musical Instrument Technology from Lincoln College, Newark Campus. She left her native country of Norway to study wind instrument making and repair in the UK, and is now a full time qualified woodwind and brass technician. She studied flute making and advanced tool making as part of her course, and is more than comfortable around lathes, drills, and milling machines. Always enthusiastic and up for a challenge, her can-do attitude and passion for the industry makes her an asset to our workshop, particularly as she is on the committee for the National Association of Musical Instrument Repairers. She enjoys the small victories of repairing and is fluent in Norwegian, English, Danish, and flute.
Ana joined us in 2016 after receiving a Diploma in Musical Instrument Technology from Lincoln College, Newark Campus. Originally from Lisbon, Portugal, she has a long standing relationship with woodwinds since playing Clarinet with the Portuguese Army band for 7 years before becoming a technician. She is careful and intuitive and has taken on every challenge thrown her way since joining Dawkes, as well as using her invaluable playing experience and knowledge of the clarinet to inspire and support our customers. Driven by an appetite for perfection, Ana is a dedicated repairer as well as enjoying teaching some adult Clarinet and Sax lessons here at Dawkes.