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Saxophone Mouthpiece Refacing and Restoration |
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We offer complete Saxophone Mouthpiece Refacing and Restoration services!
All work is done in-house - contact Eric Falcon (
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) to discuss your needs.
| Refacing
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| Restoration
| Why should I have my mouthpiece refaced? Most saxophone mouthpieces today are mass produced in a way that leaves many flaws. They usually play just okay - but not great. Having a skilled craftsman hand finish your mouthpiece will optimize the playability and make it easier to concentrate on making music instead of fighting your equipment. Also, over time your mouthpiece will slightly change from wear. A quality refacing job will bring it back to life and give you many more years of enjoyment from the mouthpiece. |
| Why should I have my mouthpiece restored? In addition to wear after many years of use, age brings other problems to a mouthpiece. Hard rubber mouthpieces eventually lose their original feel due to years of hard use and no longer seal with the reed. The restoration process gives you a like new mouthpiece (better than new in many cases) for a fraction of the cost of replacing it. While some of this is a cosmetic issue it also a hygiene issue. Years of calcium and other build up is removed during the process. Many metal mouthpieces begin to lose their plating on the table thus creating an uneven surface for the reed to sit on. Our restoration process improves the performance of the mouthpiece and gives it new life with a quality refacing job and in the case of metal mouthpieces, a complete replate with silver or gold. | Refacing includes:
- Examine the mouthpiece to identify worn areas and any possible manufacturing defects.
- Flattening of the table (concave table available on request).
- Checking and adjusting the side rails for symmetry.
- Application of a proper facing curve (many lengths and curve rates are available).
- Change tip opening to the desired size.
- Reshape the baffle and tip rail to optimize performance.
- Thorough play testing to ensure that the desired result is obtained.
- Remove all sanding, file, and tooling marks.
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| Restoration includes:- Our standard Refacing (as described in the left column).
- Remove all signs of aging and wear to the greatest extent possible.
- Silver plating of metal mouthpieces (gold plating available on request).
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| Pricing
Refacing: - Hard rubber, plastic, and wood standard refacing - $85
- Metal excluding stainless steel - $105
- Stainless steel - $225
Restoration (includes Refacing): - Hard rubber or plastic - $115
- Metal excluding stainless steel - $160
- Stainless steel restoration is not available at this time
| | Eric will consult with you before the work is performed to ensure the best possible result based on your needs. |
| I received my Yanagisawa metal soprano mouthpiece back from Warburton, and it looks terrific. You did everything your website said you would, and the mouthpiece looks better than it did when new. The nicks are gone, there is no exposed brass on the table, and the rails appear to be even for the first time. Some older reeds that had been a problem now are useful again.
When you said you could have it back in a week, I assumed that meant you would need it there for a week. I was completely surprised and amazed that it went from New York to you and back, including your restoration, in just a week. This even included a week with a mail service holiday. So, count me impressed!
Again, thank you for an excellent job, and service way above expectations.
Matt Finley
Kingsmill Music
mattfinley.com
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| After 18 years of playing on it my Guardala mouthpiece, it was long overdue for some refacing and restoration. I had been hesitant to have anyone try to restore a mouthpiece of this quality and one local refacer actually declined to work on it. After trying some of Eric's custom mouthpieces, I quickly realized, he was someone who had the expertise to get my piece back to the way it was. When I asked him if he would work on it, he didn't hesitate and told me to bring it in. His work was outstanding and the mouthpiece looks and plays like it did when I first bought it.
Eric also worked extensively with me to choose a Warburton mouthpiece that plays with the same great flexibility and tonal quality I'm use to. It was the L.A . model and I have to say, it's a great mouthpiece and the first one I've performed on, besides my Guardala, in 18 years. I'm loving it!
Thanks, Eric & Warburton for the great work and quality service.
Ray Guiser
oldfaithfulmusic.com
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Check out these BEFORE and AFTER examples of Eric's work:
| BEFORE
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| AFTER
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| This Selmer mouthpiece had certainly seen better days and it played even worse than it looked. The hard rubber was very oxidized, the tip opening was not symmetrical, rails and tip were very worn.
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| Hard to believe it's the same piece! Now it looks and plays great. In addition to the precision refacing work, we cleaned and buffed the piece to restore its original polished hard-rubber finish.
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| BEFORE
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| AFTER |
In this example the rail has been rounded off and cannot provide a good sealing surface for the reed.
A common problem with metal mouthpieces is damage caused by improper buffing/polishing. The buffing wheel all too easily deforms the rail edges which in turn results in poor sealing against the reed. |
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Here's the same piece after being fully restored (in this case it was silver plated). The rails and tip have been carefully reworked to provide a consistently contoured flat surface against which the reed can seal properly. The tip opening and baffle areas were done according to the customer's request. |
| BEFORE
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| AFTER
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This Otto Link model had all the classic signs of wear and tear - rounded and worn rails, worn tip, and was not symmetrical. What was once a great mouthpiece no longer played well.
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After giving careful attention to the rails, tip, and baffle - the difference in playing is astounding. And the complete restoration process has it looking new again!
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This Selmer hard rubber mouthpiece came to us showing signs of 40 years of use and abuse.
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What a difference - Now it's better than new!
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