These are just my experiences. There are some people in the Seattle music world who talk trash about everyone one of these sites I recommend. But I have not found that to be true in my repair adventures.
Mills Music in Redmond and Issaquah:
Steve Nelson is the tech manager for this shop. He does excellent work and stands by his repairs. He has refurbished my primary horns and vintage instruments. He also saved me a couple of times with instruments damaged in theater pit orchestra gigs. He is one busy tech, but worth waiting for.
Kennelly Keys in Lynnwood:
Paul Woltz is the sax repairer extrodinaire. I've heard his vintage Buescher bass sax whisper and roar and if that is any indication of his repair skills. Well I'm gonna have to visit this guy at his shop. The shop isn't as friendly as Mills as you have to sign in and state what is wrong with your instrument before you see the tech. Hmm...
More on Paul: Paul Woltz - As an oboe and bassoon specialist, Paul has mastered his craft with over 35 years of experience as a professional repair technician and musician. He graduated from the University of Southern California with a Bachelor in Music on Bassoon and ran a repair shop in California for several years. His work is trusted by many of Washington's most accomplished musicians, whom repeatedly seek his expert services. As a professional bassoonist, Paul performed for 10 years at Disneyland and also worked as a studio musician in Hollywood. He currently performs with the 5th Ave Theater, the Cascade Symphony, and The Uptown, Lowdown Jazz Band; a touring Dixieland band.
World Wide Sax in Everett:
Steve Stranski is the man when it comes to vintage sax restores. He has restored a C Melody sax and a C soprano sax for me. He is fast, capable, and approachable. Oh, and you can see his vintage tenor sax collection too. There must be 20 or so tenors in his little museum.
Northwest Winds in Lakewood:
Brian Wherry is reputed to be the best repair guy on the west coast. Unfortunately he is now dedicating his time to an eBay music instrument provider.
Oberloh's in South Seattle:
I took a relatively new Yanagisawa baritone in for repair four years ago. The high F# rod had been damaged when my son used it in high school. That was fixed rather handily. But from D3 and up, the bari never spoke the same for me again. Could be more about me than the instrument, but I didn't have these problems before I took it in. I did note that a brand new Yanagisawa has the same problem. Maybe I should disable the high F#?
Mills Music in Redmond and Issaquah:
Steve Nelson is the tech manager for this shop. He does excellent work and stands by his repairs. He has refurbished my primary horns and vintage instruments. He also saved me a couple of times with instruments damaged in theater pit orchestra gigs. He is one busy tech, but worth waiting for.
Kennelly Keys in Lynnwood:
Paul Woltz is the sax repairer extrodinaire. I've heard his vintage Buescher bass sax whisper and roar and if that is any indication of his repair skills. Well I'm gonna have to visit this guy at his shop. The shop isn't as friendly as Mills as you have to sign in and state what is wrong with your instrument before you see the tech. Hmm...
More on Paul: Paul Woltz - As an oboe and bassoon specialist, Paul has mastered his craft with over 35 years of experience as a professional repair technician and musician. He graduated from the University of Southern California with a Bachelor in Music on Bassoon and ran a repair shop in California for several years. His work is trusted by many of Washington's most accomplished musicians, whom repeatedly seek his expert services. As a professional bassoonist, Paul performed for 10 years at Disneyland and also worked as a studio musician in Hollywood. He currently performs with the 5th Ave Theater, the Cascade Symphony, and The Uptown, Lowdown Jazz Band; a touring Dixieland band.
World Wide Sax in Everett:
Steve Stranski is the man when it comes to vintage sax restores. He has restored a C Melody sax and a C soprano sax for me. He is fast, capable, and approachable. Oh, and you can see his vintage tenor sax collection too. There must be 20 or so tenors in his little museum.
Northwest Winds in Lakewood:
Brian Wherry is reputed to be the best repair guy on the west coast. Unfortunately he is now dedicating his time to an eBay music instrument provider.
Oberloh's in South Seattle:
I took a relatively new Yanagisawa baritone in for repair four years ago. The high F# rod had been damaged when my son used it in high school. That was fixed rather handily. But from D3 and up, the bari never spoke the same for me again. Could be more about me than the instrument, but I didn't have these problems before I took it in. I did note that a brand new Yanagisawa has the same problem. Maybe I should disable the high F#?
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