Repairs & Services
We offer a great Student Rental Program. Learn more.
Case Repair
Instrument Case Repair
We not only repair instruments but also the cases that protect them during transport. We install case hinges, latches, handles, casters, wheels, and lid straps. Additionally, we can modify cases to fit your instrument more securely or fit a case to an obscure instrument.
Woodwind Services
Playing conditions
Oil, adjust, & regulate mechanisms. Straighten bent keys, check alignment, and eliminate air leaks utilizing a Magnehelic Leak Tester. We can also replace individual pads/corks/felts at this time. "General tune up" - This procedure is recommended as an annual service.
Complete Service & Cleaning
Our Complete Service & Cleaning is ideal for instruments not needing a Complete Repad & Mechanical Overhaul but in need of a thorough cleaning and Complete Service. This is recommended every 2-3 years as a step above our Playing Condition, and includes the following for each instrument:
- Saxophone - Disassemble instrument; Ultrasonically clean instrument/neck/mouthpiece in a safe biodegradable solution; clean bore with air-powered nylon brushes; hand polish silver plated or unlacquered instruments; hand clean keywork/hinge tubes/rods/pivot screws, reassemble instrument; oil all hinge rods; grease all pivot screws and rollers; play test and adjust for intonation & response. *This service includes up to 6 key corks or felts. Additional key corks, felts, and any necessary pads are charged accordingly*
- Clarinet - Disassemble instrument; Ultrasonically clean instrument/mouthpiece in a safe biodegradable solution; clean bore with nylon brushes; hand polish silver plated keywork; hand clean keywork/hinge tubes/rods/pivot screws, bore oil wood instruments; reassemble instrument; oil all hinge rods; grease all pivot screws; check for leaks utilizing Magnehelic gauge; play test and adjust for intonation & response. *This service includes up to 6 key corks or felts. Additional key corks, felts, and any necessary pads are charged accordingly*
- Flute & Piccolo - Disassemble instrument; Ultrasonically clean instrument in a safe biodegradable solution; clean bore with air-powered nylon brushes; hand polish silver plated instruments; hand clean keywork/hinge tubes/rods/pivot screws, reassemble instrument; oil all hinge rods; grease all pivot screws and rollers; check for leaks utilizing Magnehelic gauge; play test and adjust for intonation & response. *This service includes up to 6 key corks or felts. Additional key corks, felts, and any necessary pads are charged accordingly*
Complete Repad & Mechanical Overhaul
- Saxophone - Disassemble instrument; remove all pads/key corks/felts, & neck cork; Ultrasonically clean instrument/keys/neck in a safe biodegradable solution; straighten & swedge keys; check pad cups for flatness; fit pivot screws/posts; perfect toneholes; fit neck & receiver; straighten body (if necessary) and remove any minor dents; reassemble with new synthetic key corks/felts, premium pads, and your choice of resonators; play test and adjust for intonation & response. *We highly recommend RooPads, which can be installed for an additional charge*
- Clarinet - Disassemble instrument; remove all pads/key corks/felts, & tenon corks; polish keywork; Ultrasonically clean keywork and body; bore oil wood instruments; straighten & swedge keys; fit pivot screws/posts; install teflon inserts on specific keys; reassemble with new synthetic key corks/felts, tenon corks, & synthetic Valentino pads; play test and adjust for intonation & response. *Add Valentino Masters or cork pads for an additional charge*
- Flute & Piccolo - Disassemble instrument; remove all pads/key corks/felts, & crown cork; Ultrasonically clean instrument & keys; polish body, head, & keywork; straighten & swedge keys; fit pivot screws/posts; perfect toneholes; straighten body (if necessary) & remove any minor dents; reassemble with new synthetic key corks/felts, premium pads, & fit/seal new crown cork; play test and adjust for intonation & response. *Valentino Masters synthetic pads are used on Piccolos*
RooPads for Saxophone
Carl's Pro Band has been using Kangaroo Skin pads since the late 1990's and we moved to MusicMedic.com's RooPads in the early 2000's. These pads are superior to anything else on the market. Kangaroo skin is incredibly strong, yet very supple. This makes for the perfect saxophone pad skin. Since these pads are untreated (no water-proofing, no dyes, etc...) they do not stick like traditional pads. They also create a very nice positive feel for the player, and seem to last much longer than traditional pads.
Check out what Curt Altarac (owner of MusicMedic.com and legendary saxophone repair technician) had to say about Carl's Pro Band: "While I was in Normal, I got a chance to visit Carl's Pro Band shop and got to see the work they are doing. We see the work of technicians from all over the world and have seen the best and the worst from the best and the worst, so I can tell you that the work coming from Carl's Pro Band is truly world class. After knowing Carl and Travis for many years and understanding their philosophy of repair and then finally seeing their work, I would recommend them to anyone."
Wide Variety of Resonators
Including Solid Brass Noyek 'Hollywood Boosters', Hollywood Maestro, Plastic Dome, Metal Dome, Sterling Silver or Brass ResoTech Flat or Domed resonators.
Synthetic Masters Pads for Clarinet
We have been using synthetic pads on clarinets for 10+ years and in our opinion the Masters Series Pads from JL Smith Co. are the best around. Unlike traditional bladder pads, Masters Series Pads do not bloat or shrink due to climate change and they do not crack or peel. The pad surfaced is precision cut which makes for a superior sealing pad, and they respond like a cork pad (the best of both worlds!)
The ultimate performance pads for professional instruments, Valentino Masters are the result of decades of experience working with leading artists, technicians and manufactures to achieve a standard of perfection unmatched by any other woodwind pad. Advanced materials and cutting-edge construction offer a level of precision that makes these the favorites of technicians who service professional instruments and they provide extraordinary dynamic range and exquisite feel that are essential to the professional musician.
Vintage woodwind reconditioning
We can recondition your vintage woodwind instruments and bring them back to life!
Synthetic Neck Corks
We can replace your traditional natural neck cork with a synthetic material. The general reason we use this material is because it is forgiving enough to allow for use of different mouthpieces that have different shank sizes.
Saxophone Modifications
Adding Key Arms
We can fabricate additional key arms for bell and bow keys to help stabilize them. Often times bell keys will twist or torque when activated (since they have relatively large key cups attached to long levers). This process helps to strengthen the key cup and reduces leakage issues due to key flex.
Custom Key Guards
We can fabricate custom key guards for horns that are missing the original.
Palm Key Risers
Using a dental molding material, palm keys are enhanced to fit your specific hand placement.
Saxophone Neck Extension
We had to fabricate a neck extension for this Selmer Mark VI tenor. Our customer plays several different mouthpieces and this neck had work done to it before he purchased it. In order for the mouthpiece to fit securely at the correct depth for intonation purposes (farther out than normal), an extension was the best option. We fabricated the extension from brass rod and hard soldered it to the neck. There is no gap or step on the interior of the neck bore and the extension slips over the existing neck. After the new neck cork, the extension is not noticeable unless you know the original length of the neck. It worked out great for our customer as he's now able to tune at the proper depth on the neck and the mouthpiece is very stable and secure.
High Note Compensator Mechanism
This mechanism brings extremely sharp palm key and high C# notes back in tune.
Custom Front F (Rocker) Key
We create a custom fitted front F rocker key for the vintage horns without them.
G# lever Articulation
Allows the G# key to open when low C#, B, or Bb are played. (For some vintage horns)
Larger G# Key Lever Touch
Creates a larger G# key touch area to increase playability and comfortability.
Brasswind Services
Ultrasonic Cleaning
Carl's Pro Band is equipped with a 90 gallon Ultrasonic Cleaner (which is large enough to clean full size tubas/sousaphones). Ultrasonic cleaning is an innovative method of cleaning musical instruments through the use of high frequency sound waves and a biodegradable, environmentally friendly cleaning solution. Transducers mounted in the tank create tiny bubbles which clean and scrub the entire instrument in a safer, more thorough manner than traditional mechanical or chemical cleaning methods. Carl's Pro Band was one of the FIRST shops in Central IL to offer this superior service to their customers back in 2007!
Ultrasonic Flush & Clean
Includes the following:
- Disassemble horn
- Remove all corks, felts, water-key pads, rotor bumpers, etc…
- Clean instrument in Ultrasonic cleaner, using ultra-safe biodegradable cleaner
- We then use air powered nylon brushes to clean the interior of the instrument and slide tubes
- Pistons, rotors, and slide tubes are polished
- Silver instruments are hand polished as part of our cleaning process
- Precision valve/rotor port alignment verified with video borescope
- Reassemble horn with new corks, felts, synthetic water-key pads, orange silicone rotor bumpers, etc…
Synthetic Valve Washers
We stock a large variety of custom cut synthetic valve washers, which are standard on any professional brass Ultrasonic Cleaning in our shop. These synthetic washers are precision cut which gives you an exact thickness versus traditional felt washers that vary in thickness. They also do not compress like a traditional felt or cork washer and are unaffected by oils. Another added benefit is the quietness of these washers. We stock the black synthetic washers in multiple diameters and thicknesses and also utilize synthetic "cork" washers for very detailed alignment (down to 1/64"). If you are looking for a precise valve alignment with a superior product, these are for you.
Synthetic Valve Alignment with Video Borescope
Valve ports are measured and the valves are fit with synthetic washers for the ultimate alignment, response, and quietness. We then verify the alignment with a video borescope to ensure precise alignment.
Silicone Rubber Rotor Bumpers
We fit the bumper plate with orange silicone rubber bumpers, then check the alignment with a borescope, and precisely trim to the correct size. These are different than the translucent white silicone bumpers. They are a bit more firm but still create a quieter and more responsive rotor action than traditional cork or neoprene.
Slide & Valve Repair
We can repair damaged or dented slide tubes and repair troublesome pistons/casings.
Magnetic & traditional dent removal
We use the Magnetic Dent Removal System (MDRS) to remove dents from areas that our traditional tools will not reach without unsoldering joints. It is a great addition to our collection of tools, and especially effective on large brass and saxophone bows.
Dent Removal
We can remove small dings and large dents.
Polishing Raw Brass
We can hand polish (without buffing) raw brass or raw nickel instruments. Any instrument that is not lacquered will eventually become tarnished. This is an unlacquered french horn that sat for about 15 years. After Ultrasonic cleaning and hand polishing, it came right back to life.
Civil War era instrument repair
Check out the Civil War era tuba we rebuilt!
Brass Modifications
Mouthpipe Installation
We install your leadpipe without stressing the braces. We also fit the main tuning slide to ensure there are no gaps between the leadpipe and the inside slide tube. *We recommend Blackburn Leadpipes & Tuning Slides.
Tuba Mouthpipe Bending
This pipe is a replacement for the old one which was full of red rot. We had to bend this straight pipe to match the multiple bends in the existing mouthpipe. We then installed the mouthpipe and buffed/lacquered it.
3rd Slide Ring Modification
We cut the diamond brace on this 3rd slide ring and moved it closer to the valve casing. Our customer has small hands and this fixed ring was too much of a reach. We were able to move the ring about 10mm closer to the valve casing which should make it much easier to use. The existing soldered area was polished and re-plated to make this modification nearly invisible.
3rd Slide Triggers
We can add a 1st or 3rd slide trigger or saddle/ring to your trumpet or flugelhorn. We added this 3rd slide trigger to a Getzen flugelhorn to facilitate tuning.
Mounting Valve Sections to Bells
We mounted this Greenhoe valve section to a new Conn 88HY bell. We also installed the outside slide tube & ferrule to the bell.
Screw Bell Conversion
We converted this Holton Merker Matic French Horn to a screw bell.
Tuba Lever Conversion
We converted this Alexander tuba from a pin style lever linkage to a ball joint set up. We fabricated new lever arms and retrofitted the stop arms/levers to accept the new miniball sockets. This tends to reduce rotor noise and is more adjustable than the pin style lever linkage.
Thinning out finger buttons
Pearl on finger button is removed and the remaining metal is machined down to a flat, smooth surface.
French Horn Hand Rest
We fit and mount these Alexander hand rests to your specifications. These hand rests relieve some of the stress on the hand due to holding the French horn.
Custom Trombone Rotor Trigger
We fabricated this custom #2 rotor trigger for an old Yamaha Bass Trombone.