As long as there have been saxophones they have needed repair and adjustment. It's the nature of the beast: the saxophone is a very complicated mechanism. Keeping your horn in top condition should be one of your very highest priorities. A well adjusted instrument is a thing of great beauty, and certainly makes playing a lot easier.
Here are some common sense (I think) suggestions for choosing your repair technician:
(1) GO WHERE THE PROS GO! Don't use a shop that specializes in "school band" repairs. They tend to be assembly line operations and generally are unfamiliar with professional quality instruments. Ask around among the people who play for a living. Their income depends on the quality of repairs they get.
(2) YOUR TECHNICIAN SHOULD BE A GOOD SAXOPHONE PLAYER! There's no room for compromise here. If your technician is not capable of playing the horn well, there is NO WAY they can tell if they did a good job.
(3) ASK TO SEE THE EQUIPMENT IN THE SHOP! You can't get the job done right unless you've got a full selection of the tools of the trade on hand as well as the necessary supplies. Ask to see what's there. A box of pads and a couple of screwdrivers are not sufficient.
(4) THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR EXPERIENCE! Just like anything else, practice makes perfect. A technician who has been in business for a long time will have seen your repair problems before, and know the right solution.
(5) BEWARE OF PARTS CHANGERS! There is virtually no component on a saxophone that can't be fixed. If the technician lacks the skills to fix the part (assuming it's all there), and prefers to replace it, start asking "why". You may not like the answer!
(6) IGNORE CLAIMS OF BOGUS CREDENTIALS! Experience and skill are all that matters. Membership in a fraternal organization such as NAPBIRT means absolutely nothing. The only requirement to join NAPBIRT is the ability to write a check. They do not now and never have enforced professional standards.
(7) TRY DIFFERENT TECHNICIANS! If you've got a choice of technicians, try them both. You may find that there is a real difference!
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