I've just acquired a very old (1979) Boosey & Hawkes flute. I'm currently learning clarinet and would like to teach myself flute as a side-line (my clarinet teacher said he will help me). It only cost £30, but it's in surprisingly good condition. The pads will probably need replacing, if not now, then very soon! the keys on the footjoint need to pressed quite hard to close, and there is some tarnishing around the holes and in the nooks and crannies of the keywork. Apart from that (!) it seems fine.. no dents or anything. As I've only paid £30 for it I'm willing to try doing the maintanence myself... my question is, what equipment do I need and can anyone offer any advice?

My advice would be not to attempt repairs on it unless you have had some prior training in flute repair. Based purely on the age and your description of the problems, I would guess it needs at the very least a COA (Clean, Oil, and Adjust), if not a full overhaul, and these are not procedures that should be undertaken by someone without a reasonably good understanding of what they are doing. It is quite easy to inadvertently damage the mechanism, and can pose a problem putting it all back together properly as well. Not to mention that the proper tools for this type of work can be reasonably pricey. I think this is a job much better left to a professional.

Well, it seems to me that you have two choices: 1) Learn to repair flutes (because you won't likely do a very good job on your first try) or 2) learn to play the flute.

There might possibly be someone either here or on the Sax-on-the-Web (flute/piccolo doubling) forum who could guide you. But you will need tools, instructions, pads...

If that interests you, go for it. The world can always use good instrument repair-people, recycling old Bundys and such into the hands of schoolchildren.

Otherwise, I would have to agree that if you choose option 2) Learn to PLAY the flute that you go to an understanding repairman. A good one may be able to help you prioritize repairs so that you do what is necessary to get the flute playing, for now. For example, notes lower than low D (just above middle C on the piano) do not require the last two keys on the footjoint to close, and they won't be used much at first-leaving you a few months to get the money to have them repaired properly later.

Tarnish under the keys, under the mechanism is NOT a problem except cosmetically. Many well meaning flute cleaners get polish under there where it can ruin the mechanism. This area is polished ONLY when the flute is completely disassembled. The only thing you can really do is take a small (1 cm) CLEAN paintbrush and shoo the lint out from under there.

Good luck, and know that it is ALWAYS a good idea for a player to have a basic understanding of how the flute works.

Tibbie

I have learned how to repair my old flute from http://www.musicmedic.com . You can order a flute repair kit that has all the tools you really need to start out. You definitely want some calipers to measure the pad cups for your pad sizes as not all are the same. I (me personally saying what I would do...not saying what anyone else should do) would definitely practice repairs on this flute being that it might not even be really well playable after a tech gets done with it due to its age and brand. Practice replacing and seating pads. Taking it apart to see how everything works. Taking it apart to completely clean it. Also see which keys move which pads when pressed. Those are my thoughts on this area.

-Dennis

do you guys know what's wrong with my flute? it's a gemienhardt 2sp, and it doesn't produce a clear sound in the upper register.. the notes sound very "quiet" it' doesn't have this loud projecting sound..and it takes a long time to get the high notes, and when you do..it's this very small fuzzy kind of sound. i know there's something wrong with the flute and not me because on my other flute, i'm able to get a nice sound on the upper resister.
NOtes are basically c4, Bb3 ..and notes around there. do you guys know what's wrong with it?
i think one time i was in a rush and when i was taking apart my flute i had a grip around where the keys were(hard grip) and it think i did something..hmm..i dunno

Hi everyone, thanks for your replies. I will think about getting to a repair shop - there's a good one near me so will try there. In answer to Micron, I'm not sure what model of flute it is - the seller said that he thought it dated from 1979, but that's not 100% certain. The body of flute says 'made for Boosey & Hawkes' and has a number 78. The serial number is 533404, but I haven't been able to trace what that means. It's pretty solid and seems to have aged well, there are no bent keys or dents, and on the odd occasion that I've managed to get a sound out(!) it sounds ok, and all the notes speak, at least in the lower octave.

Gee, when I read that it was a "very old" flute from 1979, I was taken aback!! My flute is from 1970 and still looks great!

I guess that makes me...VERY, VERY old!!

"Gee, when I read that it was a "very old" flute from 1979, I was taken aback!! My flute is from 1970 and still looks great!

I guess that makes me...VERY, VERY old!!"

That puts my age just between the demise of the dinos and the onset of the 'possum. Reminds me of that Gemmy 3Sb I wore out back then & has been sitting on a shelf for the past 25 years.

~Bilbo
N.E. Ohio

oh, i thought i messed up some kind of screw...
hmm..i should go to my repair shop just to make sure. i need my marching instrument to be working...