Flute COA in Charlotte NC

[Christine88]

I'm looking for a place to get my flute adjusted in Charlotte NC on a Saturday. Can anyone recommend a place?

[pied_piper]

In Charlotte, excellent place for flute specialty sales and service is J.L. Smith.
http://www.jlsmithco.com/
http://www.jlsmithco.com/Repair-Services

I believe they operate by appointment only but they are not open on Saturday.

Also, FYI, a true COA typically is not something that can be done while you wait.

Info from their website:
J. L. Smith Co., Inc.
901 Blairhill Rd., Suite 400
Charlotte, NC 28217
U.S.A.

Phone: 800.659.6073 or 704.521.1088
Fax: 704.521.1099

Hours of Operation
Monday thru Friday 9:00-5:00 EST
by appointment only.

[fluteguy18]

I agree wholeheartedly. JL Smith Co is a great place to go, but a COA is not a 'while you wait' service. Give them a call. They're always very nice when I've called them in the past.

[mirwa]

Why do you feel pied that coa is not a while you wait.

Its about an hrs work max.

Steve

[Classitar]

From the website:
Call Alex in the shop at 800.822.2157 or email flutes@jlsmithco.com to schedule your appointment. Only very minor repairs can be completed "while you wait".

Let us know how you make out

[pied_piper]

Why do you feel pied that coa is not a while you wait.

Its about an hrs work max.

Steve

Hi Steve - I think we may have different definitions of a COA. How do you define it? I define it as stripping the flute, cleaning, polishing body/keys, head cork if needed, possibly replacing 2-3 pads, oiling, adjusting, regulating, play testing. That's what I do and I can't do it in an hour. Maybe I'm slower than some since I'm not a full time repair tech. If I simply dust it off and just oil/adjust only (no new pads needed) then perhaps an hour or less is doable.

I'd be curious how other techs on here define a COA, how long it takes, and if you do it while the customer waits.

[mirwa]

Cool,

My description would be identical, including changing up to 3 pads, I strip them down clean / polish / lubricate / address any issues and then re-assemble and test play. Includes cleaning and tightening or replacing head cork, it's all part of the servicing

I do instrument servings whilst people go for a coffee, an hour is a comfortable amount of time for me,

steve

[pied_piper]

Steve - I'm in awe!!! Compared to you I'm only half-fast (time-wise, but not quality-wise I hope)

[fluteguy18]

I can do an intermediate level COA in that time, but not a Pro level. When I do a Pro level COA it's full disassembly, polish the body (inside and out), degreaser soak, ultrasonically clean the body, hand polish the keys, unpin the mechanism, clean hinge tubes and polish the hinge rods, replace the head cork, polish the face plate, seal the cork to the tube, refit the joints if needed, re-assemble, replace pads as needed, shim the leaks, seal all the washers and grommets to the pad skins, re-regulate, adjust for lost motion, and play in for a few minutes to see if anything shifts. If it shifts, I readjust as needed.

Maybe I'm too thorough, but when it's done, it's done.

[mirwa]

Steve - I'm in awe!!! Compared to you I'm only half-fast (time-wise, but not quality-wise I hope)

Its all good, I suspect you are working from home maybe.

I say this because when I first started my business, I worked from home, the biggest thing that slowed me down was room, when I eventually went into a workshop, everything had a place, things were no longer stored in draws and so forth. But setup on benches ready to be used.

So this increased my speed dramatically, and really I was doing nothing differently.

It takes me an hr 15 to strip clean repair re-assemble a saxophone. If that helps

Steve