A brief workshop manual for recorders
Claudio D. Stern · Early Music · 1979
A,-.... I have recently encountered a number of amateur and professional recorder players who, regardless of their proficiency as performers, have never even considered the possibility of re-tuning their own instruments, or even submitting them to a major cleaning operation. Quite apart from economic considerations-sending an instrument to the akers for maintenance or repair may cost a considerable amount-undertaking one's own inor maintenance will bring more familiarity with the working and physical capabilities of one's instrument. Obviously, there are some major operations which do require expert attention and I would not dream of recommending readers to undertake these themselves. Although a good ordinary motor-car driver can change a tyre or the oil of his vehicle, he would not normally attempt to change the gear-box or the engine unaided. With woodwind instruments, the types of operation the reader should not attempt, at least until he is thoroughly familiar with woodwind workshop techniques, include the mending of cracks, and I shall not deal with such techniques here.