South Wales Woodwind
High quality repairs and servicing of all woodwind instruments including saxophone, clarinet, flute, oboe and bassoon. Everything from minor jobs to complete overhauls.
Instrument, mouthpiece and accessory sales.
COVID-19 Health & Safety Update June 23rd 2020
Dear valued South Wales Woodwind customer,
I am pleased to say that as of the above date, Penarth Music Centre is now open for business again, so I am happily re-installed in my normal workshop premises.
I am still of course, following the guidelines, so please note the following:
Instruments will still be quarantined for 72 hours before work is carried out, and for 72 hours after completion, before handing back to the customer. I apologise for any inconvenience. This seems to be the procedure that almost all the instrument repair industry is following, and of course it is for everybody's safety and benefit.
N.B. As Penarth Music Centre and South Wales Woodwind are separate businesses, please make an appointment with myself first before coming to the store.
As usual, please leave your name and contact details in the case, and remove your mouthpiece, reeds, and any cleaners. (not flute head-joints however). I will test the instruments using my own mouthpiece and reed, flute head-joints and key work on all instruments will be cleaned with isopropyl alcohol before and after work is carried out.
I will get in touch with an estimate before working, if requested, and afterwards send a secure payment link to your mobile phone, and we arrange collection when payment is made.
Many Thanks for your patience and understanding!
Richard, your friendly neighbourhood repair man.
Richard Hamer
South Wales Woodwind Ltd.
TESTIMONIALS
- I thoroughly recommend Dick Hamer, who has all the qualities needed to be a great woodwind repair man: He’s a thorough, meticulous perfectionist who takes great pride in his work; also - unlike many in the trade - he’s a great woodwind player, equally at home on all saxophones, flutes and clarinets, which means he knows exactly how an instrument in perfect working order should feel, sound, and behave. I feel better placed than many to say this, as Dick was my teacher and inspiration from the age of twelve, without whom I certainly wouldn’t have pursued a career in music. When I had the opportunity of recording with jazz legend Cedar Walton in New York recently, I took my tenor saxophone to Dick beforehand, who gave my treasured instrument an excellent service. I felt completely confident on the day that my horn wouldn’t cause any problems, and it didn’t, in fact, it felt great! Thanks Dick.Osian Roberts
- Having known Dick as a wonderfully gifted saxophonist I was totally unaware of his fine technical skills in instrument repairs. In the past i have had to travel outside of Wales to have my cherished vintage King super 20 alto overhauled or re padded but thankfully a friend of mine highly recommended Dick after having his Yanagisawa overhauled.He kept me fully informed of what needed to be done to get the horn back in shape and i found him to be honest and professional. Dick is a real pro and the fact that he is also a fine player enables him to fully understand the needs of the player. My sax is blowin sweeter than ever. Thanks Dick.Dave Moreau
- I would like to say a big thank you to DICK HAMER of South Wales Woodwind! Last week in Swansea I was horrified to find that my beloved bass clarinet had completely seized up. We had several gigs coming up including the gig at Swansea Jazzland so I was distraught to say the least. All the repairers I know are deep in London and my old friend and clarinet maintainer has gone to Spain!!!! Last time I took the bass apart, when I put it back together I had a key left over so I wasn't going down that route. I thought that at the very least I'd be on the M4 to Cardiff and I am SO tired of driving. I could not believe when I found Dick's website. A first class professional woodwind technician within three miles of Birchgrove, Swansea!!!! It couldn't be true. But it was! Not only did Dick do a fantastic job repairing my bass clarinet, sorting out some fuzzy notes on the way, but he was generous enough to lend me his own bass clarinet for the gig in between. I can't thank him enough and as my clarinets get a regular hammering they will be seeing him again in the near future for some tender loving maintenance.Susannah Warren
- “Thank you so much for your help. Your guidance and support has made this the best experience for buying a mouthpiece that I ever had”David Tannahill.
- Have not done exhaustive tests but so far the Mark VI seems to be playing better than ever before – awesome job you did on it, I know it is the same instrument, and in many ways is the same as I have always known for all these years, but also seems to have taken on a slightly different, better character –many thanks!!Glen Manby
- Hi Richard, I just wanted to say thanks so much for my reborn Emperor Bb, which you have so excellently restored. It's so solidly reliable to play now, and it's a great sound too! and sorry about all the rust etc!With gratitude, Alan Lodge (Brecon TCB)
- Despite the distance between us, Dick has become our trusted guy to go to for my woodwind repairs and service work. His work is first class, and he’s very clear in his description of necessary work on instruments. On top of this, Dick’s prices are very reasonable, and despite him being in demand, he’ll try his best to squeeze in an urgent job. Always great comments from customers on the playability of their (serviced by Dick) instruments, which in turn reflects well on us.Premier Flutes UK.
- Plays like an absolute dream!!!! Thanks so much, I always had altissimo problems with this horn, and now it pops straight out!Daniel Newberry, Selmer mk VI tenor