O-Winds

19/12/2025

🎷🎁Looking for a last-minute Christmas gift?🎁🎷

How about this lovely B&H 400 Tenor Saxophone for only £375? I'll even throw in the sheet music for 'Last Christmas' by Wham so you can impress the family as they sit captive, swollen with sprouts, after your heart Christmas-Day feast.

It might not be shiny and new, but this is a solid horn from a well-known brand; a real work-horse sax that would suit anyone from a beginner, or even as a back-up horn for a pro. There are blemishes and dings to the instrument (as one would expect for an instrument of a certain vintage), but it's certainly more reliable than some of the brand new shiny unknown-brand saxes that you may be tempted by.

It's been serviced, and play-tested in a professional gig setting, and will come with a free 6-month checkover service. You can also feel reassured that buying from me means you'll have a fully working instrument from a reputable business, and not have to worry about risky Facebook marketplace purchases.

If you'd like to take a look, send me a message on here or WhatsApp me. You can even make an appointment to give it a toot in A Strings - Guitar Specialists too (by appointment only though, as I'm not here every day over the next few weeks).

🎅🏻🎄

19/09/2025

Hello Facebook, it's been a while!

Despite the lack of online presence, it's been a particularly busy year for O-Winds Woodwind Repair. There will be a few announcements and posts over the coming weeks including details of my new location and new website.

I will also have several instruments for sale (flutes, clarinets and saxophones - all student/intermediate-level and fully serviced) so please get in touch if you're looking to buy.

(this lovely Boosey & Hawkes 400 tenor sax is available now - comes with free 6-month checkover service too! WhatsApp me for more details)

20/11/2024

It’s a busy period for musicians, so if you need any servicing/repairs done on your instruments, get them booked in before the slots fill up!

Limited spaces available for Brass instrument servicing or repairs. Send Phil a message and we’ll get you booked you in! 😁

11/01/2024

Did you know that you can now buy your clarinet and sax reeds at A Strings - Guitar Specialists? They have a selection of Vandoren 'blue box' Bb clarinet and alto sax reeds in stock right now 🎷

11/01/2024

It's been a busy start to the year at O-Winds, with 8 services on saxophones, flutes and clarinets carried out already since re-opening after the festive break.

Like any mechanical device, musical instruments need servicing to ensure they're working properly (and therefore making it much easier for you to play!). If your instrument hasn't had a checkover for a while, or if you've acquired a second-hand instrument and would like it thoroughly cleaned and serviced, then get in touch via WhatsApp/email/text/messenger and I might be able to get it sorted for you within the week!

17/11/2023

Due to an unplanned and vigorous meeting between phone screen and pliers, I’ll only be contactable via WhatsApp and email for a few days.

Instrument services continue as normal!

03/11/2023

Struggling to fit your flute's headjoint? As this is probably the most delicate and vulnerable area of the instrument, the open end is prone to knocks and dings (and even with careful use, it can just get looser over time).

This is a straightforward fix (with the right tools and technique!), so instead of grappling with your flute, pop down to A Strings - Guitar Specialists and I can restore it to its former circular glory.

13/10/2023

**APPOINTMENTS ONLY**

Whilst you can drop your instruments off at A Strings - Guitar Specialists any time as always, I can only see people at the shop by appointment only today unfortunately!

You can book an appointment by messaging me here, sending a text/WhatsApp to ‭07942 279150‬ or email me at [email protected].

26/09/2023

**12:30 - 17:30 TODAY**

It's A-Strings day today, but I'll be in a little later than normal. No appointment needed, and this is the final week of my September Service offer for flutes and clarinets!

🎷 NEW LOCATION 🎷

OWinds at A Strings!

Really excited to announce that from this week, I'll be based at A Strings in Trefforest, near Pontypridd. I'll be there in person on Tuesdays and Fridays doing repairs, but instruments can be dropped off (or collected) whenever the shop is open.

A Strings are celebrating their 10th anniversary in September; they are a fantastic bunch of people who share my passion for music and great service and I'm really looking forward to working alongside them 😊

So, if you have a faulty flute, a clunky clarinet or a squeaky sax, send me a text/Whatsapp on 07942 279150 and book yourself in!

05/09/2023

Some 'before' photos of a Yamaha flute that was brought in for a clean and service.

This darker coating on metal is caused by the flute's silver plating reacting to hydrogen sulfide in the atmosphere. This results in a layer of silver sulfide (aka tarnish). This can be polished away, although this does also remove a very thin layer of the silver plating, so prevention of tarnish is definitely better than cure!

How do you help prevent tarnish developing?

🤚🏻 Keep your hands clean - sulfur can be present in perspiration and skin oils, so washing your hands before playing can reduce these levels.
💦 Swab the bore of your flute after playing - sulfur is present in many foods, but particularly garlic, onion (and others in the allium group), so if you've been eating these, your breath will carry higher levels of sulfur.
🧳 Keep your flute stored in its case when not in use - leaving it out on a music stand does make remembering to practise much easier, but it also makes it easier for all that sulfur in the air to reach your flute.
❌ Don't store your swab cloth inside the case - kinda defeats the purpose of swabbing the flute dry really!

You can also buy anti-tarnish strips to put in your case which will absorb airborne sulfur as a preventative measure. But, if your instrument has already developed tarnish, book it in for a clean and service with me and I'll have it looking shiny in no time!

p.s. One of these photos has a sneak preview of the 'after' shine 😉