Not Gonna Happen

I mentioned that Squig was given a saxophone back around Christmas. For her birthday we told her that we'd take it in and get it serviced and fixed up so she could play it and get her a new strap and case (got a screamin' good deal on a really good case brand, more than 50% off). She was really excited.

So, I took it in to the instrument shop that is well regarded, and was recommended by her teacher. They told me they'd look it over and give me a call with an estimate. It got the call today.

The first thing the guy says is, "I'm sorry, I have bad news, it's going to cost almost as much to fix it as you'd spend on a new instrument. It needs a complete mechanical overhaul." The estimate was $693. I told him we couldn't do that and he said he figured as much but he thought he'd let me know anyway and that he'd send it back to the shop for me to pick up. He did say it would make a nice lamp. That price didn't include any varnish or whatever they do to the outside.

Squig was bummed, but she said that her music teacher had told her that a complete overhaul would run close to $700. I was really hoping it just needed some tightening and new pad and such. We'll look into other options.

On the upside: her new case should be arriving in the mail soon! I told her she could maybe take her lunch in it.