RepairOverhaul, tuning & care
Bring a long-serving instrument back to the stage. Repair, overhaul and tuning to the working standards of professional players.
Craftsmen and players — repair and tuning by both
The craftsman's knowledge of construction, and the player's ear trained on stage. We don't just 'fix' — we tune each instrument from the question of how it should sound, finishing it so a performer can trust it in concert.
Overhaul process
Overhaul processFrom disassembly and inspection to finishing — one instrument at a time, judged on its condition. Records of each stage can be provided.
Inspection & diagnosis
Start by contacting us through the form. For those far away, Zoom and video-call consultations are available. We'll discuss the instrument's condition and align on the work needed.
Disassembly & cleaning
Each part is disassembled; dirt, rust and deterioration removed; worn components identified.
Restoration & parts replacement
Heads, felts and pedal mechanisms are restored or replaced — fabricated where necessary.
Voicing & finishing
A player voices and adjusts while actually playing, finishing the instrument to performance condition.
Coverage
CoverageWe cover percussion in general. For anything not listed — rare or old instruments included — just ask.
Main instruments
Main services
Estimate
EstimateCosts vary widely with the work and the instrument's condition, so every job is quoted after inspection. Diagnosis and quotes are free.
| Service | Indicative price (tax incl.) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Inspection & diagnosis | free | Free through quotation |
| Tuning & voicing | On estimate | Varies by work |
| Head / parts replacement | On estimate | Parts billed separately |
| Overhaul (one timpano) | On estimate | Varies widely by instrument and condition |
Instrument repair & care
The craftsmanInstrument craftsman / repair & tuning specialist Ichitaro Inoue
After graduating from Tokyo College of Music, he spent ten years at a company specialising in percussion rental and repair. In 2019 he opened Inoue Music Workshop, working from studios in Higashimurayama and Kodaira on percussion repair, modification and tuning.
Every MKII rental instrument is inspected and adjusted by Inoue before and after each hire.
Solving 'it won't ring' from the structure up
Our approachSound familiar?
'It doesn't seem to resonate.' 'The pedal creeps back.' 'The tuning gauge won't respond.' 'The local shop told me to buy a new one.' Percussion trouble is hard to put into words — which is exactly why it gets left undiagnosed.
Pinning down what 'won't ring' really means
'Poor response.' 'Choked sound.' 'Ugly tone.' Behind every vague discomfort a player feels lie concrete causes: head tension, pedal balance, loose screws, age-worn parts. On site it all blurs into 'it just won't ring,' and the real problem disappears from view. Let a craftsman who knows the construction diagnose it once — head, pedal, or bowl? — then work from the structure.
Drawing out the resonance the instrument was built for
Every instrument holds a resonant potential of its own, dulled only by age and environment. Proper adjustment can call it back. MKII's tuning doesn't just swap parts to make things 'work' — we listen to how the overtones stack, settling the pitch and shaping a sound that carries to the last row, easy under the player's hands.
Other percussion repairs
Re-heading of bass and snare drums, parts replacement and repair are all available.
Mallet percussion
Repairs to marimbas, xylophones and other mallet instruments can also be arranged.
From isolating the cause to the final finish — start with a conversation. Diagnosis and quotes are free, and available over Zoom or video call: we can assess the instrument on screen and give a rough figure.
Ask about repair →That instrument, back on stage
Diagnosis and quotes are free. Tell us the instrument's condition and the finish you have in mind.