Squeaking, sticking, stuck, fallen off, or simply refusing to make a sound. A surprising number of “broken” instruments need a fresh reed, a drop of oil, or a two-minute adjustment — and a few genuinely need the bench, in which case the sooner we see it the cheaper it is. This section covers how to tell the difference, and what not to do in the meantime. Forcing a stuck mouthpiece or reseating a bridge yourself turns a free fix into a real repair.
Loosen the strings slightly, lay the instrument in its case, and bring it in. Don’t stand the bridge back up yourself, and don’t let anyone else improvise it: resetting is quick, routine work at our counter, and a fallen bridge…