Did you know that offering a comprehensive range of repair tools can significantly boost your music store's revenue and customer loyalty?
Your customers spend a lot of time and money on researching and buying the instruments at your store. They want to make sure they’re taking proper care of these instruments so they stay in good shape — so you want to make sure you provide the proper musical instrument repair tools for every repair need.
It’s beneficial to have these readily available for you and your employees, too — this allows you to offer repair services, which will increase your revenue.
In this post, we’ll explore 12 must-have musical instruments repair tools for your store's inventory and for repair services.
General Musical Instrument Repair Tools
These general tools are useful for all instrument maintenance.
1. Screwdrivers
An essential tool to have on hand for a variety of instruments is a solid set of screwdrivers. This tool can be used to adjust screws and strings to instrument bridges, securing knobs on electric guitars, tightening loose parts on wind instruments, and maintaining hardware on drum sets.
When considering screwdrivers, look into durability, size variety, and reliability. It may be helpful to provide a screwdriver with magnetic tips to prevent screws from falling and getting lost. Screwdrivers are versatile and a must-have in any repair toolkit.
Recommended brands and types include:
A reliable set of screwdrivers is key to a variety of repairs on instruments. Make sure to have screwdriver sets in your store and available for purchase.
2. Cleaning Cloths and Brushes
Cloths and brushes are essential for routine cleanings. These help to remove any dirt, dust, or grime that accumulates on your instruments. Metal instruments will corrode and tarnish with time. Regular cleaning prevents this from happening.
Best materials and brands include:
- Microfiber cloths
- MusicNomad Cleaning Brushes
Stock high-quality cleaning cloths and brushes in order to maintain the instrument’s longevity and cleanliness.
3. Lubricants and Oils
There are many moving parts in instruments, such as valves, slides, and tuning pegs. It’s important that customers’ lubricate these moving parts regularly. With proper lubrication, you can reduce friction and wear and help improve the overall lifespan of the instrument.
Always refer to the manufacturer's instructions to avoid excess build up and get the best results, and make sure instruments are well cleaned before applying lubricant and oil.
Recommended materials include:
Offer a selection of lubricants and oils to keep instruments performing smoothly over time.
Related Read: 5 Product Strategies for Your Music Stores
Tools for String Instruments
String instruments require unique tools for the repair process, both at home and in your music shop.
4. String Winders and Cutters
Changing and replacing strings can be time-consuming without the right tools — string winders and cutters make the replacement process seamless and easy. Provide these tools in your store for all string instrument owners.
Recommended brands and types include:
String winders and cutters streamline the string replacement process and make this repair easier and faster.
5. Bridge Pin Pullers
Bridge pin pullers help remove pins without causing damage to instruments. On acoustic guitars, damage to the bridge and pinholes are of concern. This tool makes the pin repairs more efficient.
Top products to consider include:
To ensure safe and efficient pin removal, make sure to have bridge pin pullers available. This will reduce perceived damage to guitars if they are used for repairs.
6. Fretboard Conditioners
The fretboard on string instruments needs to be conditioned in order to maintain the integrity of the instrument. These conditioners help prevent the wood from cracking or drying by keeping it moisturized and protected.
Recommended brands and types include:
Prevent the wood from drying and cracking on the fretboard of string instruments by stocking conditioners.
Tools for Wind Instruments
Repairs and maintenance on wind instruments require a different set of tools. These tools ensure all wind instruments stay in the best condition.
7. Mouthpiece Brushes
Regular cleaning of mouthpieces helps remove residue, saliva, and bacteria, improving performance and allowing customers to maintain good hygiene. Having specific brushes for the mouthpieces of wind instruments ensures that you clean them properly.
Best brushes available include:
In order to maintain hygiene and performance with wind instruments, ensure proper cleaning of mouthpieces with appropriate brushes.
8. Valve Oil and Grease
Valve oil and grease is used for regular application to keep all valves and slides on wind instruments operating properly. These tools prevent valves and slides from sticking.
Recommended products include:
Keep wind instruments running smoothly by having valve oil and grease on hand in your music store.
9. Pad Savers
Pad savers help absorb moisture from the instrument. This prevents instrument pads from sticking and prolongs the life of the instrument. These pad savers should also be available at your music store.
Recommended brands include:
Prevent potential moisture damage by having pad savers on hand for repair tool needs.
Related Read: Music Store Inventory Management: 5 Best Practices
Tools for Percussion Instruments
Percussion instruments repairs require specific tools for effective maintenance. Here are the must-have repair tools for percussion instruments.
10. Drum Key
Drum keys are vital for drum owners to adjust the tension of their drum heads. This is a commonly needed tool for drummers. These keys help with maintenance and the tuning of the drums.
Recommended products include:
Drum keys help maintain the sound quality of drums. These are essential for tuning and maintaining the drum heads.
11. Cymbal Polish
Cymbal polish helps remove any tarnish and oxidation that appears on the instrument. Regular use of this polish helps maintain the shiny appearance and sound of the cymbals.
Top products on the market include:
To improve the quality and appearance of the cymbals, make sure you have cymbal polish available and in stock.
12. Head Replacement Tools
When drummers need to replace drum heads, they need the tools necessary to maintain the performance of the drums. These tools help keep the quality sound and ensure that replacements are properly fitted and tensioned. Make sure that customers carefully follow instructions to perform the repair properly.
Best kits and tools include:
Head replacement tools are vital for ensuring that drum heads are correctly fitted and tensioned.
Additional Useful Tools
There are a few additional tools that are versatile and useful for all musicians, including:
- Multi-tools similar to the Music Nomad Octopus 8-in-1
- Portable workbenches similar to the Workmate WM125
- Digital turners similar to the Snark SN-8 or Korg TM60
It’s important to make sure you have the necessary musical instrument repair tools for your customers and business repair needs. Consider which repair tools provide the most value to you and your customers. Look into the sales data for your store to understand what instrument is most commonly sold, then plan your inventory accordingly.
Proper inventory management is essential for you and your store to ensure you have the necessary products in stock — this way, you meet customer needs and provide a positive shopping experience.
How Music Shop 360 Can Help?
Music Shop 360 is an all-in-one point of sale (POS) system made specifically for music store owners. The system provides comprehensive sales data and advanced inventory management features. This allows music store owners like you to seamlessly track stock levels and ensure you have musical instrument repair tools available for customer needs.
With Music Shop 360, you can monitor sales trends, identify popular products, and make informed decisions about restocking. Learn more about Music Shop 360 and request a demo today!