I had a garage full of saxophones and other instruments I needed to sell. With the help of a friend, we sold several guitars, the saxes were more of a problem, they were high-ticket items that we felt uncomfortable selling ourselves. I turned to Steve to help to sell them on consignment. He purchased one from me for his private collection. I put another one on consignment. I paid to have this one repaired. He doesn't sell shoddy instruments. The person who purchased this one has a great instrument. He has a small shop and could not take the large baritone or numerous cases I had. In addition to being a master at repairing and refurbishing instruments, Steve is a talented musician and artist. If you are in the market to buy or sell a woodwind instrument this is the place to go. read more

Disclaimer: this pertains to work done a year ago, but I haven't gotten around to writing about my experience until now. As a professional saxophonist relying heavily on my Selmer Mark VI alto saxophone for regular performances, I sought out Steve Deutsch for a major overhaul, not merely in hopes of enhancing playability, but as essential maintenance for my instrument. Unfortunately, my experience with him proved to be deeply unsatisfactory, prompting me to share my ordeal. Despite investing $1500 into the overhaul (which is certainly not on the cheap end of the spectrum for this kind of work), the quality of Steve's workmanship left much to be desired. Following the service, my Selmer Mark VI exhibited numerous issues, including improperly seated keys, carelessly aligned pads, and immediate leaks. Particularly distressing was the shockingly poor quality of the supposedly new pads, which bore an uncanny resemblance to those over a decade old on my tenor saxophone. Compounding my disappointment was Steve's lack of professionalism. Despite assuring me of a four-week turnaround time, which is far more than most repair people ever take to do an overhaul (I explained that I would be out of the country but had a recording session two days after my return), he nearly failed to meet this deadline, texting me that it wouldn't be finished when promised while I was in Singapore only a few days before I was schedule to pick it up, citing personal issues. While I empathize with his circumstances, the subsequent lack of communication and rushed completion of the job were deeply disheartening, and I insisted it needed to be done or I would pay him for his incomplete work and take it elsewhere to finish it. Additionally, his admonishment and downright scolding of me, as if I were a child, about the condition of my instrument was extremely off-putting. Unlike most repair people with whom I've worked in the Bay Area, NYC, and across the country, Steve doesn't offer any warranty or guarantee on his work. Typically, after an overhaul, a repair person will encourage their customer to come back for some adjustments if need, and in an industry where reputable repair persons typically stand behind their craftsmanship, Steve's failure to provide such assurances was glaring. It's a moot point, anyway, because I would never let him touch my instrument again. In conclusion, my experience with Steve Deutsch left me with a compromised instrument and a profound sense of dissatisfaction. Given the crucial nature of regular maintenance for professional musicians, I caution my fellow performers against entrusting their instruments to Steve's care. read more

Very satisfied! I took my 1921 conn alto to Steve here for an overhaul since Ron at Bronsteins music in South San Francisco told me "it isn't worth it" because of a supposed "dent in the upper body". Took my alto here to Steve, who not only couldn't see or find the bend Bronsteins claimed my saxophone had, but also overhauled it and did an AMAZING and PERFECT job. I highly recommend Steve for all your woodwind repairs - especially if you own vintage horns like I do. Steve here is now my "go to" guy. Extremely responsible, professional, honest, upfront, trustworthy, and Worth his weight in gold. Thank you again! read more

The first time I brought my Mark VI alto to Steve was in in late 1980's when he was repairing woodwinds at Chickens That Sing Music on Haight Street in SF! Since then I have followed him to Best Music, and his own shops in Berkeley and now Benicia. Steve is a master craftsman, a musical instrument repair artist. He can solve almost any repair problem, from simple pad and key adjustments to making and fitting new parts. He is honest, and dependable, and I would recommend him for any woodwind repair. He still works on my Mark VI, and all my Yanis... read more

Very helpful and informative with a vintage saxophone! Highly recommend! I'm very grateful for his help.

I bought my stolen instrument back from Steve after "some kids" brought it into his shop to hawk, and hawk they did apparently for $400. I'm giving him two stars for being nice enough to find me and call me (by way of a friend) about it... but accepting money for [selling] stolen goods is still illegal. I've been hesitant to write this review since I did get my horn back after all. The horn is pretty busted, in unplayable condition, but that's through no fault of Steve's, it had been gone for a few years and looked to have been stored in a ditch. I'm not mad about that, again, not Steve's fault. Upon return of my instrument (after I handed him the $400 in cash), he quoted me a substantially overprice repair figure for the work that needed to be done. I'm galled that someone would want to charge $13k or more for a repair after selling a person back their stolen instrument. There are 1-2 keys out of alignment, a few springs that need to be replaced, a partial repad, regulating the action and some surface cleaning that needed to be done, which is not $13k+ worth of work. The horn was valued at $8k before being stolen. $13k and a $400 "finder's fee" is price gouging and taking advantage of someone in a sh---y situation. I've been playing woodwinds for 20 years and lived in 2 major metropolitan areas, so I have a decent grasp of what repairs cost even with real estate inflation. Not really an incentive to do business with someone. This is not how you build repeat customers. I can't comment on his actual repair work and who knows, it may actually be worth $13k. For me $1700+ would be 2-3 months of rent. read more

Steve provided quick service on my son's clarinet. Despite our incorrect diagnosis of the problem, he was able to find the actual issue and repair the instrument without playing it (it would have been unsafe to because of COVID). It played perfectly when we got it home. read more

My son is extremely hard on his beloved sax so I invariably find myself at Steve's shop every few months. He fixes it while I wait and keeps it in good shape -- headed there tomorrow, actually, after yet another sax accident. He charges a fair price and I always add a nice "thank you" to it for the fast service. I've been to the other recommended shop in Oakland, and the service was awful. I was originally warned that Steve could be kind of grumpy, but I think he's great. One warning. Watch his metal screen door! I somehow had my finger in the wrong place when it shut and it hurt like hell! read more

If you have a professional flute/piccolo avoid this guy. He may be good with other instruments but not these! I have experienced Steve's work twice now, once with my Muramatsu flute and a second time with a Powell piccolo. The first time he fixed the one key on my flute that needed to be oiled using the dirtiest technique I had ever witnessed then proceeded to tell me my flute needed a complete overhaul ($1000+) value. Made me feel very uncomfortable. I brought my flute to my impeccable guy in Maryland when I was there and everything was fixed for $80. I would have never brought another instrument to him but UC Berkeley's music department uses him. The Powell piccolo needed an overhaul badly and they brought it to him to fix the major leaks. It is back in the worst shape I've ever seen. It will need to go to another guy for sure! read more

Brought my daughter's saxophone today for a repair. Steve was super nice, saxophone was fixed on the spot for a very decent price. I am a happy customer and I will know where to go everytime I need anything saxophone related. read more

Thanks you for recovering my precious flute. it was stolen from my car. He recognized it and immediately acted. If it wasn't for Steve I will have lost it forever, I reimbursed him the money that he paid and also he did a great job repairing the damage. read more

Saw Steve again today. He's my go-to man for saxophone maintenance and he did another aces job, fixing up an alto I bought on Craigslist that was not in great shape. He got it working A-1 and didn't charge me a ton. Plus he's great fun to chat with, knows so much about music in general. His shop also has a wonderful selection of woodwind books, from jazz solos to good basic technique. Always worth a visit. read more

My tenor was knocked off my stand by a fellow musician on the stage after a show. It happens. So I got in touch with Steve Deutsch who had repaired another horn years earlier for me while he was 'in the basement'. Well I called, explained and he invited me up to look it over. Once there he quickly looked it over and started the repairs. A true professional. He had it straightened with the keys off, a couple of pads replaced, and repaired in minutes. Then he worked everything he saw, asked me to play, then noticed more and fixed that too. He ran a light down the pipe and commented he liked the intonation of the horn. His price was great but his service was excellent, concise and laser focused. Plus I enjoyed the Bebop that he played while tried out my horn. I think I'll write a tune and call it the SD factor, along the lines of Decision by Sonny Rollins. read more

A very belated update - I had to take off a star because after I got my flute home and examined the headjoint more closely, its tenon had a sort of 'bubbled-out' shape and was out of round as a result of the adjustments done to it. I had to take it to my regular shop to have it more or less returned to normal. I have had only positive experiences with Steve. Today I brought him my Altus flute, which had a leaky key. Not only did he fix all the leaks (there was another one that I wasn't even aware of), but he also adjusted the fit of my headjoint, which was a bit too tight. All of this he did while I waited, even though he had lots of other work to finish. Thanks to his timely and excellent work, my flute plays better than ever and just in time for the holiday concert =^). read more

Avoid this place. Steve is the shadiest person ever. Came here to get a price quote for my used Muramatsu flute, had the worst experience ever and left $20 poorer. I showed him my flute so he could examine the condition of it. He tried to play it but it wasn't playing well considering its old age and that it hasn't been played for years. Without a word he starts fiddling around with it on his desk for a minute and then starts to play it again. He gives me a lowball offer that was a huge difference from the other shop ivisited in mountain view. Obviously i denied the offer and as he was handing me back my flute he says "but i will take the 20 bucks for repair" Um what?! Im sorry but when did i ever agree to pay you for a "repair" that i didn't even know happened in the span of the 10 minutes i was in your store. I was in total disbelief. He never told me he was doing ANY repair on my flute let alone that it would cost me $20. I NEVER consented to this but I paid him the money anyway because I was in too much shock to even argue back. Wouldn't it make more sense to ask customers if they are okay with you repairing their instrument before you go ahead and do it? Like I said, shady. I will be telling others to take their business elsewhere. read more

Steve is a fine woodwind player and a longtime experienced technician. I have sent several of my saxes and flutes to him in emergencies, and he's always up to the task. I have gotten them back very soon and in perfect condition, and he has been a lifesaver. His shop also sells many items that any player can well use. A one-stop woodwind shop right here in Berkeley with an knowledgeable and very friendly proprietor. I recommend him highly! read more

Steve has done both large-scale work and small repairs on my clarinet and I've always been completely happy with the results. Several times I've gone to him on very short notice and he has taken care of the issue while I wait. You probably can't count on that happening every time, but it's nice when it does. read more

I'm not a woodwind player. My sons clarinet teacher said his clarinet needed adjustment. I was dreading the visit, expecting questions I couldn't answer. Steve just took the clarinet and started working on it. I was impressed, he had dozens of tools and seemed to know exactly what to do. I just soaked up the vibe of the place, and perused the Eric Dolphy, Billy Strayhorn, and Brecker Brothers song books. Very cool, knowledgeable local business. Definitely worth a visit. read more

Steve does excellent work. He helped rescue a wonky flute of mine, allowing me to hold on to it until I could afford something better. I ended up purchasing my replacement flute from him a couple years ago, which has held up really well and only needed the minor tune-up here and there. Also a great local resource for supplies and sheet music. read more

I am a flute player with student-level flutes. Steve is a great resource for me. When I have a leak he fixes it while I wait, and makes sure that it sounds right and that the joints fit perfectly. When I have brought in a flute I have dropped, abused and neglected, he has made it right. His prices are very reasonable, and he finishes the work quickly. And when I get a chance, I always enjoy watching him work. But more importantly, Steve is renaissance man who teaches, creates musical and visual art, and understands the technical aspects of being a craftsman. I am always pleased to speak to him because he is forever learning new techniques, listening to new music, and expanding his appreciation of the arts and the world around him. If you are a woodwind musician and need your instrument adjusted or repaired after a crash, you're in luck, Steve's your guy. read more

Great repair shop. Always punctual and professional. Steve works hard at what he does and always takes great care and pride in his work. I never hesitate to take my instruments to him. read more

Steve has done several repairs and adjustments for me in recent years, both on my Selmer Balanced Action alto and Mark VI tenor, as well as my son's student model Yamaha alto. He always does a great job, including explaining to me, and showing me, what needs to be done and why, and then after the work is completed, making sure I'm happy with how the horn plays. And the cost is always very fair and reasonable. I've been playing my Selmers for over 40 years, so it's no simple decision as to who I take them to for repairs. Steve has been great. I trust him! read more

My 10yr old 4th grade daughter has started taking lessons with Donna here at Steve Deutsch Music shop. Wow is all I can say! When you have a 10yr old asking you to yelp someone you know they must be good! She was cool, friendly and excited to teach my daughter! She got her comfortable and up to date on her Alto Sax! My daughter can't wait for her lesson next week! read more

A real pro outfit. Having a fine player do repairs is a really sensible way of getting the most out of your instrument.

Steve is the real deal, not a guy with a few tools and a little knowledge. He has the experience and knowledge to do fine work. He's a professional level player himself and knows quality work. Every time I've brought instruments to Steve he's improved them and done the work in timely fashion. With his own shop, he can work with you on custom repairs that others don't have the time or interest for. His fees are fair, too. read more

I'm a semi-professional flute player, and I've had Steve work on my instrument for years. He's one of the only repair guys you can stop by and he'll work on your instrument immediately and charge a fair, not-too-expensive price. His work is excellent. Yesterday, he worked on a flute I bought from him a few years back and had it perfectly adjusted in less than a hour. I would not hesitate to recommend him to anyone, beginners or professionals. read more

I have had all of my saxophones worked on by Mr. Deutsch, dating back to the mid 1980's. He is fine musician who knows he way around woodwinds as well as anyone in the Bay Area. He has bailed me out with emergency repairs, and his work and skill are first class. If your axe needs sharpening, he is the man to see! read more

Steve was very nice and laid back. His shop is a little messy, but that is fine by me because it looks like what it is, a real workshop. I stopped by to have my son's not particularly high-quality flute (ordered from Amazon) repaired after he dropped it. It had a leaky valve; Steve worked with it for a bit and then determined that they body was also bent. He told me it would cost almost as much to fix it as I paid for the instrument. I gave him $10 dollars for his trouble, and he said that he did have a flute of similar quality, (he was very honest about it being not much better than the one I had) for $150. He took it out and made sure it was up to snuff. I bought it from him. He didn't charge me tax, also said I could bring it in for any adjustment for no charge until Sept. It was overall a great experience. read more

I have been taking my horns to Steve Deutsch for many years now; I'm a gigging musician with 1st class instruments. Steve has always put my instruments into perfect adjustment and cleared up any problems quickly and cheaply. He has been in the business a very long time and knows everything there is to know on woodwinds. I'm not sure what the 1 star reviewer here is trying to relate; her story sounds very subjective. In terms of actual work done, I will take Steve's expertise any day. In addition, Steve is a very sweet, unassuming and honest guy; he keeps me playing! read more