Another bump for Eric Beach:
I just got my Mark VI back from Eric Beach for his "better-than-factory" rebuild and it's playing better than any time in the 43 years I've owned it. Really a beautiful job, quiet and smooth. I played the range of the instrument against a tuner and all of the notes are dead on. The bell notes speak easily at pianissimo.
Eric is one of the techs at Chuck Levin's aka Washington Music Center. He also does work in his home shop. Chuck Levin's is fine with this, by the way.
Eric quoted me a flat rate sight-unseen for the rebuild - with additional cost for fancy pads or expensive resos, etc. the price was more than reasonable. I don't even want to say what it was because he should really raise his prices. I didn't need dent work or parts fabrication, I assume that's priced separately. He gives a 6-month warranty on the work, so I suppose if something needs tweaking after a break-in period you can just come back.
I really liked that he seems to schedule his work. He told me when to drop it off and had it ready well within the promised 2 weeks. Since this is just his side work it looks like he doesn't allow himself to get swamped. Very civilized.
He does clarinets but not flutes. He recommends Ed Scott at Chuck Levin's for flutes.
His home shop is in Silver Spring, MD, close to the beltway at Rt. 29. He can be reached at e.beach58 {at} gmail {dot} com. If you need to arrange your repair work around your own calendar, choosing when you can part with your instrument, I'd contact him well ahead of time and get on his schedule.
Mike