New York's Largest Sax Shop | JL Woodwinds | Clarion Musical Instrument Insurance

How do you build one of New York City's premier saxophone shops? In this Clarion Dealer Spotlight, we visit JL Woodwinds in Midtown Manhattan and sit down with owner John Leadbetter to hear the story behind the shop's growth, craftsmanship, and approach to saxophone repair. JL Woodwinds was founded in 2014 in a 100-square-foot space on 30th Street in New York City. What started as a repair-only operation has grown into a full-service saxophone shop known for its curated collection of new and vintage saxophones, vintage Selmer instruments, custom mouthpieces, and expert saxophone repair and restoration. John talks about the apprenticeship that shaped his approach to the craft, why every JL Woodwinds employee is a professional-level saxophone player, and the calculated risk that pushed the shop into its next stage of growth. He also shares one of the shop's most memorable repair stories: a saxophone bent nearly 120 degrees after a client tried an unconventional way to dry the instrument, and how careful repair work brought it back to near its original condition. In this video: Building JL Woodwinds from a small repair shop into a full-service saxophone dealer Why apprenticeship and hands-on craftsmanship still matter in saxophone repair JL Woodwinds' approach to vintage saxophones, including vintage Selmer instruments Why the shop only hires professional-level saxophone players A saxophone repair story involving serious damage and a full recovery What goes into high-quality saxophone repair and restoration JL Woodwinds | Midtown Manhattan, New York City Shops like JL Woodwinds are exactly why Clarion got into this business. We provide musical instrument insurance for dealers, repair shops, and the collections that pass through their hands, including vintage saxophones and other fine instruments. #JLWoodwinds #Saxophone #SaxophoneRepair #SaxophoneShop #NYCSaxophone #VintageSaxophone #SelmerSaxophone #SaxophonePlayer #InstrumentRepair #ClarionInsurance #MusicalInstrumentInsurance #InstrumentDealerInsurance