Cincinnati Fluteworks

I sent my flute to get repairs and kept getting put off about when I would get it back. What I had been told would be a turn-around of about two weeks ended up taking more than four months. After my flute had been received, there were no updates on the work as promised. I had to keep calling from new numbers because none of the calls from my phone were answered (except once). Once my parents had called, their phone, too, kept getting sent to an answering machine. There was a lot of run-around when I did get through on the phone. I am grateful to finally have my flute back, and the work seems to be done correctly, but the way things were handled was completely unprofessional and sketchy. more

DO NOT take your instrument to Pat North. While she may seem very knowledgeable and capable, she is not realistic with her timelines and I have no way to determine she actually is capable of repairing anything. I took a flute and piccolo to her on June 28, 2019...I have not seen either instrument since then. While she says she's working on them, I have no way to know if she actually is or if she even still has the instruments in her possession. I spoke to Detective Jeff Ertel in the Cincinnati Police Dept about this. He said they have pages and pages of complaints on her, but unfortunately the Hamilton County Prosecutor's office would not file criminal charges against her and determined this is a civil action. I turned a $14,000 Burkhart flute and a $2500 Resona by Burkhart piccolo over to her and paid her $1857.36 for repairs. I have contacted an attorney to take action against her to retrieve the flute and piccolo and get a refund for whatever repairs she has not completed (at this point I do not know if she's actually done any repairs.) This woman will continue to scam people and take their instruments until we start listening to each other and STOP GIVING HER BUSINESS. While she may come off as a very sweet woman, she is a TERRIBLE BUSINESS OWNER who TAKES ADVANTAGE of those who are trusting individuals. Again, please DO NOT TAKE YOUR INSTRUMENTS TO HER AND DO NOT PAY HER A DIME!!!!! more

Saved the day! I have taken my Powell to 3 well known pro repairmen and they never were able to figure out the problem. I drove from several states away to take it here. Pat put it on her work table and gave me a cup of coffee and told me not to worry. A half hour later, the problem was fixed. She showed me what was going on (I'm not technical at all). It seemed simple but what ever it was wasn't allowing the upper half of the flute to work properly. But like anything, it wouldn't do it when I would try to make it happen. I was ready to take time off work and stay over. No need. It has been a few weeks now and it hasn't happened again. I doubt it will. So worth the trip. more

I just wanted to commend this place. I brought my son in because we thought he was having trouble with his flute. He was so discouraged and his band director told him he shouldn't be playing flute. He was just terrible to him. There were just some adjustments to do and we picked it up a few days later. She spent time with Ben and really helped him blow it better. He's not having trouble anymore and his band director is leaving him alone now. I appreciate her time so much. more

I have been a flute teacher/music teacher/musician for over 25 years. Do NOT use Cincinnati Fluteworks. I would give a negative rating if possible. 21 years ago I sent in my flute to be overhauled. It was great BUT I tried to use a few years ago and terrible experience!! I sent in my husband’s flute, my flute & my piccolo the beginning of the 2nd school semester (Jan/Feb) thinking it would be slower season & I would get back in time for Easter season. Pat North PROMISED a few weeks for at least the first flute. After many calls, excuses (that changed every time I talked with her) & months later I needed my piccolo before July 4. Still no flutes or piccolo. Had to BUY another piccolo for July 4 performance. After another very serious call & suggestion I should take legal actions, I told her to give back my instruments. I had paid in full. Finally got instruments after July 4! Just found out by another technician last week (March 2019) that she just put the flute together and didn’t really do the (pads) job correctly. Maybe she does a good job face to face (locally) but terrible if you have to ship to her. Do not use this place! I also suggest if you do use, keep track & use legal action if she doesn’t follow through! more

I just received my Muramatsu flute back from Cincinnati Fluteworks. I had taken it in to see if the tuning and low notes could be improved. I really thought I was looking at having to buy a new flute, but after asking me a lot of questions and really examining it, Pat, the technician, saw that the head joint cork had dried up and had shrunk and the several keys had small leaks that I couldn't see. She worked at it in between bigger repairs and I had it back in time for my rehearsal 3 days later. It now plays like it is supposed to and I'm relieved I don't have to spend money on a new flute. I was surprised she took so much time meeting with me while I was there and explained how the problems effected how the flute played. She welcomed me to her house even. I know she is nursing an injury, and I wish her the best of health. She saved my gig. more