Coming from a background as a precision toolmaker in 1981,  John Cook started repairing musical instruments in the late 1990's, eventually opening his own instrument repair store, East Coast Music in 2003 in East London, UK. Initially repairing Brass and Woodwind instruments, the business grew into a full service music store servicing a wide range of instruments.  In 2015 the store relocated to larger premises.  Although John owns East Coast Music, his main role is in the repair department where he has been the full time repairer for the business for over 15 years.  A member of the National Association of Musical Instrument Repairers and the Yamaha Guild, John has taught instrument repair to students around the UK.

With his engineering background John not only repairs instruments but actively designs, manufactures and sells his repair tools all over the world to assist others in following this trade. Teaching others to understand how a harmonica works is a big part of what John does.  Anyone who attends his classes will agree - 

Hi John  - A great big Thank you for your participation in The Chromatic Weekend. It was a pleasure to meet you at the weekend and attend your workshop. I regret not being able to go to all your workshops you have a great manner about you and explain things easily to people. Your workshops were highly informative, fun and captivating. We have heard so many positive comments about you Well done!

I hope to see you again perhaps at Bristol festival?
Kind Regards   Katrina and the NHL Chromatic Weekend team  

John's love of harmonicas started as a young player in local amateur blues bands as far back as the 1980's.  It wasn’t long before he started taking them apart to see how they worked and to see if he could make them play a little better. Today, his fully equipped workshop now handles services and repairs, restoration and modifications to all harmonicas. Regularly holding harmonica masterclasses and lectures on the subject up and down the country. - see workshops.

John was honoured to attend the prestigious Hohner harmonica accreditation training under the guidance of Ciro Lenti and Gabi Hand in Germany in July 2016.  He was proud to be accepted as part of the worldwide accredited Service team for the UK. 

John now services and repairs harmonicas for the UK's leading players. including , Johnny Stafford, Paul Lamb, Paddy Wells, Donald Black etc etc.   

His involvement in designing new ways of improving the maintenance and servicing of Harmonicas is second to none, with his tools, processes and modification techniques, reaching a global audience through his regular repair tips on Facebook and various international forums. He is also a contributor to the Harmonica World Magazine where he regularly writes columns on repairs and servicing tips and historical manufacturing techniques (see articles).  To see what his customers think of him you only need to walk into his workshop to see the walls covered in "thank you" letters.  If you have a harmonica that needs fixing, john is your man. - see reviews-  

100_0596jpg. Dear John, Thank you so very much for a superb servicing and repair job on my Hohner Harp. Also, it was a pleasure to deal with you - honest, knowledgeable and enthusiastic. You are surely one of life's 'major finds'! Keep up the good work - my 'Harmonica Therapy' is better than ever. Brian Prothero