Klarinet Archive - Posting 000188.txt from 1994/11

From: "Dan Leeson: LEESON@-----.EDU>
Subj: Overhauling in Seattle - overhauling in general
Date: Sat, 12 Nov 1994 06:23:28 -0500

Let's face it. Clarinet players live all over the world and there are a
lot more good clarinet players than qualified repairpersons. So Chris
asks "Where is there a good repairperson near Seattle?" Someone who knows
will probably send him the name of such a person. But suppose - and this
is purely hypothetical - that there is not a really gifted mechanic in or
near Seattle. (And I would no more trust my clarinets to an average or
substandard repairperson than I would trust my body to an inadequate
physician). What does one do?

Very simple. It is a case of Mohammed and the mountain. Instead of bringing
the local mechanic to your clarinet together, you send your clarinet to the
distant mechanic. It is done all the time.

You find such a person, first. You call that person and ask the prices for
what you think needs to be done. The price should include return shipping
to you. You get a firm schedule. You then send your clarinet to that
person and, viola, you get it back all fixed (sometimes in only three or four
years!!).

This is particularly valuable for good players who live in the hinterlands
of America (or the hinterlands of any nations where no qualified repairperson
can be found). There is many a physician/clarinet player who lives in
central Missouri, for example, practices medicine, plays with the town band,
is a good player, and can't get much repaired locally. Maybe a pad or a
cork, but an OVERHAUL!!!, never. The instrument cannot be trusted to the
local mechanic for such a serious proposition.

So, Chris who wants to "youthen" his instrument (it's a perfectly clear
and understandable word) should establish a long term relationship with
a local mechanic if he can find one. But if not, then get back to us
and people all over America will let him know their local favorites and
he has some world-class talent to whom he will be able to send instruments
for "youthening."

I am told that when Moennig was repairing in Philadelphia, he did more work
by mail than by people walking in. And some really high class flute
mechanics NEVER see their customers. It is all mail work.

====================================
Dan Leeson, Los Altos, California
(leeson@-----.edu)
====================================