Klarinet Archive - Posting 000025.txt from 1996/02

From: CLARK FOBES <reedman@-----.COM>
Subj: Repair work / prices?!=##=!
Date: Thu, 1 Feb 1996 19:35:27 -0500

I have read with interest some of the comments about current repair
prices and the advantages of replacing pads or doing repair work on
one's own.

I am an absolute advocate of players knowing how to maintain their
instruments and to do minor repairs in emergency situations. Also, how
many of you have had students come to lessons with instruments that
don't play due to minor problems?

Some people are just not interested or admit that they have absolutely
no mechanical skills at all and are happy to leave their repairs to
qualified technicians. But to those of you who would like to know a bit
about repair, I suggest asking your favorite local repair person for a
few lessons in standard pad replacement, cork replacement, key
alignment and spring replacement. Be willing to pay him/her the going
hourly rate. If anything it may give you a greater respect for the
skill involved in doing it well (and in a reasonable amount of time)
A good basic reference is "Band Instrument Repairing Manual" by Erick
D. Brand. It is available through J.L. Smith 1-800-659-6073.

I do think that $30 to replace one cork pad is unreasonable, unless
there were other problems that needed to be taken care of such as
refitting the key. One of my gripes about some of the expensive EXPERTS
that I know about is that they never developed sufficient speed to do
the job in a reasonable amount of time. It should not take an hour to
replace one pad. There is such a thing as efficiency in the way one
works and sufficient experience to get to the heart if the problem
immediately. I charge $50/hour, but I think most of my customers would
agree that I can cover a lot of ground in that time. I can also cut to
the chase immediately because I have 32 years of playing experience
behind me and 20 years of repair experience.

I receive a lot of repairwork from around the country, but I always
advocate trying to develop a relationship with a local technician
first.If there just is not anyone in your neck of the woods then seek
out someone you know is qualified based on repairwork that you have
experienced first hand.

Instrument repair is a SERVICE business. You deserve not only someone
who has the experience and skill to do a good job, but someone you know
will back up their work with some type of warranty. Don't be afraid to
ask questions and don't be intimidated by Herr Guru. Any repair work
you decide on should be a JOINT decision reached by you and your repair
person.

Well, so much for my soap box. I have to get back to the bench to make
my first million.

Clark W Fobes