Klarinet Archive - Posting 000939.txt from 1997/08

From: Roger Garrett <rgarrett@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: Pad question
Date: Fri, 22 Aug 1997 12:04:30 -0400

I understand your opinion....and a lot of it makes sense. Everyone has to
do what works for them! My response was regarding the statement that such
a service can't possibly be worth it......(not an exact quote!).

Sounds like you have something that works for you!

Roger Garrett

On Thu, 21 Aug 1997, Gary Hopkins wrote:

>
> Roger, I'd like to respond to some of what you had to say on the subject of
> Bill Brannen's clarinet prep work. I agree with the theory that the tighter
> the seal on a clarinet joint the better. However, there usually isn't the
> need to use a sealer on the tone holes in order to get a joint tight enough
> to pull, and hold, a vacuum, especially on a NEW clarinet. Cork pads, or
> some other types of trendy pad, can help to improve the vacuum if the skin
> covering the bladder pad is porous. But, the quality of pads being used by
> Leblanc, Selmer and Buffet on their top line instruments is about as good as
> bladder pads can get. Those three companies have more experience in these
> things than you, I, Mr. Brannen and all the other Klarinetters in cyberspace
> have all put together.
>
> The teflon on keys that slide on other keys is a good thing to have, but the
> teflon is $13 a sheet 4"x6" (enough to do well over a hundred clarinets).
> This I know because I just ordered another sheet from my supplier along with
> a couple thousand dollars in other supplies.
>
> I won't argue with someone's idea that if they spend a few hundred bucks
> getting their instrument "tricked out" it will make them a better clarinet
> player. There is a lot to be said for what feeling good about yourself and
> your equipment can do for one's playing. It won't make you play any better,
> but it will help you to feel more comfortable. I especially won't argue with
> someone that wants to make an older instrument play as well as possible, but
> a complete refurb is not needed on a new clarinet.
>
> Much more could be said about this, but what it all boils down to is to what
> length will a musician go to make he/she a better player. In my humble, but
> educated, opinion I think one's money could be better spent on other things.
>
> I would like to add that I just got my new Buffet Vintage clarinet about two
> weeks ago. After slightly lowering the rings, leveling a couple of pads and
> adjusting the bridge key it played like a dream. It has all bladder pads,
> and will hold a vacuum for as long as you want (top or bottom joint). The
> bore is smaller than the current R-13. Intonation is good, but the 8va vent
> was too long. I made a shorter one with a reversed taper. This improved the
> 12ths. Overall, the best new clarinet I have played since the mid 70's.
>
> Gary
>
>
>
> At 12:33 PM 8/21/97 -0500, you wrote:
> >
> >If members of the Chicago Symphony, New York Phil., Los Angeles Phil.,
> >Cleveland Symphony, Philadelphia Orch., Oregon Symph., Seattle Symph.,
> >Illinois Symph., and hundreds of professional clarinetists teaching at the
> >university level feel it is worth the money, there must be somthing to it.
> >If you haven't had the work done, you will never be in a position to say
> >it is not worth it!
> >
> >In response to the issue of a high quality instrument not needing new
> >service work.......compare it to any fine automobile being sold without
> >the new car service.......if you just purchased it right off the
> >boat.....you wouldn't believe the condition! Check any new car
> >invoice...you pay between $200-750 for new car service....just to clean
> >and lubricate and align, etc.....
> >
> >Not trying to say that Mr. Hausmann is wrong for feeling the way he does,
> >I just don't think that he is aware of the kinds of changes that such
> >service does to a new horn. Of course, one must be able to recognize the
> >differences once they are done. I have may students who are not at a
> >level of playing who really would notice the differences. That means they
> >probably were not ready for an R-13 to begin with.
> >
> >I hope that this clears up any misconceptions about the services? If you
> >want to talk to Bill Brannen personally, he is listed in all of the
> >"The Clarinet" magazines, and you could talk to any of the 50 clarinetists
> >whose portraits are hanging in his shop who claim his work is fantastic!
> >Even Adolph Herseth.....principal trumpeter of the Chicago Symph. left an
> >autographed picture in which he says, "I wish you worked on trumpets."
>
> > On Wed, 20 Aug 1997, Bill Hausmann wrote:
> >
> >> Frankly, I still think some of this is oversold hype. If an instrument of
> >> the level of an R-13 needs these fixes immediately after leaving the
> >> factory, it should have been rejected! (I'll give you the teflon thing, a
> >> $20 fix.) I hate to think these instruments are so shabbily made and
> >> poorly designed that they need this kind of attention before they will play
> >> properly. I can't believe that more than minute differences can be made.
> >> But it's your money, and mine, too (about $.02 worth).
>
>

   
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