Klarinet Archive - Posting 000239.txt from 1997/09

From: Roger Garrett <rgarrett@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: Those idiot repair persons
Date: Sat, 6 Sep 1997 08:30:58 -0400

Mr. Forbe's reply below is an excellent description.....good advice! I am
pleased to see it in the comments today.

Roger Garrett

On Sat, 6 Sep 1997 reedman@-----.com wrote:

> I have been following the thread on repair work only sporadically, but some interesting
> things came up that I would like to address.
>
> There are a lot of hardworking, honest and sincere repair people out there. There are also
> a few who have absolutley no business even holding a screwdriver. And there are a VERY few who
> really have dedicated a large part of our lives to taking instrument repair to a very high level
> of craft. An even smaller group know something about acoustics and are qualified to make
> acoustical adjustments. The vast majority belongs to the first group.
>
> When you take your clarinet to be repaired by ANYONE it is important to understand exactly
> what the technician intends to do to your instrument and how much he will charge. If he or she
> cannot spell it out to you almost down to the number of pads that will be replaced then you need
> to look for another person.
>
> Refacing tone holes is , for me, a very common practice, I have to dress even new clarinet
> tone holes to make the pad seat clear of chips or flaws. The amount of material that is removed
> is probably on the order of less that .001". This process , unfortunately, is often done by even
> the most inexperienced technician just because he owns the tool. If you are not confident about
> the level of experience of your local repair guy ask colleagues, teachers, pros and find out who
> does the best work in your area.
>
> I am big on finding someone locally to repair your instruments. You never know when that
> emergency may come up. I do work on instruments from all over the country, but it is usually
> when the customer has given up hope in his area.
>
> AND, I hate to sound like a snob, but if your repair person cannot play the clarinet even
> moderatley well, most of the fine details that make a clarinet play really well will probably
> escape him.
>
>
> Clark W Fobes
>
>

   
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