Klarinet Archive - Posting 000994.txt from 1998/09

From: "Jason Hsien" <jasonavhs@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] playing in the rain :(
Date: Sat, 26 Sep 1998 04:50:15 -0400

-----Original Message-----
From: Ben Stutzman <benstutzman@-----.net>

:Tonight when we tried to warm-up for the football game, a number of
:woodwinds noticed they couldn't play. Doh! Fortunately, I wan't one of
:them. As soon as I started playing, though, I noticed my fairly
:free-blowing clarinet played harder. But it is not ruined. It is
:highly likely this will happen again later. Is there anything you can
:do after you play to revive your pads? My Bundy is NOT worth fixing.
:How hard is it to replace pads yourself? A lot of other things are
:wrong with it. Is it worth overhauling a bottom-of-the-barrel Bundy?
:(no alliteration intended) I also will use it in concert band when I
:don't take my R13 to school.

Well, it's good it was plastic. Did any of your peers use wood horns? If so,
I hope they made sure it was very dry before they put it away (mold on horn
is a bad thing.)

Anyway, your Bundy isn't worth fixing, OK. I have a Bundy for Marching, and
when my lower joint broke, the great folks at Selmer offered to send me a
free lower joint. If you can attach everything (springs, keys, etc...)
yourself, it's a win-win deal. If not, the repair shop fees are kind of high
($60).

Also, about your pads, I'm planning on replacing mine with Gore-Tex pads.
They're waterproof, and generally equal to standard pads. The only problem
is the price ($80/set), but if you plan on being in the marching band for a
while and keeping the horn (or if you just want a higher
resale/tax-deductable-donation-to-school value after you don't want it
anymore), These are just a few suggestions.

But, if you simply don't care (it is a Bundy...), just be prepared to
struggle with your horn through storms and excessive moisture buildup until
you're out.

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