Klarinet Archive - Posting 000580.txt from 1999/12

From: "Dee D. Hays" <deehays@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Getting contradicted by an idiot repairman
Date: Sat, 18 Dec 1999 21:44:47 -0500

----- Original Message -----
From: "David Blumberg" <reedman@-----.com>
<Felix1297@-----.com>
Subject: [kl] Getting contradicted by an idiot repairman

> Here's a good one. I would please like some feedback on this one with
opinions.
> I sent a 7th grade clarinet student (plays a 1998 Leblanc VSP) of mine to
a
> local repairman. His top 2 pads for the side keys were pretty raggedy, and
> needed replacing. I told him to ask for cork pads. The repairman told him
> "why would you want cork pads?? You don't need cork pads - you have
regular
> pads on the rest of the clarinet!" " I want to use regular pads". My
> student was playing a Legere reed - what!! "you have a plastic reed??? You
> don't play a plastic reed on a wooden instrument". Those plastic things
are
> junk! (he hadn't even seen the reed, nor knew of it)! "Here's my
> recommendation (he goes on), go get some mineral oil, and put some on your
> hand.. then rub a little it on the outside of your clarinet, then put some
> on an old swab and run it through the Clarinet."
>
>
> I'm ready to go over to this guy and give him all sorts of hell for his
> advice. First of all, I suggest using cork pads for those pads as they
last
> the heck of a lot longer. I don't recommend bore oiling, as his Clarinet
is
> not at all dry. The reeds are fine, and give him a great sound. I like the
> Grand Concert myself, but Legere's are great too.
> I sent the student to this guy in the first place. For him to second guess
> me, contradict my advice, and offend my student to me is bitting the hand
> that feeds him.
> Thoughts??
>
> David Blumberg
> music@-----.com
> http://www.mp3.com/mytempo
> http://www.mytempo.com

I would suggest that you go talk to him politely and pleasantly. He's
merely repeating the old data that he has been taught. Be sure to have with
you plenty of reports on Legere reeds that show how they differ from those
of the past. He may not have even heard of them. Plenty of people haven't.
Have the documentation on current oiling practices. Explain to him why you
want your student to have the cork pads.

Basically go with the approach that you value his work but need his help to
support your preferences, etc.

As I said above, it's most likely a case that he is repeating what he
himself was taught and thinks that he is doing the student a favor with
these recommendations.

Good luck,
Dee Hays
Canton, SD

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