Klarinet Archive - Posting 000130.txt from 2000/03

From: Austin6182@-----.com
Subj: [kl] Tinkering
Date: Fri, 3 Mar 2000 19:27:50 -0500

I'm glad to hear that apparently lots of other people out there are attracted by the "tinkering" aspect of clarinet ownership. I have only been playing for a short time, but one of the things I like about the instrument is that clarinets are fascinating, intricate machines. It is my hope to one day develop the skills (and accumulate the tools) to restore old, neglected instruments for fun and profit.

Having said that, I have been surprised by the extent to which I have been discouraged from working on my own instrument by people in music stores. When I go in looking for, say, tenon cork, almost uniformly the salespeople (after explaining that they can't sell me any, because all that stuff belongs to their repairman) warn me about the complexity of work on clarinets and the care which must be exercised in performing even basic maintenance. They recommend leaving it to the pros.

Now, I have nothing but respect for any good repairman; nor do I think worse of any player who leaves all service on his or her instrument to such a person. But I think I'm fairly handy, and basic clarinet maintenance is not rocket science. I feel that I am fully capable of learning how to replace corks and pads, at the very least. It seems to me that the necessary parts should be a little more accessible. Thank God for Ferree's.

Although new to clarinet, I have played guitar for years. Guitar parts are readily available, and books about all aspects of guitar work, from simple maintenance to from-the-ground-up construction, are very easy to find. I was surprised and saddened to discovery that the clarinet world was not the same.

Chuck King
austin6182@-----.com

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