Klarinet Archive - Posting 000340.txt from 2002/06

From: Paul Harris <pwharris@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Cork pad!!
Date: Tue, 11 Jun 2002 11:40:48 -0400

Bill,
There are technicians and then there are technicians. The clarinet is a
very precise and complicated piece of machinery. In a pad job, so many
factors become important that I am sorry to say, many of the "store" repair
guys don't have the knowledge to perform it in a satisfactory manor. Pad
float, pad height and spring tensions all are critical to the instrument
playing in tune and with facility of response. I have had instruments
repaired and repadded by local repair Tec's who's main line of work is
school instrument repair and I have used the services of one of the leading
Tec's in the country. The difference of the repairs, overhauls and services
are like night and day.
I had a conversation with a store tech who I like and respect very much, and
he said that because of the fee structure he has to charge for repair
because of competition in the area, he is forced to use a lower standard of
quality which requires less time in the shop. I asked him if he could just
have two levels of charges and on the pro work take the time and his reply
was that it would take away from his bread and butter work of school repair
and the cost to him could include loss of his main business. He also told
me that because of the normal way he repairs with speed, he doesn't have the
feel for pro repair and adjustment.
That is the main difference between a specialist who only works on clarinets
and a general service Tec.
Paul
----- Original Message -----
From: "William Wright" <w7wright@-----.net>
Subject: Re: [kl] Cork pad!!

<><> Lacy Schroeder wrote:
can cork pad my Bb for me within the next two weeks of this month?

Not that it makes any difference (because you have found someone
already), but curiosity consumes me.....

Am I just lucky that our town's one and only clarinet vendor has a
technician, or are music shops with competent technicians hard to find
--- including that you live and play (I think) in a university
environment?

Cheers,
Bill

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