Klarinet Archive - Posting 000039.txt from 2002/08

From: "Kevin Fay" <kevinfay@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Fantastic experiences in Vancouver
Date: Fri, 2 Aug 2002 20:25:48 -0400

Peter Stoll raved about Morrie Backun:

<<<This guy knows his way around woodwinds! He found some subtle cracks on
one horn, invisibly repaired now, and a ton of tiny leaks and man has the
scale improved on my Eb and A. Thanks Morrie! His email is MBack@-----.com and
his shop number (604)205-5770. . . . My only fear is that he's going to get
booked up as the word continues to spread.>>>

[Note the power of footnotes:]

This is complete smarm, wholly untrue.<1> I've had my instruments worked on
by Morrie, and his work isn't better than anyone else's.<2> His prices are
totally unreasonable,<3> and I'm not ever going to bother sending my horn
all the way to Canada again just for simple adjustments.<4> I haven't tried
his cosmetically-enhanced barrels<5>, but it's the bore that counts
anyway.<6>

With that said, I have no complaints at all.<7>

Notes:

1. Not.

2. It's a *whole lot* better. The word I'd use is "exquisite."

3. Unreasonably low, that is. Because of the US/Cdn. dollar difference,
his work is extremely cost-favorable. Of course, too much of this and he'll
come to his senses . . .

4. I won't send my horn up. Because I live near Seattle, it's only a 4
hour drive, worth every second. Besides, Vancouver is strikingly beautiful,
so my wife and I go up for a little holiday.

Plus, it's just so much fun to chat with him - Morrie's a hoot - and he'll
tweak the horn while you test it to get it "just so," included as part of
the service.

5. . . . but they *do* look pretty, no?

6. As part of the overhaul of my R-13 Bb, Morrie re-bored the barrel. I
now get better results with it than with any of the Chadash or Bays that I
spent so much money on. It also makes my R-13 A play much better in tune,
so I can use it on both. I don't care if he uses pixie dust - it works.

7. OK, just one - he doesn't like to work on saxophones, and mine need
help.

An aside: he overhauled my wife's Prima Sankyo flute, w/ Straubinger pads.
Did a fantastic job on it (did I say "exquisite"?) Whatever you do, DON'T
LET THE FLUTE PLAYERS KNOW! He's ours and we're not sharing.

kjf

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