Klarinet Archive - Posting 000440.txt from 2003/08

From: Gary Van Cott <gary@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Questions, questions
Date: Sun, 17 Aug 2003 22:53:56 -0400

Well the corks could probably use some cork grease. You probably don't
want to be playing E-flat if you haven't touched a clarinet for years.

Overhauls of student instruments usually aren't expensive. Maybe $100 or so
depending on where you live. However, your Bundy is probably only worth
about $75 so that may not be a good idea.

Get the pad fixed, get a decent inexpensive mouthpiece if you don't have
something good (like a Fobes Debut), and practice for a few months. Then
you will be ready for some shopping.

Gary
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+ Gary Van Cott - Van Cott Information Services, Inc.
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At 06:13 PM 8/17/03, you wrote:
>Good evening - or afternoon or morning, if you're not in the New England
>time zone. :o)
>
>First, a brief history - I started B flat clarinet at age 8, picked up
>Eflat soprano when I was 12 and played both through college, and then . .
>. stuff happened. Five years later, when I desperately needed to play
>music, I picked up flute. That was 10 years ago. Recently, I was coerced
>into playing with a community "wind symphony" and loved it so much that a
>friend questioned why I was playing flute. After all, her reasoning went,
>there are 8-10 flutists and zero soprano "clarineters" (her word, not
>mine) and so she challenged me to dust off my instruments and try playing
>again.
>
>And here's where the questions begin (other than - am I completely out of
>my mind attempt this). The clarinets need a lot more than "dusting off".
>The soprano is by Henri Pourcelle - springs and pads appear OK, but the
>corks are very dry. Would they need to be replaced or can they be
>salvaged? The B flat is an old Bundy student model that the springs appear
>to be OK, but the corks are also very dry and one pad actually fell out.
>Is repairing it worth it, or should I consider purchasing a second hand
>instrument?
>
>And if repairing is the way to go (or even consider) does anyone know of
>decent repair people in the north central Massachusetts/southern New
>Hampshire area?
>
>Comments, anyone? Advice, opinions, even psychiatric recommendations . . . <g>
>
>Peace,
>
>Martha E.

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