Klarinet Archive - Posting 000248.txt from 2003/11

From: "Karl Krelove" <karlkrelove@-----.net>
Subj: RE: [kl] Bass Clarinet mouthpieces
Date: Tue, 18 Nov 2003 08:14:38 -0500

> Isn't it standard procedure (or ought to be) for a store to have a
> technician go over a new instrument to make certain everything is
> in working
> order when they sell it?

Many of the instruments we buy in my school district come in the original,
sealed plastic wrappings. The instruments are (by state law here in Pa.)
bought from the lowest bidder, which probably explains why the instruments
are generally untouched by human hands to the greatest possible extent.

> If the clarinet did sit unused for over a year and they gave it to Em
> without checking it out first, I fault the band directors.

I wouldn't be too quick to assign "fault" anywhere. This kind of thing is
often strongly driven by budgetary concerns. If budget is inadequate at the
school (as it is all over the U.S. these days) it *could* explain why
repairs are being sent to the shop with the lowest prices, the instruments
are being bought from large volume dealers who don't service their
instruments before shipping them, and a new instrument is not automatically
sent out for a check-up when it arrives. Sometimes our students, especially
those who are borrowing our more exotic instruments (bass clarinets, oboes,
bassoons, bari saxes...) from the school, take them to a preferred shop (not
our "regular" one, which is the only one in the immediate area capable of
handling the volume of work we generate) and arrange to have the school
district pay the bill. It happens even with instruments lent out by our most
conscientious teachers.

Or, the band director could be a lazy horse's ass... :-)

Karl Krelove

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