Klarinet Archive - Posting 000347.txt from 1997/09

From: Roger Garrett <rgarrett@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: Selmer Repair (continued)
Date: Mon, 8 Sep 1997 14:00:06 -0400

Absolutely!

Let's take an automobile for instance....if it is properly aligned
(wheels), the tires do not wear as quickly...but we all know what happens
if they are even slightly off.

The new instrument service tightens and aligns the posts and corrects
defects in rods and keys. For instance, my brand new Buffet Prestige Bass
Clarinet had bent keys and rods...and it was brand-spanking new. Many of
the problems could not be detected by me.....and I was thrilled with the
way it played. However, once I paid the service (and believe me, it was
more than $325), I felt it was completely opened up....and I asked for
other things...including lower joint cups/pads to be raised to allow for a
bigger sound etc... I was assured by Mr. Brannen that the keys/rods were
corrected, and, quite frankly, it outlasted my last bass clarinet (Selmer
model 33) - so when I sold it last week, it was in better than new
condition. I sold it for $800 more than I paid for it...and I now have
the newest model Prestige Bass....and..*groan* have the wonderful new
instrument service to look forward to.

By the way, I recommend that, unless you buy a Greenline, don't have the
new instrument service done until the one-year warranty is up. If the
instrument cracks (nothing is going to prevent that) as my new Prestige Bb
did after three weeks, the aftermarket service is not covered by the
warranty. I was lucky that my professional insurance covers breakage as
well as the aftermarket service.

Roger Garrett

On Sun, 7 Sep 1997, Bill Hausmann wrote:

> At 06:42 PM 9/7/97 -0500, you wrote:
> ....sooner or later, you will have the service
> >done...but by the time it is 8-9 years old and needs a major overhaul, the
> >work that could have been done initially to preserve it will not be able
> >to be done because of the wear and tear and lost metal...
>
> Are you suggesting that a way has been found to prevent metal parts from
> ever wearing? Maybe this service is worthwhile after all!
>
>
>
> Bill Hausmann bhausman@-----.com
> 451 Old Orchard Drive http://www.concentric.net/~bhausman
> Essexville, MI 48732 http://members.wbs.net/homepages/z/o/o/zoot14.html
>
> If you have to mic a saxophone, the rest of the band is too loud.
>