 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Mark Weinstein
Date: 1999-04-08 20:26
Recently I spoke to Phil Muncy who explained he is a year behind in R-13's waiting to "get the once over". Tone holes, Register Keys, Cork Pads in Upper Joint, & all the rest of the adjustments to tweak a nice clarinet.
I asked Phil about his wait list and he said there was no point.
He commended Brannen and a technician in Philadelphia. I can't remember the Phlly fellow. he felt that all three of these individuals (incl. himself) were equals. "we do some things a bit differently here & there yet achieve approx. the same end to our work") Can somebody help me out with a name and address and any recommendations/refernces for this person?
BTW: It might prove easier for me to sell my R-13 and just BUY a new one that has been worked over. While I am happy with my R-13 who knows what lurks out there ? <grin>
your thoughts are appreciated.
Mark Weinstein
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Author: Gayl
Date: 1999-04-08 20:57
Mark,
Though I don't quite understand what exactly you want done to your R-13, I understand the want to customize your clarinet part of it. I had my clarinet customized to my fitting (a festival), by technician in Oakland California. This guy is absolutely wonderful, and knows what he is doing. If are interested, email me.
Gayl
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Author: Mark Weinstein
Date: 1999-04-09 01:53
Gayl:
I have a great tech available to me. He's wonderful.
He can any kink or problem out of any instrument.
BUT, I believe there are a (very) FEW technicians who obtain UN-common results.
Perhaps I am OVERreaching; the only real way to find out is to give it a whirl or banish the thought forever.
Look at it this way, I don't enough vices. <grin> NOT
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Author: Hiroshi
Date: 1999-04-09 04:58
Tom Ridenour is customizing clarinets.Maybe he can correct R-13 intonation problem.
Gale,my understanding of customization is:
1)Correct too strong spring force.
2)Correct too big register key elevation.
3)Change the register key cork to one having conical hole.
Some technitian even change the register key position to improve throat tones.Or he can use Galper's special register key for R-13.
4)Adjust each pad elevation to correct intonations.
5)Change upper joint pads to more durable cork pads.
6)Ream mouthpiece,barrel,upper joint,and even lower joints.
7)Set a half filler to the top trill key hole to correct alternative fingering intonation problem.
8)Round-off the tone holes corners.
9)Clean up oils and change to a better viscosity oil.
10)minute adjustment of the setting of cantilever connection upper and lower joint keys.
11)Change to special barrel and bell.For example RC Prestige has a bell with rectangular hole to enhance harmonics and to have darker tones.For Buffet Moennig type reverse tapered barrel can be selected.
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Author: Daniel
Date: 1999-04-09 05:14
I know a guy who does fine work at a very low cost. Only he's in Davenport, Iowa. If you're interested in contact info for him, let me know.
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Author: Brandon
Date: 1999-04-09 12:53
I would highly recommend Bill Brannen in Chicago. His work is exceptional. The only setback is that it is a bit expensive. However, judging by the quality of his work it is well worth it in my opinion. It will be like buying a new clarinet for just the cost of the "once- over." His number is (847)866-7576. I have heard of the Philly guy also but for the life of me can not think of his name.
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Author: Michael Norsworthy
Date: 1999-04-09 13:02
Mark,
The person in Philadelphia that Phil mentioned could be one of two. They are both "prize" students of Hans Moennig and both a very reputable as far as their work is concerned. The first is Marc Jacobi. Mark is a Buffet Clarinet "specialist" (if there is such a thing)and will charge you an obscene amount of money to do the work you want done. he's also got a long waiting period to get in with him and you'd have to call to make an appointment.
The second is Mike Hammer. I've been going to Mike for over 10 years and can honestly tell you that his work is every bit as good as Jacobi's for a fraction of the price. Jacobi would charge you close to $1000 to get the work done, and Hammer would be around $500. These prices of course will vary depending on what you want done, but from my experiences on having things "customized" after factory work has been done.
I do not have Jacobi's number (as I haven't used him in many years) but Mike Hammer's number is (215) 281-3551. He's very glad to speak to you at length on the phone and explain his pricing structure and the work he would do for you. Just so you're aware, he IS very busy and may not pick up the phone (he has a machine) and he WILL call you back at the next opportunity, though that may not present itself for a couple of days. He's human and sometimes just forgets so don't be afraid to bug him a little!! (please tell him I said that!!)
Hope this information helps, and it you talk to Mike, tell him I said hello!!
Best wishes,
Michael Norsworthy
mnorswor@siu.edu
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Author: paul
Date: 1999-04-09 16:28
While I can understand that some of the work that this thread discusses can take a lot of highly skilled labor-hours and therefore cost the consumer a lot of money, some of the adjustments are typically done at the local store's repair shop for next to nothing while you wait. It's all a matter of how much rework you believe you need for your conditions, of course, but so far I've been very happy with the small adjustments on my Buffet Festival clarinet that I could get for free while I waited at my local store that's staffed with Buffet certified techs.
For instance, the register key adjustment was free and took less than an hour. The tech also planed down my Vandoren mouthpieces and reseated the Bb trill keypad within that same hour. Those adjustments made a world of difference for me, especially with the altissimo register. On a previous visit, he fixed a bad bell to lower joint fit as a free warranty service, but that work took about 2 weeks or so to get done at the height of high school band season.
Also, consider the great work that skilled professional clarinet players as tutors can do for most novice/intermediate students during their private lessons. My tutor made a slight adjustment here and there on the keys over the years to make the horn have better intonation on selected fingerings. Again, these slight tweaks were "free" and took only a few minutes to get done.
I now have what I personally consider a beautifully tweaked Buffet Festival. Sure, I'd love to have the "works" done on my horn to make it the very best it can be, but for me, I personally feel that private lessons and continued work on fundamentals will provide a bigger payback for someone at my skill level (adult novice and wannabe intermediate) than one of these customizing jobs.
I also wouldn't recommend a customizing job for student or intermediate grade horns. I don't personally believe that the cost/benefit payback is there for these lower grade horns.
Now, if you're a pro, then one of these customizing jobs may well be worth the cost and effort. That's your call.
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Author: Phillip O. Paglialonga
Date: 1999-04-12 20:08
I would say go to Brannen ... everybody I have talked to has spoken very highly of his work.. (including the clarinet professors at DePaul University-- Larry Combs, John Bruce Yeh & Julie DeRoche)
phil
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Author: Phillip O. Paglialonga
Date: 1999-04-13 19:51
Another place to consider is Gilberts in Los Angeles.. he does wonderful clarinet repair and is used by many great clarinetists including Mitchell Lurie
phil
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