 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: mddds
Date: 2025-06-19 22:42
hello all!
in the fall, i'm planning to drop my set of Oehler system clarinets to their mother ship in Germany for a long overdue overhaul. they quoted 2-3 weeks for the work but wasnt sure if it was for both or per instrument. in the worst case, might be 4-7 weeks including transit.
i was looking for advice on what to do during that time.
nowhere i can rent or borrow one.
btw, i do have a set of Buffets that i don't play anymore.
furthermore, i play in a local orchestra. i think the instruments will come back before the concert. should i sit out that semester? play those Buffets?
thanks for your response.
-CK
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Author: ACCA
Date: 2025-06-20 11:05
Maybe- keep your mouthpiece if it doesn't need overhauling, buy an oehler clarinet from ebay (https://www.ebay.com/itm/267287207123) use it while yours is gone, and flog it again when you're done with it. Bonus, you have a working instrument for the concert if the pair isn't back from Germany yet.
I'm assuming here that you are now used to oehler fingering and mouthpiece, and switching back and forth between boehm buffets is difficult?
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2025-06-20 17:16
Normally I tell anyone bringing their clarinets in for an overhaul is to book it in way in advance of when they know they're not going to be using them for a minimum of two weeks and overhaul the Bb first as that's most likely the one they'll need soonest, unless they need the A sooner that is.
You know exactly what your plans are, whereas repairers don't as we're nor psychic and booking things way in advance means you won't get caught up in a queue if things get busy for your repairer and miss the deadlines you have in your diary if you don't act sooner.
As for a back-up clarinet, that's really down to the owner and many players don't have a back-up clarinet to cover them for periods when their clarinets are away for servicing or overhauling, so they'd have to borrow one from someone else should they need to.
The problem being many players are only used to playing their set of clarinets and would prefer not to have to borrow anyone else's (and many repairers prefer not to lend anything out as they often come back damaged through careless handling or general 'it's just a loaner instrument and they're just a repairer so it's up to them to fix it' attitude), but you can't have it both ways - expect to be without your clarinets while they're away as you can't have them and not have them at the same time. You have to make these sacrifices and be without your instruments as repairers don't have telekinetic powers to sort things out without having the instruments on their bench.
The amount of times I've had people moaning about such and such isn't right or such and such needs doing as though it's my fault, only for them never to bring them in and carry on moaning about it while things are getting worse is beyond numerous. If you want the work to be done, then bring them in to get them sorted out - chances are the ongoing problem is something that can be sorted out in a matter of minutes.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: m1964
Date: 2025-06-20 19:10
mddds wrote:
"...in the fall, i'm planning to drop my set of Oehler system clarinets to their mother ship in Germany for a long overdue overhaul. they quoted 2-3 weeks for the work but wasnt sure if it was for both or per instrument. in the worst case, might be 4-7 weeks including transit...
...furthermore, i play in a local orchestra. i think the instruments will come back before the concert. should i sit out that semester? play those Buffets?"
You did not say where you are located. If in Europe, then sending them to Germany is fine, but if you are not in Europe, I would find a local knowledgeable tech. The tech can see the venting and keys position on your instruments, make a note of it (mentally or in writing) and replicate the same during the overhaul.
I would advise against purchasing an Oehler clarinet off eBay because it may need an overhaul too (even the 're-stored' ones). Unless you want a back-up instrument and are willing to invest in it. In that case, you might want to get a clarinet of the same maker/model as yours.
Also, if you look at that eBay listing, the clarinet is in MN. So, if you trust that listing and you are in the US, you can just send your clarinets there.
my 2p
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Author: mddds
Date: 2025-06-20 20:33
i am located in the US. sorry i should have mentioned that earlier.
i would gladly borrow or rent one domestically if i could.
i did have a tech (who also owns and is familiar w Wurlizter) do some work on it a while back but wanted to the company work on it this time.
no issues, just needs servicing.
i am going to Europe on a vacation then so i thought i would drop the instruments off.
i do realize that i've made this bed when i switched systems.
thanks for the constructive inputs so far!
-CK
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Author: Tom H
Date: 2025-06-21 01:38
If the Buffets work OK why not play them. I have a student model Selmer that I keep under my chair at concerts in case my Buffet conks out right then. Wouldn't think twice about using it in a pinch, and I play principal in the band.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2025-06-21 02:59
Had you been living in Germany, then the chances of borrowing an Oehler system are very likely - only they're few and far between outside Germany and many players wouldn't have even heard of Oehler systems.
I have a Yamaha 600 series Oehler system (minus the low E/F correction mechanism) and it's funny getting clarinet players here try it with no previous experience. Then again, full Boehms and clarinets fitted with extra gadgets not seen nowadays (especially LH forked Eb/Bb mechanism and articulated C#/G#) are few and far between and most players have never seen such things in their entire lives.
For a backup clarinet, you could always look for a used German system Yamaha with 22 keys if you don't mind having fewer keys to keep you playing while yours is in for repair.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Tony F
Date: 2025-06-21 06:21
If you're going to Europe on vacation why not see if you can buy or rent an Oehler while you're there. Oehlers are thick on the ground in Europe, there should be no problems finding one. You could probably set it all up before you travel, possibly somebody on this forum could offer some pointers.
Tony F.
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Author: m1964
Date: 2025-06-21 07:17
mddds wrote:
"...i am located in the US. sorry i should have mentioned that earlier...no issues, just needs servicing.
i am going to Europe on a vacation then so i thought i would drop the instruments off."
If it was me, I would have (at least) two considerations:
1. I drop the clarinet off, the company works on it and will send it back. Would there be any customs duty fees or special paperwork that would prove that I did not just buy it in Europe so I would not have to pay the customs duty fees.
2. If there are no problems, like missing screws, damaged keys, etc. that only manufacturer can obtain, I see absolutely no reason to have the work done in Europe, unless you would want to save some money. But, considering the shipping, there prob. will not be much savings.
Also, if there are any potential problem afterwards, it would be much easier to deal with a tech located in the US.
Also, to overhaul an Oehler clarinet, the tech does not need to be "Wurlitzer-certified". Any qualified tech will do the job fine.
Again, my 2p
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2025-06-21 16:11
Qualified doesn't mean experienced, respected nor good - I've seen many repairers with the bit of paper that says they qualified from repair college, yet their work is absolute shite and they even have the nerve to charge a premium for less than lacklustre work.
Giving an Oehler system to any repairer without experience of them is like giving them an oboe to work on as chances are they've never seen neither of them and mistakes are often made.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: m1964
Date: 2025-06-22 09:08
Chris P wrote:
> Qualified doesn't mean experienced, respected nor good - I've
> seen many repairers with the bit of paper that says they
> qualified from repair college, yet their work is absolute shite
> and they even have the nerve to charge a premium for less than
> lacklustre work.
>
> Giving an Oehler system to any repairer without experience of
> them is like giving them an oboe to work on as chances are
> they've never seen neither of them and mistakes are often made.
>
I did not express myself clearly when I said "qualified".
What I meant was highly experienced and knowledgeable technician, preferably specializing in clarinets/bass clarinets repairs.
Oehler clarinets are uncommon in the US but my tech had seen them.
Of course it is OP's personal decision where to fix his clarinets.
However, he/she asked for an advice. I only express my opinion: there is no reason to send clarinets a few thousand miles away to have relatively simple work done on them.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2025-06-22 16:46
As many German makers are relatively small companies hand making their instruments with more attention to detail compared to the likes of Buffet, then a factory service or overhaul done by them is the best way to keeping things as they should be.
If I owned a Buffet clarinet or a Selmer sax, I certainly wouldn't send them to their respective factories to be rebuilt if they can't build or finish their new instruments well to begin with. I also wouldn't send my Yamaha saxes back to Yamaha for a factory rebuild even though they have possibly the best quality control for such a large company, but they can still make some minor changes here and there with regards to the silencing materials they use to make things better.
Owning handmade German clarinets is pretty much on par with owning a pro level oboe or flute as they're not made in massive numbers and the companies that make them also service and overhaul them to their standards.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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