 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Francesca
Date: 2003-11-08 00:51
Hello all!
As things would have it, both my "kids" had to go to the repair shop this week. The soprano needed a new spring in the lower joint, and the bass had a sticky F# key. Because I have performances next week, I had to get the instruments back ASAP. I didn't want to sacrifice the quality of the work, however. I told the shop to do the necessary repairs, but to also check the general condition of each instrument as well.
I don't know if I was spoiled by my previous techs, but these folks seemed to do just the bare minimum. They replaced the spring, put in a new pad, and that was it. I asked if they were playing ok, and the employee told me "Oh I imagine so. I didn't play them, but I put the leak light in and they looked fine." I am not pleased about this. Am I expecting too much for the techs to test play their own work? I've played the soprano, and it sounds ok. Some glue was left on the bass, and I'm hopeful the pad was set correctly. Any thoughts appreciated.
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Author: Synonymous Botch
Date: 2003-11-08 00:56
Want superior service, and serious consideration of repairs?
One week is insufficient.
My tech charges a premium (in advance) for 'rush' jobs.
Fast
Inexpensive
Well done
Pick any two...
You get what you pay for.
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Author: ron b
Date: 2003-11-08 02:17
Competent techs don't "spoil" you, they just do their job. The techs I know play test the instruments they work on or have someone in the shop test it before they call you to pick it up. Whether it's a no/charge tweak or a minimum quick fix, they don't 'imagine', they 'know' the instrument is in playing condition before it leaves the shop.
Ideally, they want you to play it too before you take it home.
- r![[cool]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/cool.gif) n b -
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Author: JMcAulay
Date: 2003-11-08 02:46
For a tech to say, when asked if the instrument just repaired is working, "Oh I imagine so..." seems the antithesis of superior service, and I don't care if I had asked for a complete overhaul in six hours. Yes, good action by a good tech takes time, both on the clock and on the calendar, and one must expect to pay a premium for accelerated service. But a technician who allegedly repairs an item and fails to verify its operation doesn't deserve the title. Interesting you referred to him as "employee," not technician. Good accuracy.
If you asked for specific repairs which were done, that's good. If you asked for a general check-out and they didn't do it, not having told you they wouldn't have the opportunity, that operation should be avoided in the future. MOO.
Just imagine: "Yep, that valve job on your car engine is finished. I haven't started it, but all the clearances were checked, so I imagine it'll run okay." Would you take your car back to that clown?
Regards,
John
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Author: BobD
Date: 2003-11-08 13:48
It would be interesting to hear the tech's rebuttal....
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2003-11-08 14:55
#1, I'm NOT a trained tech, just learned the rudiments working on MY horns, enough to feel capable of doing minor repairs and tweaking [which often takes hours!]. #2, as SB said, you get what you pay for. I get a number of quickie, need it now, jobs via band teachers, and frequently am swabbed-down over the phone re: what will it cost? WHO KNOWS how many hours it will take? I nearly always will give a playing test AND have the player, not Mom/Dad, pick it up and PLAY it, if the kid has time!! #3 I've had a minor repadding-experiment [different padding technique] done by my fav. tech for his comments/improvements on a decent student cl. He told me he "worked-it-in" with his rush jobs, and charged me about half-price, warning me that I might want to do some tweaking, which I have done and it needed. SO, dont get too critical of US, who try to keep the kids/school horns playing. If a pro job is desired, you'll pay a pro price!! Don
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Author: Francesca
Date: 2003-11-09 16:58
Thank for the replies, thus far. There are some interesting views out there on repairs. Just for the record, price was not an issue here. I was willing to pay just about anything to get the horns done right. Also, I told them not to rush the repair. I had other horns to use if they needed the instruments for a while. Overall, the repairs were what I expected: fairly well done. The new pad on the bass is of different material than my others, so I'm hearing a tone difference. I can deal with that for a bit. The soprano plays as well as I can make it sound, which is refreshing. All problems in tone and technique are now my fault, not the horn's. Over holiday break I'll have chance to go home and take the kids to my techs. I'm guessing I'll have both of them checked out at that time. Let the concert season begin!
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2003-11-09 19:41
Changing a spring is often an urgent job. I have often done it while the customer wait, and watches.
No testing required. One does not have to play an instrument to know whether a spring is working. The customer, often in a hurry, trusts that I have done the job, and requires a play test neither of me nor himself.
If the sticking pad is not inter-connected with another key or mechanism, the same situation applies.
However you say asked for a general check. I would expect that to imply a play test.
When I play test a clarinet I already know that all seating and linkages are fine. I play to check for fuzzy-sounding notes, or maybe intonation anomalies, where venting of keys could be altered to make an improvement. It also checks that I have not done something silly like left a spring detached. For many repair jobs I don't NEED to do it, but the last item on my job sheet is almost always (truthfully) "Lubricate & test".
The employee's response sounds unprofessionally flippant to me.
BTW, perhaps I am unusual, but I disagree with Synonymous Botch's blanket statement, "Want superior service, and serious consideration of repairs? One week is insufficient. My tech charges a premium (in advance) for 'rush' jobs."
I often do urgent work in minutes or hours, with superior service, without a surcharge, especially if it is on a high quality instrument that is well made, hence easy to work on, and especially if the player needs it for a performance or exam. Turn-around is seldom more than a week, even for overhauls. Perhaps this is to do with cultural difference.
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Author: ron b
Date: 2003-11-09 21:56
The first thing on my list is "Play Test".
The last thing on my list is "Play Test".
- ron b -
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2003-11-10 05:33
how long did it take to do the repair? my tech did a pretty big job on a soprano and bass clarinets. he fixed 5 cracks, replaced 3 corcks, replaced 2 pads, opened a stuck neck, aligned the entire bass clarinet parts and corrected some notes that were out of tune. i gave the clarinet on thursday, got it back on sunday. that is the time it usually takes. maybe an overhaul takes a week. in the usa maybe it is always longer cause there are so many clarinet players there. but we have just 1 technician (at least 1 good technician).
i think you can tell if your technician is good or not. if you didn't think they was good then try someone else next time, i would.
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Author: Synonymous Botch
Date: 2003-11-10 12:30
Most US repair shops barely make enough money to stay open, let alone to support employees. The few qualified schools in the USA turn out quality repair people that tend to work on their own, as profit margins are thin.
These solo shops bid school band jobs as their 'bread and butter' to keep the store open, and Autumn is peak season in the USA.
In an era when band directors are squeezed for funds, and school boards can take 180 days to pay, 'rush jobs' are an enduring nuisance.
If the instrument was purchased at the shop, you have a history, if not...
Most players neglect their equipment and balk at recommended maintenance, until something falls off the horn. When a bench minimum charge is mentioned (just $35 in my neighborhood) most blow up in a huff and storm out.
You can't get any appliance checked for less than $50, and that's before any repairs are made... yet players regularly claim that their purchase price should cover a lifetime of adjustment; regardless of where they bought!
Nice that the Kiwis have someone so concientious and fast, but uppa heya,
all customers are not created equal.
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Author: Synonymous Botch
Date: 2003-11-10 12:31
Most US repair shops barely make enough money to stay open, let alone to support employees. The few qualified schools in the USA turn out quality repair people that tend to work on their own, as profit margins are thin.
These solo shops bid school band jobs as their 'bread and butter' to keep the store open, and Autumn is peak season in the USA.
In an era when band directors are squeezed for funds, and school boards can take 180 days to pay, 'rush jobs' are an enduring nuisance.
Most players neglect their equipment and balk at recommended maintenance, until something falls off the horn. When a bench minimum charge is mentioned (just $35 in my neighborhood) most blow up in a huff and storm out.
You can't get any appliance checked for less than $50, and that's before any repairs are made... yet players regularly claim that their purchase price should cover a lifetime of adjustment; regardless of where they bought!
If the instrument was purchased at the shop, you have a history, if not...
Nice that the Kiwis have someone so concientious and fast, but uppa heya,
all customers are not created equal.
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2003-11-10 14:52
Well said, S B and claribass, for you portrayal of repairer's problems, and frustrations. Lately I've seen some unplayables, that the owners have apparently been "fighting" [for some time?], which required only minimal service, but [discouraging] distance and time delays to and from "regional" music stores. So I find some "emergency-room" consultation-advice-repair [minor only] is much appreciated. Its my non-competitive "public service". The latest was a bent key, took a couple of minutes to straighten, then test-play by both the student and myself. No charge! I recommend it for happiness, but not income! Don
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