 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Late Bloomer
Date: 2003-11-18 05:04
Please don't laugh, I just bought my first clarinet at age 56. It needs new pads according to the man who brought it in to the church rumage sale. What would be a rough idea of the cost of new pads? it is a Bflat clarinet,dark brown wood with no name on it anywhere.
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Author: saxlite
Date: 2003-11-18 05:38
Cost of pads--about ten bucks; cost of competent repair technician--about $150.....
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Author: Mark Pinner
Date: 2003-11-18 07:38
If it was in a rummage sale it probably needs more work. The US$150 probably only covers a repad and is on the low side.
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Author: justwannaplay
Date: 2003-11-18 12:57
Hi Late Bloomer,
Welcome to the board and to the clarinet. I hope the price of repadding or other servicing haven't put you off. I bought a rather old wood clarinet recently off ebay (along with a very newish student Yamaha from a shop). When I blowed into the old wood one I thought it had a nice sound and let me go into the upper register much more easily than the new student one (same reed). It does need work though and I will have it overhauled eventually when I have the dosh, but this is more a sentimental decision rather than a rational hard-cash one. (The woodwind specialist I took it to said 'it's not the Stradavarius of clarinets' —ouch! no kidding, I'm not that dumb!)
Perhaps you can take it to a knowledgable technician who can tell you whether it sounds nice (or has the potential to) or not and then consider how much you want to spend on it, if anything. My uneducated guess is that if the wood is in good shape with no cracks it probably sounds nice and might just be worth spending something on it (name or no name). But hopefully you'll get more experienced advice from others on this bb.
Good luck,
Elizabeth
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Author: Ralph G
Date: 2003-11-18 14:41
Cost can vary depending on where you live. Last summer my wife took my old Signet in for supposedly just a repad, but it came back with the keys adjusted to perfection as well. And it needed it, too, since the last work on it was 16 years earlier. Cost: $120. We live in Corpus Christi, TX. i
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Artistic talent is a gift from God and whoever discovers it in himself has a certain obligation: to know that he cannot waste this talent, but must develop it.
- Pope John Paul II
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Author: BobD
Date: 2003-11-18 15:40
Having purchased a "no name" wood horn one is faced with a dilemma. If it's an inherently poorly made one you might be throwing good money after bad by getting into a fixup situation. On the other hand it might be a gem in the rough and fixup might at least partially destroy its historical value. You might want to have a good technician give you an opinion based on visual examination.
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Author: Late Bloomer
Date: 2003-12-05 18:49
thanks Elizabeth...I took my clarinet to the local music store and they said $260 for new pads...ouch...I will save my pennies though because I really like the sound and I want to do this.
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2003-12-05 22:16
Did the tech say what ELSE was required? Chipped tone holes? A split? A missing key? .....
Or is that his price just for changing pads? If it is just pads, then don't go near him.
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Author: Brenda
Date: 2003-12-06 01:40
Find out what repair shop has an excellent reputation in your area. Even if you have to drive an hour or so out of your way it's worth it. If you don't know any professional musicians to ask, then phone up the Musician's Union in the phone book or check the internet. They'd be able to direct you to some professionals. Then ask them who they'd take their babies to - it usually won't be the nearest music store.
A competant repair person will not only replace the pads and assure that they seal tightly, but they'll check for twisted keys, (common when assembling the instrument with dry corks) and a whole raft of other things. If the instrument's not worth the price of repair, they'll tell you that as well since their reputation's on the line.
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Author: hans
Date: 2003-12-06 04:06
Dear Margaret,
Congratulations on the purchase of your first clarinet. I'm sure no one with any sense will laugh at you for that.
If you have trouble finding a repair tech that you feel comfortable with, you might want to consider the techs who frequent this BB.
Best wishes,
Hans
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