The Clarinet BBoard

The Clarinet Corner

Author: clarinetsweetheart  Date:   2005-09-13 19:52 http://www.clarinetcloset.com/ Any of you ever heard of it? They sent my band director an e-mail, and she asked me if I knew anything about them. I have no idea so I decided to ask you guys. Any insight would be helpful ~*Charlotte*~ Post Edited (2005-09-14 20:08)

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Re: The Clarinet Corner

Author: ron b  Date:   2005-09-14 00:08 Hi, Charlotte The question posed to you by your band director is: whether the folks at Clarinet Closet are trustworthy. Allow me to present my observations. Then, please and by all means, anyone, feel free to correct me if I am mistaken. We all know, or should know by now, that it's anyone's guess who you're dealing with online, or by surface mail and through postal delivery service, unless you know them personally, in this case X-Bandmaster and his sidekick Clarinet Goddess, proprietors[?] of the Clarinet Closet. I would have to assume that they are well intentioned and sincere, if only because music educators I know usually are sincere, caring individuals. I must admit that's a very loose foundation upon which to base a first impression, but it's all we have right now. I must also surmise from what I see in writing that they are grossly under-informed and relatively untrained in the repair and servicing of band instruments and specifically at this time, clarinets. The high-standard service they describe to us is, in fact, a "standard" cleaning and Play Condition Service -- the lowest possible cost/time-investment servicing available by any shop's standard, reputable or not. The cases have been cleaned and deodorized, they tell us, and the exteriors given a cosmetic touch up. This is also standard procedure for high-volume, quick turnaround school instrument service. Looking at them from my window, the purported technical skill level looks, at best, shaky to me on several points. First, they're offering a mixed bag or only seven instruments of moderate quality, if not previously mistreated, for resale, history unknown. But, let's be fair, how could we know one way or another without a close up and personal hands on inspection? Obviously, we can't. Second, what we can and DO know, from reading their qualifications statement, is that Mr. Bandmaster doesn't know whether a new pad he installs will seal as well as the old one he just had to replace. So, he doesn't replace ANY pads that are presently functioning (regardless of condition?). If any cork is really bad that might get replaced too. To paraphrase Mr. B, 'If it ain't broke, don't fix it.' Finally, we're assured we are not to worry about anything because the Clarinet Goddess will carefully and thoroughly inspect each and every clarinet (all Seven of them?) before giving it the go-ahead. I'll allow that they may be wholeheartedly sincere and trustworthy. Do they "know what they're doing"? Well, in all sincerity, from what I see on their web site they've got a long way to go :| In re-view of the foregoing, I must add that I know from experience that, for what they are, the instruments offered for resale are, to say the least negative thing I can... overpriced. - rn b - Post Edited (2005-09-14 00:13)

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