 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: selmerplayer
Date: 2009-05-26 18:24
How does Selmer handle upper joint cracks on a clarinet that is under warrenty? My brand new Signature that arrived just last thursday has what is no doubt 2 cracks in the upper joint. One is is about a half inch long and the other is about 1.5 inches long opposite sides. I got a RA from WWBW this morning but I still would like to know how Selmer would handle this. Would they fix the cracks or replace the upper joint intirely? Just curious.
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Author: oliver sudden
Date: 2009-05-26 18:55
Call me old-fashioned, but I would be livid if that happened to me and the only option was to have the cracks repaired.
When you're buying a new clarinet you're buying a new clarinet, no? One without cracks. Not even 'repaired' ones. Or do you have to spell that out?
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Author: selmerplayer
Date: 2009-05-26 19:06
oliver sudden wrote:
> Call me old-fashioned, but I would be livid if that happened to
> me and the only option was to have the cracks repaired.
>
> When you're buying a new clarinet you're buying a new clarinet,
> no? One without cracks. Not even 'repaired' ones. Or do you
> have to spell that out?
You're right and fortunately I am well within the 45 day return period that WWBW has so I'm sending it back. I was just curious though how Selmer would handle this if all you had was a warrenty. Would they fix the crack or replace the upper joint or what?
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2009-05-26 19:11
Student of mine had a crack in his upper joint (big 4 brand) and they sent him a replacement body - keyless.
The repairman had to spend almost 4 hours repadding and adjusting it so that the keys worked well.
I wasn't at all impressed with that company - and it was still under warranty.
It wasn't buffet either
http://www.SkypeClarinetLessons.com
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2009-05-26 19:15
oliver sudden wrote:
> Call me old-fashioned, but I would be livid if that happened to
> me and the only option was to have the cracks repaired.
Let's see ... you spend hours and hours finding the "right" clarinet, buy it, and have it crack. You can:
1) have the upper joint repaired and keep the clarinet you agonized over
2) Have the upper joint replaced with one of questionable properties
Unless you bought the clarinet "sound unheard", I'd be more inclined to 1) rather than 2). Most cracks are eminently repairable, and if you bought the clarinet for the way it sounds & plays rather than for its looks, 1) might be more attractive.
Now my son did have the upper joint on his Buffet replaced under warrantee, and the clarinet was better than when it started - but Francois Kloc of Buffet did the work personally and had judged the cracked upper joint unrepairable.
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Author: oliver sudden
Date: 2009-05-26 19:27
Mark, I did write: if the _only_ option was to have the cracks repaired. I'd expect to have the choice.
To me there are certainly a few issues involved. The way an instrument sounds and plays (when you buy it!) is certainly one. The way it looks is another. The fundamental stability of your particular bit of wood is another one again...
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2009-05-26 20:03
I'm a Signature player, had mine for three years, no crack, it sounds great. How does it look, I don't really care, I bought it because of how it sounds and feels. Anyway, I am a Selmer bass clarinet artist so if you can't get a really good answer I can ask them for you but it is my belief that they would replace it in this short time. Certainly WWBW should just replace it for you at this point though. If you can, try a few, no to clarinets of any brand play the same.
By the way, I know several players that state that their clarinets sounded better after having a crack repaired. When you get a new upper joint it's always a crap shoot, it could be better, it could be worse. I had the upper joint on my Buffet A replaced many years ago, it's still the best A clarinet I've ever tried which is why I still play a Buffet A and a Selmer Bb. What ever works. ESP http://eddiesclarinet.com
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2009-05-26 20:07
Did you follow the playing-in advice to the letter?
You should only play a brand new wooden clarinet for a maximum of 30 mins at a time and gradually increase that (by adding another 5 mins) over the next 6 weeks, making sure you dry it thoroughly (both bore and sockets) in between playing, and always put it back in its case when not playing.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Iceland clarinet
Date: 2009-05-26 20:48
A repair man with a retail shop with a good repute in UK told my teacher few years ago when the upper joint of his Tosca had to be replaced do to crack that went all the way to the bore that in his 40 years of service as a repairman he had seen around five Buffet clarinets that had a crack that was not repairable but he had no count of all the Selmer clarinets thad had cracks that were not repairable.
Might say something about the quality of the wood they use.
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Author: selmerplayer
Date: 2009-05-26 20:55
Yep I sure did. I'm not new to breaking in new wood clarinets. The instructions said to play it no more than 15 min per day for a week, then 15 min twice a day for a week and then so on. I had it less than a week so I only played it 15 min per day and it still cracked in 2 places.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2009-05-26 21:31
As you bought it new, the dealer warranty should cover it for this kind of damage from the moment you bought it from them. It'll either be repaired or replaced depending which is easier and more economical, but most likely replaced.
It's amazing that some players who disregard the playing-in advice and general maintainance have clarinets that never crack, yet people who take their time and adhere strictly to this crucial advice can have clarinets that split very early on. So it's just one of those unfortunate things.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: oliver sudden
Date: 2009-05-26 21:47
I think there was some discussion about cracking not so long ago. Someone made the point then that the wood's history before it reaches you also has a big influence on how it stands up to whatever stress you might subject it to...
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2009-05-27 00:51
It is my opinion that the breaking in process is way overplayed. Although I do believe in some break in time is important I also feel that a clarinet is either prone to crack or not. That doesn't mean you should do anything stupid but with a little common sense your clarinet will either crack or it won't. I bought my new Selmer in the month of May, played it for two or three weeks no more the 20 - 30 minutes a day and then began playing it on the job. I did not take it to an outdoor concert though. Now if it were during the winter time I would have taken a lot more time before I ever would have taken it out of the house. I would also have made sure I kept dampits in the case as I do in the dry months all the time anyway. Yes, swab it out good, do that anyway, new or not. Don't keep it near the heat, even after it's broken in, dry the joints as you should do all the time. Don't play a cold clarinet until it sets for a while. So I own two Bb, and A and Eb and a bass ranging from 45 years old to 3 years old and never had a crack. Two are Selmers, three are Buffets. So much for the "poor" quality of the wood. I'm the only one in the BSO that has never had a cracked clarinet. I'm also the only one that owns Selmers. As I said, if a clarinet is prone to crack I think there's just about nothing you can do to ovoid it but you can certainly do things to make it easier to crack. That's my opinion at least. ESP http://eddiesclarinet.com
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Author: D Dow
Date: 2009-05-27 18:15
ONE thing is for sure..Mr. Kloc does not work with everyone personally. In fact I doubt he answers emails for anyone except a few people he knows or knows of. I think Buffet have had a really bad rep with service. Kind of like GMC except clarinets. As for the crack I would have it repaired by a tech and get the firm to pay for it under the warranty. I think it is important the clarinet comes from the same billet. Call me old fashioned.
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2009-05-27 18:49
D Dow wrote:
> ONE thing is for sure..Mr. Kloc does not work with everyone
> personally.
I'm sure that's true ... there are just too many people ...
> In fact I doubt he answers emails for anyone
> except a few people he knows or knows of.
Well, at the time I went to the main US distribution site (when it was in ... the Chicago area I think - it was a long time ago, near 10 years) Francois didn't know me or my son from Adam ... and we spent a delightful day at the place with Francois.
I do know that he is unfailingly pleasant to work with when you meet him at the different conventions, and is more than happy to work on horns from every manufacturer. I've watched him adjust and repad all day. He did a few pads on my 10G when Selmer wouldn't at one convention.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2009-05-27 19:40
"I think it is important the clarinet comes from the same billet. Call me old fashioned."
No clarinets will ever be made from the same billet as the billets are all sawn and then mixed up prior to distribution to the manufacturers.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: selmerplayer
Date: 2009-05-27 23:47
As for the crack I would have it repaired by a tech and get the firm to pay for it under the warranty. I think it is important the clarinet comes from the same billet. Call me old fashioned.
Well I could also just send it back to WWBW for a refund or exchange but it plays good and sounds good. I'm kind of afraid I may get one that doesn't sound and play as good as this one. Would Selmer replace the upper joint with a new one? I'm kind of in a delima right now.
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2009-05-28 00:54
They might replace the upper joint, call WWBW and "demand" they take care of that for you. The very least they should tell you who to call. If you can't get satisfaction e-mail and I'll find out for you. ESP
ESP eddiesclarinet.com
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Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2009-05-28 02:17
Generally, Conn-Selmer insists that warranty work be sent in through the dealer, so you will ahve to deal with WWBW anyway, whatevcer you decide.
Jeff
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