 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Vicky
Date: 2003-01-19 06:09
Hey everyone!
I am having a lot of troubles with my Buffet R-13. I would like to get a new clarinet, but just don't have the money right now to do it. So, I was just thinking about getting a total repair job on it. I live in a small town, and have already tried the repairman here(he is my band director, and he playes the tuba, which says it all.........he doesn't know anything about clarinets!:D), and that doesn't seem to be much help at all. I was wondering if anyone knew of where I could get it over-hauled to. Thanks in advance!
Vicky
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Author: ron b
Date: 2003-01-19 06:46
Oh, Vicky :|
By no means should anyone take a clarinet to someone who knows nothing about them, much less fixing them. I know for a fact that even some repairers who know something about clarinets do lousy work. What part of the world do you live in?
Just curious... what seems to be the problem(s)?
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Author: Vicky
Date: 2003-01-19 07:15
Yes, I made that mistake! :(. I live in New Mexico. My problems:
*the bridge part is out of alignment
*the crack opened back up
*my pads need replacing
*the clarion B,C,C# keys are out of alignment
and I am sure that there are more problems of while I don't know about
The thing is, I bought the clarinet used. It has a great sound, but now that the crack has opened back up, I squeek. The clarinet came with all of the keys like that, so I learned to play with an unaligned clarinet! And, now I push too hard because all of the keys move(hard to explain), so I get tention built up in my hand, arm, and back.
I just seem to complain way to much on this darn clarinet! I play others clarinets, and it feels so easy to play. Then I go back to mine.........YIKES! :D Well, guys, have a great day!
Vicky
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Author: John J. Moses
Date: 2003-01-19 14:29
Hi All:
Any clarinet can be sent to NYC (be sure it insure it) and repaired by the very good repair people here.
They are:
Perry Ritter Woodwind Repair
853 7th Ave (but really on 55th around the corner from 7th, you'll see the sign)
212-956-6174
Wojiech Komsta at Roberto's on 46th.Street
Roberto's Woodwind Repair Shop
146 West 46th St.
212-391-1315
Jimmy Yan - JY Woodwinds
250 W 54th St.
Room 801
212-581-9765
Good luck,
JJM
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Author: Bob
Date: 2003-01-19 16:56
You might consider getting a "plastic" horn....
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Author: Synonymous Botch
Date: 2003-01-19 17:39
Don't overlook one of our regulars, Johnathan Butler.
He has a deserved, and sterling reputation.
He's one of the sponsors, and can be found at the top of this page.
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Author: Peter
Date: 2003-01-19 18:05
I know there are people here who will disagree, but I sincerely hope you did not purchase that "used" clarinet with a crack in it.
Yes, they are cheaper to buy, but they are still BROKEN instruments with very little real intrinsic value left to them.
And it's not even like you can go somewhere and try out 30 split clarinets to see which sounds the best, etc. Most split clarinets are purchased individually, some sight unseen, often with the prior knowledge that they are split!
Hypothetically: If you needed a car and Fords were the most popular ones, and there is a "cheaper" Ford with a cracked engine block and a Chevy, a little more expensive or around the same money, but with a good engine, are you going to buy the Ford?
Are we becoming so confused(?) as consumers (and clarinet players) that people (often, who are really not sure what to buy) would rather allow themselves to be influenced towards a broken Buffet rather than buy a whole something else? It doesn't make sense to me, at all.
Next time, buy something whole for what you can afford, work hard and save your money to, eventually, buy a whatever it is that you want, but one in good condition.
Sorry, but there are just too many other, uncracked, clarinets in decent playing condition around for anyone to go out of their way to screw themselves like that.
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Author: Dee
Date: 2003-01-19 18:39
Peter,
The best clarinet I ever played is the Symphonie III that I have from the 1950s. According to the seller, it had cracked and been pinned. Not only is the crack and pin invisible but it has never, ever re-opened. If repaired PROPERLY, such a horn can indeed be a great buy. One buys them to use, not resell.
However, Vicky's clarinet seems to have more extensive problems. They are almost certainly all repairable by a good technician. If she gets good quality repairs, she may find it to be a truly good horn. It's resale value of course won't be high.
Vicky, a complete overhaul and repair will cost but nothing near what you would spend on a new or used professional level clarinet such as the R-13 or competitive models.
Your cracked engine block is not a good analogy. It's not repairable in the sense that a clarinet is. And actually, I've known several people to buy vehicles with blown engines because the body was in excellent shape and they knew where to get a good buy on a replacement engine & installation.
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Author: Vytas
Date: 2003-01-19 18:45
Vicky,
I just e-mailed you some info
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Author: Vytas
Date: 2003-01-19 19:04
Dee,
I've never been a Leblanc fan... but... a couple of weeks ago I overhauled a Leblanc's Symphonie 3 (not III) No doubt it was one of the best clarinets I've ever played. ). I was completely blown away!
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Author: Peter
Date: 2003-01-19 19:11
Yeah, I've known people like that, too. But replacing an engine leaves you with the same car, replacing a joint leaves you with a different instrument. And, depending on the material it's made out of, I've also seen cracked engine blocks repaired.
There are the people who do it because that model of car is just no longer available, and who spend more time and trouble to get themselves a nice "classic" to drive.
Then there are the ones who do it because they think they will get away cheaper, sometimes out of a misguided sense of "necessity" and, often, wind up spending more time, money and inconvenience on the project than they anticipated...
But I know that there are repaired, cracked instruments that will work well... But should you buy one on the hope that yours will be one of those? Not me!
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Author: Synonymous Botch
Date: 2003-01-19 21:19
Uhmm... we're not helping this kid with 'should have' advice.
It's more about what Vik can do - now.
Not everyone on the BBS has the scratch to just chuck the horn and buy a new one - hmmm?
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Author: Peter
Date: 2003-01-19 21:56
Synonymous Botch is right. Sorry.
The Brannens have an excellent reputation for instrument repair and adjustment. and John J. Moses' repair people are well recommended.
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Author: Willie
Date: 2003-01-20 03:53
I would recommend John Butler (also a Sneezy sponcer) as his work is great and relatively close (next door in Texas) compared too other techs. I also recommend that if you ship it off for repairs, do it in the winter so the horn won't be subjected to extreem temperatures in the back of some big truck or warehouse.
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Author: Jim E.
Date: 2003-01-20 04:04
Let me add my recomendation to the others for John Butler. He just did a repad on an R13 for me, great job and very nice to deal with.
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Author: Vicky
Date: 2003-01-20 04:35
Thanks everyone, you have really helped me out. I think I have found someone right here in New Mexico, but if that doesn't work out, I will go to John Butler! Thanks a million.
Vicky
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Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2003-01-20 12:21
Hi Vicky,
I don't know where you are in New Mexico but you might try contacting one (or both) of the clarinet professors at your two major universities to find out where they have their repair work done and where they recommend their students take their instruments. Both will probably be more than happy to talk to you. (You are helping to pay their salary, you know. ;^) )
Keith Lemmons is at the University of New Mexico.
http://www.unm.edu/~finearts/faculty/music/lemmons.htm
Larry Borchert (who has posted from time to time on the Klarinet list) is at New Mexico State.
http://www.nmsu.edu/~music/faculty/borchert.html
Best regards,
jn
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