 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: JMCraig
Date: 2003-08-22 15:57
Hi Folks,
I play strictly for my own amusement and I'm not so hot, but I enjoy noodling around.
It appears that my Boosey & Hawkes Series 2-20 (from 1979, it looks like, according to the helpful serial number chart I found on woodwind.org), needs some substantial work. The lower joint apparently has some leaks (alternate fingerings don't function entirely reliably).
And (considering the upper joint, now), line-E sounds particularly flat and thin (all the notes from there up to line-B-flat are pretty bad, actually--now I know that's partly just the acoustics of a clarinet, but there's a very substantial difference in tone going up from middle-C & D to line-E [REALLY bad]). A friend of the family worked on it a bit and got the E sounding a bit less flat by heating up the back of the pad cup that is closed by the left-hand middle-finger hole ring so that he could seat the pad more deeply into the socket. He also tried to help out the closing of the pad that sits under the space-A key by shimming the thumb-F hole's ring arm so that it'd push the pad down a bit tigher.
Well, it was a good effort by a moderately skilled technician (he works on his own horns a lot). But the shim fell out and I think that other pad is still covering the hole too much and the lower joint apparently has leaking problems--and perhaps the top joint does too and that's part of the problem.
So, here's the question: is this (admittedly, somewhat unusual horn) worth fixing or should I just save up a bit more money and go for something new/used that's got better intonation over all? It's not like I'm in position to dedicate a lot of money to this question and I'm not exactly in need of a fine clarinet--just something a bit more reliable and easy to play, perhaps?
I've considered some of the nicer plastic horns, in particular Yamaha's YCL250 (although that's a budget stretch for sure). Anyone know anything about the Amati plastic horns or the Jupiter models? I figure if I could get something with undercut tone holes, I might well end up with a better sound than what I'm getting now and perhaps cleaner intonation. Or, is the intonation on my Boosey theoretically just fine and if it were fixed it'd be happy?
I understand this is just a question of opinions, but I'd like to hear some from people with a bit more experience than I've got to bear on the subject.
Thanks,
John
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2003-08-22 17:01
The 2-20 is a basically good instrument, that when in a proper state of repair should play quite well. The ergonomics (key layout) are a bit funky but can be modified to be reasonably comfortable for most players. I've restored quite a few of these, along with the nearly identical Edgware model (and similar Stratford, 8-10, etc.) and despite their quirks these are among my favorite affordable clarinets. Personally I'd rather play a well-adjusted wood B&H than most plastic instruments, but maybe I'm just weird....Right now I'm playing (daily) a freshly-restored 8-10 which has very good intonation (except for some flatness in the low chalumeau E and F), great response in every register (including a clear throat Bb) and a gorgeous sound. I'd recommend renovating the 2-20 rather than trading it in on one of them new-fangled plastic thangs.........
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Author: ron b
Date: 2003-08-22 17:31
Dave has given a very good opinion on this topic, JM. I love it when folks agree with me
If the horn is in fairly good shape aside from the leaky pads and stuff, I'd get it fixed... by a real tech. A 'Play Condition Only' re-pad won't destroy your savings account. I've found well adjusted B&H instruments, especially the earlier wood ones, to be pretty good ol' horns.
Playing for your own amusement, or anyone else's, is a whole lot more fun when it's not a struggle.
- r![[cool]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/cool.gif) n b -
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2003-08-22 18:26
I second Dave and Ron as above. Sure, fix up a potentially good one! Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: Bob Schwab
Date: 2003-08-22 22:13
I too concur with the sentements expressed in the preceeding posts. Let me tell you my story (no no Bob, I can't take another one of your stories).
A few years ago, my brother, a technical sergeant in the Air Force, was stationed in Turkey (I had spent some time there myself when I was in the service for what it's worth). He knew I played clarinet when I was in junior high (my high school didn't have a music program) and happened to see an old B&H Edgware in a garage sale being offered for $10. He let me know by e-mail that he bought it and it was being shipped to me. Since this was only two months after 9/11, I was concerned about what would happen if they x-rayed the package. Imagine, a package coming from the middle east comprised of cylindrical shaped objects being sent to the states. No kidding, I really was concerned about that.
Well, it arrived with no incident but its condition was pathetic. I thought the best it was good for would be to make a lamp out of it or something. A clarinet player I knew from church suggested that I take it to an instrument repair guy he had done business with so I figured that it couldn't hurt. This guy stripped the instrument and basically rebuilt it from the ground up. He restained the wood, buffed all the keywork, repadded all the keys, new corks, and who knows what else, all for just under $200.
I couldn't believe it was the same clarinet! What at first seemed to be a piece of junk, in the hands of the right technician, became a prized possession. This present from my brother provoked me to take up the clarinet again after 23 years.
So, to make a long story short I'd say to give the reconditioning option a try. You probably have a better instrument than you think you do.
Good luck
Bob Schwab
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Author: jippyjapp
Date: 2003-08-23 01:28
Hi
I have just bought a 1955 wooden B&H regent and love it.
It will need some work on it soon but I wont ever part with it.
See what the tech says and go from there.
good luck
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Author: JMCraig
Date: 2003-08-23 17:35
Well, thanks for the encouragement to get it fixed--I'm fond of my Boosey so the news is good!
Now here's the problem: the backlog at the local shop with the good clarinet guy is like 2 1/2 months long.... So, anyone with the requisite skills on this board who doesn't have such a backlog care to do a I'll-ship-it-to-you repair (or know someone/some place)....
Thanks,
John
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Author: Bob Schwab
Date: 2003-08-23 20:38
JM
The guy who did mine was Joseph Clouse.
His shop is
J & E Instrument Service
8030 Roll Road
East Amherst, NY 14051
(716) 688-0013
As I stated in my earlier post. I was very happy with the job he did for me.
Good luck
Bob Schwab
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Author: ron b
Date: 2003-08-25 08:20
It's just not good form for anyone to self promote on a bulletin board; in fact, it's not allowed on this one; the place would be flooded with solicitations from every fly-by-nighter on the globe. There are several Woodwind Sponsors who all have excellent reputations and they're only a click or two away from right here. I'd be very hesitant to ship my personal instrument across the country, though that's stricktly speaking for myself. If you care to give an indication of where you live, perhaps some folks could recommend a not-so-busy tech in your neighborhood.
- ron b -
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Author: BobD
Date: 2003-08-25 13:52
Certainly there is good reason for repair techs to favor repair vs new and there's nothing wrong with that attitude. If you have an attachment to the horn for sure go the repair route and get close to your repair guy....you might learn something useful as a bonus.
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Author: JMCraig
Date: 2003-08-25 14:44
Sorry to have caused a controversy RE self-promotion--what I was hoping for was people's experiences with specific providers of service. I have checked out the sponsors of the site and will certainly put them on my to-contact list.
I'm in north central Utah (so anything within an hour or so of Salt Lake City would be easy).
In theory, I would be willing to send it somewhere (although maybe that's not the best option).
Thanks to everyone who replied.
JMC
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2003-08-25 14:52
JMCraig wrote:
> Sorry to have caused a controversy RE self-promotion
You haven't. ron b was just pointing out that those people who can repair your clarinet can't toot their own horn on the BBoard, though their satisfied customers can. They can email you privately, too, if you expose your email address (unfortunately that's a more or less dangerous thing nowadays).
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Author: Bob A
Date: 2003-08-25 17:45
ronb said, in part:
"I'd be very hesitant to ship my personal instrument across the country, though that's stricktly speaking for myself."
I would also, unless it was going to:
David Spiegelthal
10991 Westwood Road
Catlett, VA 20119.
Can't say enough good things about Dave.
Bob A
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Author: ron b
Date: 2003-08-25 18:24
It's not the repair guys who visit Woodwind I'd be concerned about - or even some repairers who don't drop by here. We've heard many times over how good and trustworthy many of them are. I wouldn't hesitate for one moment asking any one of 'em to fix my horn... if I could carry it over there. It's the shipping handlers that worry me. Musical instruments are shipped from the factories in very well designed, super sturdy packaging that would protect most delicate scientific gadgets and the packaging accounts for a (not insignificant) protion of the cost of the item. In my opinion, you're way better off to cart it over to your local repair shop yourself. No one will be nicer to it in transit than you. And your favorite neighborhood tech is not likely play football with it during coffee break.
- ron b -
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Author: GBK
Date: 2003-08-25 18:30
If you must ship an instrument, send it out on a Monday to lessen the chance of it sitting somewhere in a package storage facility over the weekend ...GBK
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