 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: clarnibass
Date: 2003-11-14 12:55
hi, someone asked me to recommend a repairman for him. he needs to change a pad or two. then i thought maybe i can do it. then i started thinking about maybe i should start repairing clarinets and maybe even reface my mouthpieces myself. i was wondering a few things. how are the commercial looking products that wwodwind $ brasswind are selling. for example, they have a morgan refacing kit. i am wondering if it is worth buying or it's better to just buy certain tools. also about reparing clarinets, what do i have to know? i think fixing cracks is harder but changing pads and corks can't be too difficult. where can i learn how to do that? and where can i get pads and corks (i live in israel so ordering from the USA is too expensive)?
thank you.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Synonymous Botch
Date: 2003-11-14 13:00
*WARNING*
Slippery slope ahead...
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MouthpieceWork
Do some research, first.
This is a deep, and arcane area into which you proceed at your peril.
If you insist on performing repairs, make certain to get paid UP FRONT by your friends lest you be out both your time and friends...
If you price yourself 'cheap' your work will be perceived as same...
*******
That said, Votaw tools has good pads for not too much money.
Feree's is an industry stalwart that will gladly sell you the needed gear.
*******
You've been warned, now let us know how well you get on!
(It's fun, having something YOU repair make beautiful music.)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: clarnibass
Date: 2003-11-14 14:02
'make certain to get paid UP FRONT by your friends lest you be out both your time and friends'
i didn't exactly understand that. why?
also if someone has more infromation about the actual reparing and refacing that would be great. especially how to change a pad, that is the most important. i'll look in that refacing group too.
thanks SB.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2003-11-14 14:10
clarnibass wrote:
> 'make certain to get paid UP FRONT by your friends lest you be
> out both your time and friends'
Friends and customers need to abide by the exact same runles when it comes to the paid business side of things. For instance, as a computer consultant I have a written contract that states what I'm going to do, what I'm going to get paid, the criteria for success, and aother pertinent things that must be signed by both parties before I begin work.
Many times it's been that friends want me to start work before the contract is drafted & signed. The loss of friends and money lies in that direction. Contracts (even just signing a service order) can keep you out of a bad position.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: clarnibass
Date: 2003-11-14 14:24
hmmm... i guess things are different in the usa, but here you pay the repairman when you come to pick up the repaired instrument, that is after he already did all the work. i'll do it the same way i am sure. if a friend won't be able to pay me it will not be the end of the world because i think i will lke reparing even for free if it's a small thing (or just ask for the cost of the material).
i looked at feree's and i didn't see how to buy from them. can i order online? and where can i see the list of products?
www.ferreestools.com
also i'd like to know what are the recommended refacing kits? and which ones can be used on crystal mouthpieces.
thank you mark.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: hans
Date: 2003-11-14 14:26
There are many books available on woodwind repair. You may want to read a few of them first to make sure that you don't underestimate what you are getting into and to determine what you don't know.
It might be a good idea also to get insurance, in case you inadvertently ruin an expensive instrument or mouthpiece and you are sued for the damage. Also, have a "backup" - an expert to whom you can take a job if your attempts have failed.
Good luck ,
Hans (who has tried to repair my own sax and ended up with a big repair bill)
Post Edited (2003-11-14 16:24)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2003-11-14 14:35
clarnibass wrote:
> hmmm... i guess things are different in the usa, but here you
> pay the repairman when you come to pick up the repaired
> instrument, that is after he already did all the work.
No, same way, but you sign a service order that says what they're going to do and how much it will cost. If they need to do anything different they're supposed to call and get at least a verbal agreement to do more work.
I think Hans was just exaggerating a bit because getting paid by friends is a lot harder than you would think ...
Contact Ferree's directly for accurate information on how to order, requesting a catalog, etc.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Synonymous Botch
Date: 2003-11-14 23:55
Not that I was being orignal; just that I have fallen afoul of old advice...
William Shakespeare; Polonius speaking:
"Neither a borrower, nor a lender be;
For loan oft loses both itself and friend"
In other words, your acquaintances may consider your assistance gratis.
Perhaps a better solution is to ask for funds to cover materiel, in advance.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: clarnibass
Date: 2003-11-15 11:37
ok thanks a lot for all the advice. if anyone knows about a place that explains in great details how to change a pad that would be great. i couldn't find very good sources for that myself, maybe someone else will have better luck.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Steve Hartman
Date: 2003-11-15 13:15
Find the best woodwind repair person in Israel and ask him/her if you can study or apprentice.
I've never paid a repair person in advance.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: hans
Date: 2003-11-15 17:51
Here are a couple of titles which I have but they may not be available any more, in which case there should be others equally useful:
Practical Band Instrument Repair Manual, by Clayton H. Tiede, published by Wm. C. Brown Company (Third edition 1976)
The Band Director's Guide to Instrument Repair, by R.F. Meyer, published by Alfred Publishing Co. (1973)
Hans
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Wes
Date: 2003-11-16 08:26
Having refaced and repaired many mouthpieces, I feel that it is an activity that can be useful to oneself but is relatively non-remunerative. It's just difficult to make a business of it for many reasons. None of the refacers I've known seemed to have any assets. There is a need for refacing services, however, but even the best of them don't always satisfy their customers. The books cover it a little but there is no substitute for a lot of experience. The tools are very simple and I'd not purchase a kit. There are probably no persons who admit to being a teacher of these skills. Good luck!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
