 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Ben
Date: 2004-02-22 16:20
Is there a top repair shop/person in Chicago, where many, if not all the woodwind players in the Chicago Symphony go?
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2004-02-22 17:28
The Brannens, a Woodwind.Org sponsor (click on Service in the right hand area) are used by many top-flight people in the Chicago area.
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Author: Ralph G
Date: 2004-02-22 17:54
Beware, they only work on professional model Buffet, Leblanc, Selmer and Yamaha clarinets. But they're supposed to be absolute magicians.
________________
Artistic talent is a gift from God and whoever discovers it in himself has a certain obligation: to know that he cannot waste this talent, but must develop it.
- Pope John Paul II
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Author: Gregory Smith ★2017
Date: 2004-02-22 19:31
My wife Carolee (clarinetist extrodinaire) and I have known and worked with Bill and Linda Brannen for close to 30 years now.
They are the most gifted at what they do and attract some of the top clientele in the world let alone Chicago. They are also perfectionists and expect from their clients the same devotion to high standards when maintaining and understanding one's instrument.
They've taught me alot about my instruments over the years so that I could maintain my own instruments and repair/adjust them whenever necessary - or importantly, in a pinch.
IMO their concentration on particular instruments and brands shows their devotion to what they know they do best.
Gregory Smith
PS. I have written about their superb artistry long before I began a professional affiliation with them a while back.
Post Edited (2004-02-23 02:29)
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Author: ken
Date: 2004-02-22 22:56
I was born in Elmwood Park, grew up in Elk Grove then Palatine; went to NIU and Northwestern; Clark Brody handpicked one of my 2 Brannens-purchased Buffets, Charlene Zimmerman the other. There's simply no better craftsman in the city then Bill and Linda. I highly recommend them to all that can afford their outstanding service. v/r Ken
Post Edited (2004-02-22 22:57)
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Author: LeOpus1190s
Date: 2004-02-22 22:56
Brannens are brilliant... be prepared to have to pay for a servicing which is about $400.00 and then about 30 dollars per horn to get tuned. It is definitly worth the cost.
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Author: Ed
Date: 2004-02-23 12:33
I have heard good things about Walter Grabner's work. He is also a sponsor here.
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Author: Tim P
Date: 2004-02-23 13:43
check out Walter Grabner. Just barely north of Chicago. Easy trip.
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Author: Ron Jr.
Date: 2004-02-23 15:02
I live in New York City but I've sent my Clarinet to them and I was extremely pleased with the results. They transformed a good clarinet into an excellent one. I would look no further.
Ron Jr.
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Author: coasten1
Date: 2004-02-23 16:49
I have had my clarinet done by Bill and Linda and can't say more about how they can take a great instrument and return it even better. A few of my bandmates have also taken their clarinets there. We are all amatuer but take the advice from Bill and Linda and respect our clarinets and treat them like gold.
If you visit them in person, you will need an appointment.
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Author: William
Date: 2004-02-23 18:45
I'm sorry to post in the (somewhat) negative column, but the Brannans refused to work on my vintage Buffet R13 A last year after I descibed certain playing characteristics which concern me. They labled my clarinet as "blown out" and did not even offer to take a look at it if I brought it in. The fact is, my Buffet A has not been played enough to be even close to being blown out or swabbed to death. I was a bit disappointed with their negative response to my quiery, but do not dispute their reputation as reported by others.
Tom Fritz, repair technician at IMS, DesPlanes, IL has done some wonderful accoustical and tuning work on my new Buffer Prestige bass clarinet. He took a lot of time with me to "get it right", adjusting key heights, undercutting tone holes and redoing some keywork to allow pulling the middle joint a bit. However, if you want Tom to spend extra time working on your personal instrument, you should first clear it with Lisa (who is the owner of the shop). Toms' repair work is great, but Lisa "rules" the IMS "roost" with a "tight ligature" and (understandingly) likes to keep things moving in her busy repair department.
And, as also reported above, I have had the opportunity to see "first hand" some of Walter Grabners instrument restoration (of an old bass clarinet) and can report that his craftsmanship is absolutely "Top Notch". He is also an excellant clarinetist which enables him to be more sensitve about the results of his repair work--and he is nice to work with. (I play one of his excellant bass clarinet mouthpieces)
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Author: D Dow
Date: 2004-02-24 04:04
I have my clarinets Brannenized and think they are the best in the world!
David Dow
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Author: jmsa
Date: 2004-04-02 18:16
I have heard that the Brannens have many idiosyncracies, such as not willing to work on a dirty, germy instrument and also they are very overpriced. Beware!
jmsa
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Author: RonD
Date: 2004-04-02 19:16
jmsa: Would you like to work on a "dirty, germy" clarinet?
If you dont have enough respect to keep your instrument clean why should they waste valuable time to preform routine cleaning functions when they have people lined up that respect their instruments?
If you think that little of your clarinet they must assume any work preformed would be wasted on you.
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Author: Synonymous Botch
Date: 2004-04-02 19:46
My auto mechanic has an interesting take on 'walk aways'...
...if a third of the people coming through your door don't walk away, your prices are too low.
There are people out there I call 'bottom feeders', they always want something for nothing and will deride your efforts - after they try to knock you down on price.
The cheapest instruments in the poorest condition require the most work.
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Author: GBK
Date: 2004-04-02 20:18
Those who do not subscribe to The Clarinet magazine may wish to read the latest issue (March 2004) which profiles Brannen Woodwinds ...GBK
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Author: GBK
Date: 2004-04-02 21:07
Ooops ... clumsy wording on my part.
Those that do subscribe and have read the article are probably Brannen experts by now.
Those that don't subscribe, you can't borrow my copy...GBK
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