 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: fredackerman
Date: 2004-04-06 17:30
Has anyone seen what's going on with Brannen in the Klarinet Mailing List? There was a complaint about a repair that occurred four years ago! Now some are coming out of the "woodwork" and telling about their Brannen problems. One of the guys "defending" the repair service has been quite offensive in his replies making this one hell of a forum to check out!
Fred
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2004-04-06 19:12
The Brannens have a longstanding reputation for high quality work. I think it's a matter of vital interest to all clarinetists when there are significant complaints about them.
One poster defending the Brannens has done a bit of flaming, but it's not hard to read through it and realize that there have been some letigimate dissatisfaction, with enough specific problems to convince me that their work has become inconsistent.
I would welcome a discussion here about people's recent experience, good or bad.
Best regards.
Ken Shaw
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Author: fredackerman
Date: 2004-04-06 19:54
SWK, Gee, some of those "zoo" members seem to also be on this board! I understand your point, but the whole idea of forums is to learn what, when, who, why?
Fred
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2004-04-06 19:58
Dear Someone who Knows,
I control the posts & tone of this BBoard, not you. If I feel a post here doesn't belong, be aware that I generally delete it very quickly.
Conversely, if I feel a post is fine, I leave it up.
If a thread here goes on too long, I'll end it.
In other words, let me do my job. You might not like the results, but it's my job, not yours.
The Search box can search both the Klarinet Archives & the BBoard simultaneously.
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Author: fmadison
Date: 2004-04-06 20:02
Hi,
I used The Brannens 8 months ago on my Festival. It came back better than I sent it. This is typical of their quality and professionalism.
You do sign a paper reguarding accidental damage etc... before you send out the Clarinet to them. But it they were not quality people they would not be in business today. Many professionals use them exclusively to improve and maintain their instruments.
I stand by the Brannens.
-Frank
It's the wood that makes it good!
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Author: fredackerman
Date: 2004-04-06 22:01
Funny, with friends like you and the guy on the Klarinet board...the Brannen name is not as wonderful as I once thought! Special Note: SWK edited his post [above] a few minutes after I wrote this post, deleting his words that made me write the comment. Perhaps, "Someone Who Knows" realized that he was hurting, not helping his friends.
Fred
Post Edited (2004-04-07 03:59)
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Author: mw
Date: 2004-04-06 22:05
"One poster defending the Brannens has done a bit of flaming ..."
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Seems I was the ONLY person who was flaming or attacking others.
(Pro or Con) Postings on an Internet Listserver reflecting "first party" experience with a merchant should not influence a "third party" to the point of repeating (adopting the same opinion), where the 3rd party has no direct experience. I find many of the opinions expressed & comments made to the Listservers to be self-serving, without factual basis and,at times, with an "axe to grind". I sincerely believe that they are not all valid. Many postings are anonymous, a poster can assume multiple identities, can be made by a person who had a true disagreement with the person they are maligning - who was at fault, both - one, which one?
NOW, do I believe that experiences can be shared - YES, certainly. But there is a venue where that works - person to person - with somebody that you know & trust, personally.
I don't have a problem with anyone sharing first-hand, direct experience - anywhere. It's fine with me. I think we can assimilate information & file it away for future use - to validate stated issues later, should the occasion arise. Then one can determine when in direct contact, how those issues may or may not affect you, etc.
My Mother used to say, "if you don't have anything good to say, don't say anything at all". I can see the limitations on her statement with someone asking for advice on who or who not to do business with; just as I can see the need for limitations on tearing into someone you don't like.
People have accused me of telling others what to think. That's not at all the case. I've been telling them how NOT to think - how not to form conclusive opinions when they have no first-hand experience.
That is & has been my position. If you don't like it, fine. You can threaten me, as one lawyer has done - but you don't need to bring my family into this - nor send me 34 virus-laden emails (that's my total today - thus far).
mw
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Author: claaaaaarinet!!!!
Date: 2004-04-06 23:19
I have had VERY recent "first party" experience at Brannen:
I had my Bb clarinet overhauled by Brannen Woodwind last week (final days of March, 2004). It feels terrific! They also looked over my A clarinet, a clarinet they overhauled after I first bought it six years ago. As I expected, the A clarinet needed very little done to it. That is one thing about Brannen's work - it is durable. I have had work done by at least four other repair services over the years, two of which are very renowned, and all in all I had a great experience with Brannen and I plan to go back. In particular, I find their key/pad work to be consistently exceptional.
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Author: Ed
Date: 2004-04-06 23:29
"People have accused me of telling others what to think. That's not at all the case. I've been telling them how NOT to think - how not to form conclusive opinions when they have no first-hand experience."
I think that one of the benefits of this BB and the list is that one can learn from others experiences. You see MANY postings asking for opinions on equipment, teachers, recordings, etc. I find it very valuable. I do realize that it is only someone else's opinion. It is helpful to find out what others experiences were. Does this mean I will have the same experience? Of course not, but after a while it is also possible to get a sense of who has opinions I value and respect. No, it is not "face to face", but it is in a sense, person to person. Through the internet there are many people who I "know" even though I have never met them.
If I am going to spend my money on a service or product, I consult a variety of sources and develop my own opinions. One can often read through the lines and also gather a consensus of opinions out there. I am sure many people who read this board and the list do the same. I have purchased equipment, recordings, books, gotten custom work done, all based on the feedback I have gotten and what I have learned from all of these sources.
Unfortunately, the endless posts on the klarinet regarding this topic were "beating a dead horse" and brought much more attention to what might have otherwise been one post among many.
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2004-04-06 23:40
mw wrote:
> You can threaten me, as one lawyer has done - but you don't
> need to bring my family into this - nor send me 34 virus-laden
> emails (that's my total today - thus far).
Excuse me. Where did this come from? I haven't seen on the BBoard that:
1) You've been threatened
1) Your family has been brought into the fray or
2) You've been sent 34 virus
If any of this was done to you via means other than through here, fine, but your statement reads as if it was done via here.
BTW - I get a couple of hundred viruses sent my way every day, appearing to be from people I know.
But they aren't. You might want to learn how to read email headers to determine if someone is maliciously sending you viruses. And report them to their ISP.
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Author: mw
Date: 2004-04-06 23:52
Allow me to clarify - had nothing to do with BB - whatsoever. I get 4-6 virus-laden emails a day. I am now up to 49. mw
Post Edited (2004-04-07 00:08)
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Author: mw
Date: 2004-04-06 23:59
Ed, I agree. I've learned much the same way. I just stop short of the formation of (my) conclusive opinion until I can directly interact with the object, person, dillemma, etc. I have to reach & go through the crossroads on my own. Often, I still make mistakes - we all do. Key is to learn from the mistake & avoid it. If you can avoid (ever making) mistakes by learning from other people, that's good, too - short of having someone else's mind.
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Author: LeWhite
Date: 2004-04-07 02:12
I'm finally getting my Leblanc Concerto A, Brannenized, tomorrow! I'll let you all know how it goes...
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Author: gwie
Date: 2004-04-07 07:37
I had both my Buffet R-13's overhauled last year by the Brannens, and they did superb work. Up until recently, when a bassoonist knocked my stand over and I had to send both in to correct some bent keys, I haven't had any issues at all. My clarinets feel and play better than when they were new (and those teflon bumpers are just awesome).
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Author: billryan
Date: 2004-04-08 20:33
Well, I read all those postings on the Klarinet List. I also did a general search on who was saying what. Mr. Shaw and Mr. Charette come off as being the most credible! I'm not playing at Lincoln Center yet, just go to a school in the "hood", think I'll stay clear of "inconsistent work".
Bill
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Author: Wayne Thompson
Date: 2004-04-08 23:45
MW,
I believe I have understood what you were saying from the very first of the 'discussion' on the List. Much of what you said made sense to me; I agreed with you. However it seemed you lost your temper in the middle there. And as we all should know, losing one's temper on the web always leads to chaos. Any unwise or inflammatory language is analyzed and repeated seemingly forever. And ever...
As for the Brannens, I'd use them gladly; their experience and reputation really must be worth a lot. Though this is a reminder that no one is perfect, and that I should communicate clearly with them, both about what I need and about what I think afterwards, as I should with any vendor.
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