 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: icecoke12
Date: 2004-05-05 05:33
I purchased a brand new Leblanc Concerto II clarinet for less than a year ago.
Recently in the past few months, all the cork bumpers and everything made of cork that is stuck on below the keys (except for the pads.. phew) is coming off!
I wonder if this is due to the difference in climate (from the Leblanc factory) and thus the glue (or whatever they used to stick it on) is not working properly.
I guess it will not be expensive to fix.. but I hope this is not going to happen a few times every year.
I wonder if this problem is specific to my case alone or are all new clarinets like that....
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: mw
Date: 2004-05-05 13:06
Sounds like the failure of the adhesive - this is not uncommon - there have been many complaints noting this.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: icecoke12
Date: 2004-05-05 17:36
Unfortunately, the store i bought it from is not able to repair instruments... so I guess the warranty is not very useful unless the instrument cracks...
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: ron b
Date: 2004-05-05 18:11
No, Icecoke... "N"-"O", not "unfortunately". The store doesn't do repairs. The store you bought it from should still honor your warranty by sending it back to the factory to "get it done right", exchanging it for "a good one", or give you your money back.... period.
- r![[cool]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/cool.gif) n b -
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: mw
Date: 2004-05-05 20:44
While I agree w/Ron, you may have "been there & done that". In that case it would seem appropriate to contact Francois Kloc (who is the heart of the mechanism that makes "Platinum Service" a standard in the industry). If you are not in the U.S. it would seem that you would contact the lead distributor or importer in the country where your instrument was purchased.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2004-05-05 23:56
There is a problem for manufacturers. The idea is a adhesion method where the cork can be applied by a machine, in a split second.
Good contact glue will not give adhesion problems, but is at the wrong end of the spectrum for use that is efficient in a production line.
Hence, manufacturers for a long time have been playing with alternatives.
Some use a self-adhesive backing, but on very small surfaces areas, as is the case for key corks, this type of adhesive tends to creep off the key.
To their shame, Le Blanc, for decades, have been using a glue with adhesive properties not much different from cheese.
Some other makers of top instruments fare little better.
It takes me about an hour to replace all the 'corks', with many years guarantee. Le blanc instruments have often had the same problem with pads falling out.
Yes, expect your supplier to deal with the problem. The cost of honouring guarantees is built into the profit. A guarantee should be honoured irrespective of whether the correction can be done on site or not.
If nobody gets this issue to backfire on the manufacturer (perhaps via the seller) then no changes will ever be made by the manufacturer.
Post Edited (2004-05-05 23:58)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: mw
Date: 2004-05-06 01:20
Right,right - Leblanc & Dave Surber it is !
AND, of course, Gordon is right on! If we all ignore what happens - as happening to someone else - than we can only expect it to reoccur with "someone else", time & time again.
The recent changes to the Concerto II have been the flagship for what has been hailed as a mechanically & acoustically BETTER Clarinet in the Leblanc family. Perhaps word will get back to the powers that be that the SIMPLE "things" need attention.
Post Edited (2004-05-06 01:28)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: marcia
Date: 2004-05-06 02:44
I bought a new Buffet R 13 Bb about three years ago. Within a couple of weeks the thumb rest cork had come off. I had been thinking about rubber cushions for the thumb rests so I got two and put one on my R 13 A which was about ten years old by then, with cork still in place. And my 30 something year old Bb, which my new one replaced, still had the thumb rest cork. Maybe quality control is not what it used to be. But I was pleased that the ugly callous on my thumb dissapeared shortly after that.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Katrina
Date: 2004-05-06 04:32
marcia,
I don't play with any cork or any "thumb-eeze" on my thumb rests.
I don't have a callous, I have a _wart_!!! LOL!
Katrina
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Jeff
Date: 2004-05-07 21:33
hm thats funny. My buffet r-13 didn't come with cork at all and it was brand new O_O.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Bradley
Date: 2004-05-07 22:14
I don't think the glue on Leblancs is that bad, since I have seen cases for and against it. My own Concerto II, which I purchased around the same time as Ice coke hasn't had any problems like that. However, I have heard of cases where it has happened more than once, so I think whoever decides on the little details like that needs to get their act together.
Bradley
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: mw
Date: 2004-05-07 23:05
When a Retailer sells a Clarinet what should they check for, look at, etc before the Instrument goes out the door?
1. Playtest instrument
2. Examine keywork for evidence of lubricating oil. Apply Lubricant as req.
3. Check Pad Suction on U/J & L/J Joint
4. Check pads for buzzing & sticking pads
5. Check for loose keys, posts, & screws
6. Check keys for binding or sticking keys
7. Check instruments assembly for wood-on-wood problems
8. Examine key corks & fix any clicks
9. Check Tenon Joint connections for wobble or over-sized corks. Check cork to see that it is adhering 360 degrees round the tenon. (Lubricate Corks as necessary using a product that won't kill cork cells.)
10. Check Clarinet in case to make sure that there is not excessive movement of joints, etc. when closed & being transported.
11. Check for inclusion of all OEM supplies & key.
I assume that a review of defects occurred when delivered from the factory.
IMO, tuning is the responsibility of the Buyer, using their setups (reed,lig,mouthpiece, etc.) - perhaps this is a "real world" comment. I don't know that some of my points above don't follow the same line (ex: my case check)
Other items that should be checked & not covered in my laundry list above?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
