 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Marty
Date: 2000-03-14 23:02
My clarinet cracked in the socket of the lower joint. When I took it in to be repaired, it looked like one large crack and one small crack, and pinning it was the solution. The repair tech called today and said that when he removed the ring, the wood just let go and 5 more cracks developed. He asked if it had been dropped, which it had not. I have babied the instrument for 2.5 years. I also have another much older, crack free, much abused instrument that I also play.
This is what he is going to do. He is sending it to someone else who is going to cut off the lower joint to the first tone hole, and then refit that section with a hard rubber c section. I am going to look at it tommorrow before he sends it out. Groan !!!
It had better work.
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Author: ron b.
Date: 2000-03-14 23:34
Marty -
Replacing a tenon is not a terrible thing but doing it with a dis-similar material (that is, hard rubber replacing wood) is not the best of solutions. If I were in your situation I'd get a second opinion about that. Fast.
ron b.
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Author: Dave Lee Ennis
Date: 2000-03-15 12:23
I agree with Ron b. entirely, Marty. Get a second opinion before you commit yourself to anything. Remember, its YOUR clarinet and YOUR decision. I hope things work out.
Dave.
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Author: Ken Shaw
Date: 2000-03-15 13:25
Marty wrote:
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My clarinet cracked in the socket of the lower joint. When I took it in to be repaired, it looked like one large crack and one small crack, and pinning it was the solution. The repair tech called today and said that when he removed the ring, the wood just let go and 5 more cracks developed. He asked if it had been dropped, which it had not. I have babied the instrument for 2.5 years. I also have another much older, crack free, much abused instrument that I also play.
This is what he is going to do. He is sending it to someone else who is going to cut off the lower joint to the first tone hole, and then refit that section with a hard rubber c section. I am going to look at it tommorrow before he sends it out. Groan !!!
It had better work.
Marty -
Creating a new tenon, which contains only wood, is difficult but possible. Creating a new socket also involves remaking at least the tone hole covered by the top pad on the ring key and re-anchoring key posts for the ring key and the left-hand low F key. This may be possible in theory, but in practice, I doubt it. In computer terminology, it's at best a kludge. I wouldn't do it.
Peter Spriggs, who was a Moennig apprentice, participates on this board and will I'm sure have useful things to tell you.
If you bought the instrument new 2-1/2 years ago, it may be under warranty against cracking. If it's a Buffet, get in touch with Francois Kloc, their USA representative and a super repairman. As likely as not (even if it's out of warranty), he will give you a new lower joint, custom fitted by him to make the instrument (probably) better than new. Mark Charette's son got this service and was ecstatic.
Presumably Leblanc, Selmer and Yamaha will do the same.
Good luck.
Ken Shaw
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2000-03-15 14:18
Ken Shaw wrote:
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If it's a Buffet, get in touch with Francois Kloc, their USA representative and a super repairman. As likely as not (even if it's out of warranty), he will give you a new lower joint, custom fitted by him to make the instrument (probably) better than new. Mark Charette's son got this service and was ecstatic.
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Just a little note:
The clarinet in question was under warranty and it was a top joint - but yes, Francois did a wonderful job matching the new upper joint to the lower and threw in all cork pads on the upper joint to boot.
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Author: Marty
Date: 2000-03-15 18:46
Ken's description is exactly the repair that they are going to try. However, they are not going to use wood. They have done this repair a few times with very good success. I spoke with a professional clarinet player who had this repair done, and he is very pleased with the results and uses the clarinet for symphonic and ensemble work.
Leblanc has told me that it is out of warranty and they will not do anything for me.
I just purchased and received a clarinet from Mr Spriggs to replace another, older clarinet that I was using. He was fabulous. I was in a bit of a time crunch, and he shipped the instrument within a day. The R-13 was set it up and repadded with cork pads
Unfortunately, I will be out of town for a bit and I will not be able to play it until I get back.
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