Author: hartt
Date: 2007-04-02 04:29
Perhaps remarrying improved Lisa’s disposition, maybe it even got rid of any acne.
I wasn’t going to write this. In fact, I wasn’t going to write it the first time a similar post was done many months ago. Then, I decided to simply share my personal experience.
Just over a yr ago, I ordered, on trial, a clarinet.
I was told it would be set up by her personal repair tech, and then mailed. The mailing was delayed 2X as I was then told due to the repair tech.
The clarinet arrived and the pkg was opened amid several friends. Obviously, a repair tech never touched this clarinet. Several keys were clearly out of adjustment, there was dog hair inside the case and inside the case sleeve, no factory paperwork, warranty card, swab, etc. A local repair tech easily adjusted the keys. The tenon corks clearly had evidence of the clarinet being assembled numerous times and finger smudges on the keys.
I tried the clarinet and listened. I played and others listened. Others played and I listened.
Was it a good clarinet. YES. Was it a great clarinet? NO. Was it $3000+ better over what I already had….certainly not. I returned it.
(although I didn’t own a dog, I did vacuum the case so I couldn’t be viewed as the one responsible for this)
Simultaneously, I ordered a clarinet (different key) from Walt Grabner.
The clarinet arrived in impeccable condition, properly set up, all factory paperwork.
I went thru the same playing/listening process. I made the same assessment: was it good? YES. Was it $3,000 better than what I had? NO.
I returned the clarinet to Walter, sharing my findings and thanked him. He responded by thanking me for the opportunity to work with him. A gentleman.
While I had still had this clarinet from Lisa, she asked if I had any older R13’s I’d sell and specified the general years. I had an Anniversary year Bb that was fully overhauled by John Butler and only play tested.. I instructed John to send the clarinet directly to Lisa and informed Lisa that John was sending it.
While my older R13 was in transit, Lisa had already received back the trial clarinet.
Upon receipt, she sent me nastiest, most arrogant , holier than thou email. I shared this email with others. They, too, mentioned they’d not do business with her if the opportunity arose.
Lisa professed how great her clarinet was, that I was low level player, a player who didn’t want to attain a higher level in my playing, wouldn’t know a great playing clarinet, wasn’t serious about buying one and that I wasted her time.
I simply responded by reminding her that a few years prior, when my Moennigized R13 set (previously owned by my teacher, Leon Russianoff) was at IMS for minor work to be done by Tom Fritz, she phoned asking me if I would consider selling her the set.
She added that she never wanted to hear from me again, would not do business with me under any circumstances and was blocking my email..
I shared those emails with several people, I had no favorable feedback.
Lisa is very friendly and accommodating…until one disagrees with her, her assessment or opinion of a clarinet.
ODDLY, a month later I received her mass mailing via email offering her services. I deleted it, yet still received these mass mailings.
One cures it by marking it as spam.
After she received my Anniversary year R13, she made choice comments on that: it needed $300-400 work done on it and a new case. Bear in mind this had a full o/h with cork pads on UJ done by John Butler and shipped directly to her. She offered me ½ the price we had initially spoke about.
When I mentioned I’d sell it on eBAY, she criticized eBAY as a venue for buying/selling of clarinets.
Needless to say , she returned the clarinet…….and I then sold it privately to a freelance recording artist who not only loved it’s tonal coloring, intonation, etc, but mentioned it was better than his best which he’d been using for 20 yrs. and also commented upon by his cohorts.
Regardless of Lisa’s personality, forcefulness and biased opinions, she does perform a selection service. This is an invaluable service when buying a new clarinet. There are others who also perform this service ; Walt Grabner for one. Walter concentrates on clarinets and immediate clarient accessories. Period.
There is also a renowned symphony player who is a Buffet sponsor who also performs this service….on an individual basis, no ‘inventory’. He does this on an infrequent basis and does not advertise. Once he knows the specifics of what you are looking for, it could take up to a year to find the clarinet you asked for. And, if not happy, you’re under no obligation to purchase other than pay the ‘going rate’ ‘finder’s fee’
Please don’t view this as anything but what it is: an accurate description of events.
...and I'm not looking to engage in a dialogue
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