 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Sean.Perrin
Date: 2007-04-08 19:55
Attachment: DSCF2901.JPG (129k)
This is what my prized Gregory Smith 1 star looks like after my clarinet stand got knocked over at a wind ensemble rehearsal...
This mouthpiece was my (and my clarinet's) best friend for three years... now I've had to buy an emergency Vandoren M15 because I can't afford to replace it.
What would you do... the Vandoren is not bad... but it's not even close to filling the shoes that the Greg Smith left behind...
: (
Rest in peace!!!
Founder and host of the Clarineat Podcast: http://www.clarineat.com
Post Edited (2007-04-08 19:57)
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2007-04-08 20:05
You can only hope to save up and find a similar one later on. These things happen, unfortunately.
I remember taling the barrel off (with the mouthpiece still attached) and shaking the water out, and my B46 it flew out of the barrel shattering the tip (and took out the side rails with it) on a concrete floor. I found all the bits and superglued it all back together, papered it up and still used it for a while - but obviously it wasn't the same.
A similar thing happened a few years later to another player during a rehearsal, and by strange coincidence hers was also a B46.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: bob49t
Date: 2007-04-08 20:38
Sorry to hear that Sean. Been there and it's sickening.
It wouldn't be any use, me mentioning insurance, would it ? No doubt you pay a decent premium for your household or specialist musical intrs insurance policy, so now could be payback time if your excess is not too much. Depends on your policy.
This is EXACTLY the sort of thing we all pay our premiums for. RT.
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2007-04-08 20:53
Yeah, but those insurances pay only if you can prove that you had the cap on when this happened. (and no, a "John Deere" cap doesn't count. ![[tongue]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie6.gif) )
It only happened once that an insurance of mine paid swiftly and in an unbureaucratic way.
Unless it's a mandatory (and liability) insurance, most of us would be better off saving that money and doing self-insurance...of all the fees I paid and never used, I could buy me a yacht, an island and - icing on the cake - a Klingon clarinet.
But yes, go ahead and try it. You can't lose, but you probably will nonetheless.
--
Ben
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Author: susieray
Date: 2007-04-08 21:25
Not that this is any help to you now, but it's a good idea to remove the mouthpiece during breaks and put it safely inside your case....or did this somehow happen while you were sitting right there?
Bummer.
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Author: Tobin
Date: 2007-04-08 21:56
Here! I can make you feel better...maybe.
When I was in high school, about to go on stage for a concert, someone bumped into me and my clarinet was knocked to the ground.
The fall was cushioned by my Kaspar Ann Arbor mouthpiece.
I still cringe.
James
Gnothi Seauton
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Author: Bob Phillips
Date: 2007-04-09 00:10
In his studio, Lee Livengood only removes his mpc cap to play. The aftermath of a similar tragedy.
Sorry!
Or as Jeanette Jonquil says, I can buy my Vandorens at the grocery store.
Bob Phillips
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Author: Koo Young Chung
Date: 2007-04-09 00:24
Look at the bright side.
Not that Smith's mp is any less valuable to you,but any major damage to your clarinet body would cost you a lot in terms of money and time.
Post Edited (2007-04-09 00:25)
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Author: skygardener
Date: 2007-04-09 09:07
Hi Sean,
I have repaired a similar situation reciently with good success. I would be willing to offer you the same if you send me the piece. I would do my best to restore it.
Other than the shipping cost this would be a free job, BTW. You get the mouthpiece and I get more experience.
What do you think?
-Sky
Post Edited (2007-04-09 10:55)
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Author: BassetHorn
Date: 2007-04-09 16:22
Sorry to see that. One time I was "shaking" condensation out of my Leblanc contrabass mouthpiece and a little too much force was applied, it flew out of my hand and luckily the rehearsal room was thickly carpeted and no damaged was done, or maybe the old country mouthpiece was solidly constructed, anyway you bet I never did that again.
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Author: Brad Behn
Date: 2007-04-09 17:41
The way I see it, you loved your mouthpiece, the person who prepared it for you is alive and well, and you need a solution. The obvious course of action is to go back to Greg and have him help you.
Additionally, since your mouthpiece was fabricated by a living mouthpiece technician, it could be a wonderful experience for you to try his current line of mouthpieces. You may find something that you like even more. From the misfortune of breaking your mouthpiece, you may end up in a better place.
Also worth considering, there are many mouthpiece refacers out there these days and your busted beak could be the catalyst to explore the offerings of the growing field of skilled mouthpiece techs. I am sure that you could fix your mouthpiece. Did you save the piece/s that broke? That would help, but it is not necessary.
Try to make opportunity from tragedy.
Good luck.
Brad Behn
http://www.clarinetmouthpiece.com
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Author: stevesklar
Date: 2007-04-09 17:51
I'd say try to contact him, and if he would you could send the old piece back for his inspection so he could find one similarly designed from his current lineup - or make you a one-up model.
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2007-04-09 18:23
Brad Behn was my hero with the broken Kaspar tragedy. He did a superb job on the repair. It was nothing short of a miracle and the mouthpiece actually played BETTER than before it was broken. I did, however, have the broken pieces--a couple of them. It didn't break in one piece (of course not!).
But, as Brad mentioned, Greg is alive and well and can get you another one just like your old one. Even if it's several years past, he probably has one he can make just like it.
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Author: cigleris
Date: 2007-04-10 11:54
If someone knocked it over then how about getting them to replace it?
I'm sorry for your loss.
Peter Cigleris
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Author: susieray
Date: 2007-04-11 00:21
Sean,
You might want to invest in a Blayman stand to prevent this happening
again in the future.
Sue
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Author: leonardA
Date: 2007-04-11 03:55
Funny that this thread should be here today. I dropped my brand new Buffet E11 in the case walking to put it in my car. I was trying to carry too many instruments at the same time.Fortunately no damage, but I couldn't believe this happened after never dropping my $115 Noblet that I got on Ebay. My sympathy to you.
Leonard
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Author: Old Geezer
Date: 2007-04-11 22:41
What does it mean to say I can buy my Van Dorens at the grocery store!?!
Inquiring minds must know!
Clarinet Redux
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Author: bufclar
Date: 2007-04-11 23:44
It means that you can find them every where like in any little mom and pop store unlike Cheds or Kaspars.
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Author: JessKateDD
Date: 2007-04-12 00:19
My first R13, which I played for years, I left in the car overnight in freezing weather. The next day I blew hot air into it instead of letting it warm up slowly, and it split open. I had it repaired, but it just never played as well after that. Eventually I moved on, but the later horns just weren't the same. Finally a few years ago I found a used R13 whose serial number was within a year of my original, and the magic returned. I feel for your loss and hope it can be replaced soon.
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Author: Merlin
Date: 2007-04-12 02:23
I was going to make the same offer someone else already did - if you've got the pieces, I'll put it back together for just the shipping. Might be able to turn it around quicker since we're both in Canada.
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Author: sherman
Date: 2007-04-13 03:32
Tragedy? Sorrow? Misery? A tragic day?
The aforementioned are what transpires when a loved one dies.
A mouthpiece is not a loved one, nor should it be.
It is a piece of equipment that fits on the end of a clarinet. It is very limited in dimensions though they can be crucial, however to break one or crack it is something that happens from time to time. You simply go to the next one.
You try to choose well, though most seem to be wanting to find the Holy Grail and there is simply no such Grail.
If there was, it would play every single reed that you ever try, every make, every strength, everything. And you all know how many times you say, "this is it", and then three reeds later you are back searching.
Don't . Play music, practice, and try to learn all of the repertoire that you know exists. If someone turns around and says, "Hey, that was terrific"
Listen to him carefully. Did he sound like he knows?
Sherman Friedland
Post Edited (2007-04-13 04:58)
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Author: Terry Stibal
Date: 2007-04-14 22:54
H'mmm. I've been playing for nigh on forty years, man and boy. Virtually all of that has been with two horns (bass and soprano minimum), often with four or more in pit situations, and always without mouthpiece caps. All in all, a whole potful of user-hours in what some would think is ominous peril.
During that time, I've not had so much as a nick to a mouthpiece, much less the above described sort of tragedies. (I did have a rented bass sax mouthpiece fail across the beak, while in the case with the mouthpiece cap on, but I suppose that sort of thing doesn't count.) I seldom even have damaged reeds, and this with the usual situation being a tight orchestra pit or bandstand setup.
Of course, my instrument stands have always been a bit more robust than those used by others. I've found that it's a bit more practical to carry a little more weight during transit in order to preserve the horns better when they're out of the boxes.
(Send me an email and I'll send you my "how to" document on producing a dreadnought style instrument stand for sax, clarinet, bass clarinet and just about anything else.)
When I assemble and disassemble horns, I do it over the case, and make the move with the mouthpiece last of all. And, of course, it's hard to damage metal saxophone mouthpieces...
And, I guess I should add that I once smashed a bassoon reed quite nicely into my face during a quick horn swap...
leader of Houston's Sounds Of The South Dance Orchestra
info@sotsdo.com
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2007-04-15 04:23
Time to invest in a blayman stand. The thing weighs a ton and it'd take a LOT of force to knock something over in it.
US Army Japan Band
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Author: Max S-D
Date: 2007-04-15 10:07
Definitely take Merlin or skygardener up their offers to fix it for you. It could save you the trouble of finding a new mouthpiece. If that doesn't work, start saving!
My condolences to you and all of the mouthpiece's loved ones in what I know must be a difficult time.
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