 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Frank
Date: 2000-09-08 01:37
Is there a list available on Sneezy that lists competent repair techs in the different regions around the country? If there is, then I have yet to find it. And if anyone knows of a wonder clarinet tech in the Denver/Ft. Collins area, I'd love his or her name.
Thanks,
Frank
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2000-09-08 02:17
Frank wrote:
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Is there a list available on Sneezy that lists competent repair techs in the different regions around the country?
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There's some listings in the Resources/Retail section.
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Author: ron b.
Date: 2000-09-08 08:08
A nationwide comprehensive list like that would be great if one exists. I don't think one does though :[
Interesting question, Frank. I don't know of any kind of directory or any way of objectively rating or regulating repair shops.
I guess anyones callin themselfs repair persons are ones :]
Probably your best resource is to ask around your area; teachers, band directors, students. Word of mouth advertising. Find out where the active players take their horns, then go check out the shop.
Is it organized?
Is it clean?
Is its workload large or small volumn?
Do they do a lot of reed instrument work?
One person, more than one?
Do they specialize? (Don't go to a zither shop
How does it advertise itself?
Do they give their work a warranty?
etc... well, you know....
ron b.
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Author: larry
Date: 2000-09-08 14:48
Another consideration is how do they charge for their work? By the hour or by the type of job? I know of an excellent repairman who charges strictly by the hour, no matter what he's doing (replacing pads to complete overhaul). Others charge set amounts for different work (especially overhauls).
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2000-09-09 15:36
Not being a real R_T, it seems like a difficult-tricky thing to attempt. Opinions, J Butler?? Don
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Author: ron b.
Date: 2000-09-09 23:53
Decades ago, while still in high school and for some time afterward, I worked as a 'gopher' in a repair shop. The three techs and the supervisor were all armed service veterans and had gone to the Conn r.t. school on the G.I.Bill when they got out of the Army (or whatever branch). I assumed that someone working on horns would have had some kind of training. Mine was, as I mentioned, a rather unstructured 'apprenticeship'. Meaning, I picked whatever I could while doing mundane chores around the shop :]
Since the subject came up here, I thougt I'd mention the observation I've made that no real certification or regulation applies to the shops I've visited. Not that the people are not qualified - on the contrary, I've met many highly skilled people in repair shops.
Just a thought. I'm not crusading about anything.
ron b.
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Author: J. Butler
Date: 2000-09-10 03:53
NAPBIRT or National Associaton of Professional Band Instrument Repair Technicians does have a registry of all its members. I'm not sure if it is online or not. However, I do know some very fine instrument repair people who are not members of this association. I guess they have their personal reasons, but our field needs to have an organization to help promote the band service field and to sponsor continuing education for the repair technician. The NAPBIRT does offer "techni-gabs" or regional seminars for repair techs as well as other activites related to service of repair technicians.
J. Butler
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Author: ron b.
Date: 2000-09-10 05:13
I speak for myself in appreciation for the information, J., as I'm sure many others may too. Thank you. I had no idea, well, maybe an inkling, that some such association as NAPBIRT exists. I'm sure some people in my situation (retired part timers working out of their garages), as well as those in the business as a livlihood, would be very receptive to continuing education seminars. Like many others who visit this board, I enjoy the nuts and bolts aspect of keeping horns playable as much as I do playing them.
I also know of many fine repair people who have had very little 'formal' instrument specific training. Most, however, have, as well as some musical talent, a mechanical skills background - and ongoing contact with others in the field.
I'm not surprised that NAPBIRT is relatively unknown, certainly unpublicized. No one I've met in the repair business ever mentioned it to me - until you came along. I would not be considered as being in the business however, since I don't work in an established shop.
At first glance, it sounds like a worthwhile association to me. Are there standards/qualifications (certifications?) to be met to be on the registry? That would, I'm guessing, be its primary purpose. How do you feel about that? Are there drawbacks? I mean, there must be pros and cons.
Locksmiths went 'round and 'round, back and forth about some of these issues for years, (certification, standards, qualifications etc.). Maybe they're still going 'round, for all I know, about whether it's beneficial to raising standards or stifling by regulation.
ron b.
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Author: J. Butler
Date: 2000-09-10 12:32
Ron,
NAPBIRT has been around since the 70's and now has a brand new facility in Normal, Ill. for it's headquarters and main training facility. Yes, they do have standards and that is why the association was founded in the first place...to give some validity to the profession. To become a member of NAPBIRT you have to be a qualified repair technician working for a repair facility or on your own. In addition you have to have 3 references from other repair technicians in the field that state you are qualified. One or two of these technicians need to be NAPBIRT members, I can't remember the number. There is a place on the form for the employer to record his/her EIN number OR you can enter your valid state resale certificate number. There is a website loacted at: http://www.napbirt.org The initial cost is $110 for the first two years of membership.
J.Butler
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Author: ron b.
Date: 2000-09-11 07:03
Thank you, J., for a lot of interesting information.
As I mentioned before, I had no idea.... If NAPBIRT got going during the 70s that would have been quite a while after I'd been actively involved in instrument repair. Since I've been retired and gotten somewhat involved again I've noticed some changes in methods (for the better) and some things that haven't changed at all.
I tried to continue with it for a while, after I married, but circumstances led me to another career field. In the back of my mind though, I wished I could have hung in there. The negative side of my present situation is that, when I run into a 'puzzler', I don't have my old supervisor on the spot to advise me :[ I'm reluctant to run to the nearest local tech every time that happens so I usually figure it out myself. It just takes ten times longer. The positive aspect is that I don't need to be (too) concerned about the time it takes - within reason, of course.
Well, thanks again, J.. I appreciate your input here and to other posts as well. We all benefit one way or another from your helpfulness.
ron b.
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