The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Basie86
Date: 2009-02-26 04:00
Just wanted to get some general opinions about a situation.
I have owned a Leblanc Opus II clarinet for about 4 months (bought in October) and really enjoy it, but I have unfortunately experiences some set backs. During November, my clarinet suffered a small crack near the 2nd top trill key but it did not enter the tone hole. Luckily, the company that I purchased the clarinet from has great customer service and free repairs. They did an absolutely flawless job in the repair, but now I have an additional crack and this one, in my opinion, is significant in size and location. The crack goes through the top side key tone hole and runs about 3.5 inches and is about half a centimeter thick.
I was told that the wood show significant deep woodgrain, which the repairman said could cause additional issues. My clarinet is currently heading to be serviced a second time in 2 months and the repairman said there are 3 options:
- repair the crack
- replace the upper joint
- replace the entire clarinet
He seemed to favor the last two options.
Any information regarding similar experiences would be extremely helpful.
Thank you for giving any remarks or comments.
Post Edited (2009-02-26 04:04)
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Author: EEBaum
Date: 2009-02-26 04:36
You say you've only had it for 4 months. I don't know if Leblanc has such a policy, but I seem to recall Buffet and/or Selmer having a replacement warranty against cracking for a certain period. You might check into that.
-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2009-02-27 02:41
I agree, option 3 without a doubt. Replacing the upper joint may or may not work as well as the original. If you can try others out and pick the best one then that's the best option. If the company won't allow that then of course replacing the upper joint is the way to go. Then ask your tech person if they can check the new bore to make sure it is exactly the same as the original and if not have them adjust it, if they have that ability to do so. I had that done many years ago with my Buffet A clarinet and it played great, great tech, and still does forty years later. Mine had a defect in the bore of the upper joint, you're problem is different but needs the same attention. ESP www.peabody.jhu.edu/457
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