 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: crusius
Date: 2010-09-16 05:46
Hi all, first post here.
Ten days ago I got a Lyrique 576BC to replace my student Yamaha YCL20 and I have noticed one small problem two days ago, and now I'm wondering if I should do anything about it or if it is "ok".
I have noticed that the screws of the D#/A# key posts are screwed in too far, and there are two very small but visible bumps/cracks on the bore. (It could also be that the screw holes are drilled too deep, and the screw themselves are fine. The symptoms give me no clue on which is the cause.)
The thing is, those bumps/cracks are very small... I wonder if it is worth the trouble to try and get this fixed either with Tom or locally, or if this is just a non-issue. The clarinet is fine otherwise, there doesn't seem to be any problems with sound/intonation.
Any suggestions? If this thing needs fixing, any suggestions for a repairman in the south San Francisco bay area (around San Jose)? (I never had to do any repairs so I don't even know who to go to around here...)
Thanks,
- Cesar
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Author: dansil
Date: 2010-09-16 12:47
Hi Cesar
I'd suggest that you ring Tom Ridenour who is very approachable and ask him directly! He may offer to check it over and do any repairs at no cost (apart from postage) if it's a new horn. If it's second-hand it would still be better to get the guy who makes the horn to do the fix himself especially there a crack or split in the bore itself. Even if the bumps/splits you've seen have no acoustic effect I think Tom needs to know this is happening to his horns.
Cheers, Danny
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Author: skygardener
Date: 2010-09-16 13:02
That kind of stuff should not happen. Tom should be more careful and accurate with his products.
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Author: dansil
Date: 2010-09-16 14:08
I've just checked my Lyrique 576C and it's bore seems perfect. I loaned my 576B to my sister ages ago but can't recall ever noticing any obvious imperfections in the bore.
Danny Silver
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2010-09-16 14:42
>> I've just checked my Lyrique 576C and it's bore seems perfect. <<
It's not rare that only some instrument have issues, missed or let pass by quality control, which should really happen at both the factory and the seller. I recently saw quality control problems on a new $10,000 saxophone that would have been unacceptable on any new saxophone. It is most likely that you can play the clarinet and nothing will happen but if you want just contact the seller, it is really should be a warrenty issue.
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Author: crusius
Date: 2010-09-16 15:50
Thanks all,
It looks like I'll have to give Tom a call or drop him an e-mail, as it seems it is simply a "shouldn't happen" issue (even if it doesn't affect the playability at all).
Jerry: I'll follow up with you if the process with Tom doesn't work out for some reason.
Thanks again,
- Cesar
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Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2010-09-16 16:20
It may not affect the instrument's playability at this point but it is a defect and the seller should make it good. You shouldn't have to bear any shipping costs (other than you already have) to return it and have it replaced. The instrument should never have left the factory in China. (I wonder why it did. Did the inspector miss the problem at the factory? Or decide to pass the instrument anyway? Was there an inspection?) The seller should never have sent it to you. (I wonder why he did. Did he miss the defect during his inspection? Or did he decide to pass the instrument on? Or didn't he inspect it?)
Screws should not protrude into the bore. Period.
Best regards,
jnk
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Author: kimber
Date: 2010-09-16 20:11
The Lyriques have a 1yr labor/5 year parts warranty. Send it back to Tom for fixing or replacement, that's what service warranties are for. This assumes you are the original purchaser.
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2010-09-16 20:36
Tom Ridenour sometimes gets a little backed up with work (it's him and perhaps his son too working on LOTS of clarinets), but I've found a phone call works VERY well. I had issues with my Ridenour clarinet. My case broke and I had a few notes that I found to be a little fuzzy and out of tune. I got in contact with him, sent it to him, and received the clarinet back in excellent tune, in a new case. He fixed everything that was wrong.
As a matter of fact, I still keep him in mind whenever I'm auditioning new clarinets when I find some notes to be a little out of tune or fuzzy. He's pretty close to an acoustical genius as you can get.
Alexi
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Author: crusius
Date: 2010-09-18 19:37
Hi all, here's the update:
I have talked at length with Tom, and have decided, for now, to keep the clarinet as it is. As I said before, there seems to be no influence on the way it plays, and Tom has assured me that (a) the small cracks will not expand or "get worse," so there is no practical reason to exchange it, and (b) if at any point in the future I decide that those things are a problem, he will gladly exchange the clarinet for me.
I think we all agree that this "should not have happened," but in his opinion the only drawback of it "having happened" is aesthetical. Given that my hands are apparently made out of acid (guitar strings last one week before rusting for example) and the clarinet keys already show some discoloration (with two weeks of playing and good maintenance!), I'm not too worried about aesthetics.
I will instead just keep on playing it and getting used to it. I have no reason to doubt Tom's word, and if, say, a year from now I decide I can't stand those very small bumps/cracks I'll just send it back.
Thanks all for your input!
- Cesar
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Author: Barry Vincent
Date: 2010-09-19 00:02
Ha, now you have all of us checking our Lyrique's. Mine is Ok. A nice smooth unblemished bore.
Skyfacer
Post Edited (2010-09-19 09:50)
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Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2010-09-19 16:05
"if at any point in the future I decide that those things are a problem, he will gladly exchange the clarinet for me."
Do you have that in writing?
Best regards,
jnk
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Author: crusius
Date: 2010-09-19 16:43
David,
Yes, I do all that... My post-practice clarinet cleaning routine takes at least 15 minutes. The thing is, I can discolor keys from just one session. The keys where I rest my little finger, for example, did not last one day. I got used to that when learning guitar long ago, and brand new strings would discolor after the first practice. If I didn't wipe them, they would be rusted on the next day. My flute did not fare any better. Strangely enough violin strings seem to last much longer.
In any case, I have learned long ago not to care about things looking shiny!
Best,
- Cesar
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Author: crusius
Date: 2010-09-19 16:51
Jack,
I do not need it in writing. Tom is well known enough, and there is little distinction, as far as we are concerned, between him and his business. I'm glad we have people like him in the business, so we can confidently deal with a person instead of a corporation and its lawyers. His word is all I need.
Best,
- Cesar
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2010-09-19 17:05
crusius wrote:
> His word is all I
> need.
Sometimes people forget what they say, with no malice intended. Even a saved email would be a good idea.
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