 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Jeff
Date: 2001-04-02 20:50
My R-13 is a year and a half old, and some of the bladder pads are starting to go bad in it. So, I decided that I should probably just get it repadded, with cork pads instead of the regular pads. So I called a VERY well-known repairman here in Ohio, and he told me that he would replace the pads, but he wanted to overhaul the entire instrument. My question is, is it worth the money to have my almost-new instrument completely overhauled?
Thanks,
Jeff
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Author: jbutler
Date: 2001-04-02 22:54
Jeff,
I dont' think it too out of line, especially if you play a lot. There really isn't much difference in a repad and an overhaul anyway. In fact I'm really thinking about deleting my "repad" price from my web site entirely. Why? Because in order to get the clarinet to play correctly those things that I do for an overhaul usually need to be done (on a repad) anyway. Whenever I do a repad I've found out that I am actually doing the same amount of work for less money. So.....the repad price is disappearing as soon as I find time to edit the site. I think you are right to get the cork pads....it will take the "buzz" or fuzzines out of your tone. You won't even know what I'm talking about until you've played your clarinet with cork pads and then you'll instantly understand.
If your instrument is still "nearly new" then there might be less swedging and perhaps fewer springs to replace. Some people replace all the key cork and tenon cork (like me) for a repad and some don't do it unless they are doing an overhaul. Repair shops all do things a little differently and what one shop will do on a repad another may not. The same goes for overhauls. Check into exactly what is going to be done on the repad/overhaul and compare shops and price. Experieced repair techs usually are a little more expensive. (Tim Clark, Thomas Ohme, etc in your area), but you're paying for the expertise and knowing it will be done right the first time.
All the best,
John
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Author: Jeff
Date: 2001-04-03 00:56
See, the thing is, since the instrument is fairly new, I don't have the money that it will cost to do a complete overhaul. I was planning on having it overhauled next year, before I went on to college. Right now, I just have a few pads that are bad, but I just thought it would be better to replace all of them instead of just a few. So what should I do?
Thanks,
Jeff
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Author: jbutler
Date: 2001-04-03 01:39
Jeff,
I can't tell you what to do. It is hard to give repair advice without looking at the clarinet. It must be like a doctor trying to diagnose someone's illness without actually seeing them. Take it to the repair tech you've been talking with and let them make the judgement. I'm sure that they will give you an honest opinion. However, if money is of issue right now and you're going to have an overhaul done next year, then just the necessary pads replaced.
John
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Author: Jo
Date: 2001-04-03 03:10
I had my clarinet overhauled after 4 years- I had pads replaced here and there when needed, but finally decided on an overhaul.
If you are talking about Tim Clark, I KNOW he does good work- he works on my teacher's instruments. I had mine done by Brannen Woodwinds and it plays better than it did when new. It's GREAT.
jo
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Author: Hiroshi
Date: 2001-04-03 06:48
I have a Selmer serie 3 soprano sax, and just like you I brought it to a well known Sax repair shop(even American Jazzmen come here only to repair their horns before making recording in US paying flight fee). The soprano repair man said:"The pads were not adjusted properly when it was sold. Come here and see this lieakage(he showed it using very bright leak light). (They are cleary leaking and even I knew pad by pad basis repair is impossible. Keywork/pads oveall adjustments seemed necessary. ) At our store we make it a rule to disassemble everything and adjust pads/keys and sell them. You bought at different shops. Selmer is good, but workmanship is becoming worse. Needs adjustment definitely before selling. So, if you like to make it perfect, I recommend you to overhaul it. I am not saying this to earn money." I asked my soprano overhauled and it came as perfect: the man's boast was a good one.
May better to listen to what that WELL known repair man says.IMHO.
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Author: L. Omar Henderson
Date: 2001-04-03 12:44
Dear Jeff,
Some people who buy an expensive new car think that they need not pay more in the short run. Anything mechanical and made from natural products requires ongoing maintenance and adjustment. The more you play the sooner this adjustment and maintenance needs to be done. Even on the most expensive cars the tires, the brakes and the battery wear out and must be replaced when necessary. I would listen to John Butler, whom I have the utmost respect for as a master repair person, and replace what needs replacing. Often it is not easy to only replace a couple of of pads without rebalancing the system - the other pads are probably not far behind and the whole process will need to be done again when those pads are replaced. This is just my philosophy because I do not pretend to be a repair guru but leave it to those that have the expertise and experience. I have learned the hard way in many areas including plumbing and electricity to leave certain jobs to the pros. I just had my upper pads replaced with cork and rebalanced by John on my 1 1/2 year old Vintage. You should also use the best products available to keep the tenon cork and wood maintained in optimum condition.
The Doctor
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Author: Al
Date: 2001-04-03 23:05
If the instrument is only a year and a half old,probably all you need is cork pads on the upper joint.
Al
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Author: Meredith
Date: 2001-04-04 03:02
I just sent my recently bought second-hand Buffet (10 years old) and my old B&H (15 years old) in for repair. I expected a huge repair bill but the repairman said my Buffet was in excellent condition and the pads were only at half life and the B&H needed some work but the leather pads were still perfect (weren't they a good investment). The B&H clarinet is being played by one of my students and has had a lot of work over the 15 years and it still didn't require anything too major. In the end the repair bill was less than a third of what I expected it to be and both instruments play beautifully. Get a second opinion and then decide what you need done to your instrument.
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Author: mike
Date: 2001-04-05 04:09
I've had my R 13 for about a year and a half also. I play every day and gig almost every night. I bring it in for maitenence twice a year which runs me about 35 dollars a year (and I live in New York!) I find it hard to believe that after a year or two, you would need a total overhaul. The springs should be fine and corking a few bad pads should not run you more that 50 bucks. Unless you beat the crap out of your horn, I would get another opinion
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Author: Jeff
Date: 2001-04-06 00:23
Well, I am going to just get it repadded, if I can find someone to do it. I live in Northwest Ohio, and am willing to travel quite a ways to do this, if needed.....do you guys have any suggestions of quality repair people?
Thanks,
Jeff
P.S. I don't beat the crap out of my horn, i treat it very very well!! :o)
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Author: Dee
Date: 2001-04-06 03:33
Jeff wrote:
>
> Well, I am going to just get it repadded, if I can find
> someone to do it. I live in Northwest Ohio, and am willing to
> travel quite a ways to do this, if needed.....do you guys have
> any suggestions of quality repair people?
I used to live near Findlay, Ohio (about 80 miles south of Toledo) and was quite happy with a tech there. I can't remember the name of the shop though.
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Author: John
Date: 2001-04-06 04:07
Find out what he means by an overhaul. I doubt you need it on a newer unit.
The terms "complete repad" and "overhaul" are interchangable terms in some repair shops.
Cork pads take some doing to install properly and there is a complete strip down required. Also, the cork pads are themselves much more expensive than the regular bladder type.
Get another opinion and find out what the tech includes in either job.
I am a repair tech for 23 years and have done a lot of this type of work.
Cheers,
JV
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Author: Jeff
Date: 2001-04-06 16:55
What a small world Dee, I live in Findlay. I know who you are talking about, and he has since moved on to a bigger company. I don't know exactly what company it is, but the repair shop no longer has him and I'm unsure of the quality of the person now. I'll ask my teacher if she knows the status of the guy now...
On a personal note, Dee, where exactly did you live?
Thanks,
Jeff
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Author: Dee
Date: 2001-04-07 04:00
Jeff wrote:
>
> What a small world Dee, I live in Findlay. I know who
> you are talking about, and he has since moved on to a bigger
> company. I don't know exactly what company it is, but the
> repair shop no longer has him and I'm unsure of the quality of
> the person now. I'll ask my teacher if she knows the status of
> the guy now...
>
>
> On a personal note, Dee, where exactly did you live?
>
>
> Thanks,
>
>
> Jeff
When I was there, I lived just south of Findlay in a small town called Forest.
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2001-04-09 14:36
30 years ago Buffet used fantastic blader pads. They had firm, thin felt with square profile which very neatly overlapped the tone hole edges. The bladder (skin) itself was thick and lasted for a very very long time.
I am being regularly disappointed at the very low quality, thin, brittle bladder used on the pads of some top makers, and this use appears to be in a somewhat random fashion. They are splitting around the seal circle in a very short time.
I think it is poor indeed that pads are giving up so soon. Have you considered getting it repadded under guarantee.
In spite of the above I do accept that there is the odd pad membrane which, being a natural product, is substandard, and this is difficult to detect during and after manufacture. However with quality pads this is rare indeed.
I also accept that some players kill certain pads, such as the top side key, by the pressure they exert while assembling the instrument. The problem is often that a substandard cork grease is being used. I recommend synthetic grease, as sold by Doctor's Products.
I regard the use of bladder pads on register keys as mildly stupid in light of the fuzzy sounding Bb that they encourage and how quickly they die.
I have no problem with high quality bladder pads on the rest of the instrument.
See my new post on "Single Versus Double Bladder"
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2001-04-09 15:12
I forgot to mention that some people kill their pads VERY quickly by rubbing through the edges (with a cloth used to clean the keywork), or by fanatical wiping/rubbing/drying of the closing surface of the pad, which is particularly damaging when the pad is damp.
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Author: Patrick
Date: 2001-04-14 04:25
i have my clarinets worked on by the Brannens. they are quite expensive, but i believe their work is simply the best. no complaints.
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