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Re: A little service can make a big difference

Author: TomS
Date: 2014-09-14 18:06

We have a really great repair facility here in my Central Arkansas area (company name withheld). Really performed top-rate service on my Buffets and Yamahas, and at a good price. Excellent! However, when I brought to them my Lyrique Speranza they looked (no tests performed) at it and wanted to completely repad the entire clarinet: "Maybe we can get it in playing order ..." All I needed was a couple of small pads changed and a big one re-seated. I think they look askance at clarinets that aren't from the "big three".

The entire encounter just rubbed me the wrong way, made me angry, and I haven't been back since.

I used to repair instruments back in High School, so I ordered a few complete pad sets, some cork and an alcohol lamp and did my own work. All the stuff about was 75 bucks plus shipping ...which is the cost of less than 1 hour labor at a good service shop. I had also ordered enough stuff to service an old Selmer Signet and a Bundy.

We should all learn to perform minor repairs on our instrument. No, I wouldn't pin a crack or turn-down a swollen tenon, but pads and cork are no problem.

I've played the heck our of my Lyrique instruments and now my Libertas needs a little attention. Will I return it to Tom Ridenour? No, it's quick, easy stuff and just normal wear and tear ... about like adding a can of injector cleaner to the fuel tank or vacuuming the cracker crumbs out of your seat covers on your car ...

Glad to hear that more musicians are fixing their own instruments ...

I have no doubt that a really professional repair facility can do a little better work, and may have some esoteric tweaks ... but I'd save those trips for intermittent expense.

Tom

Post Edited (2014-09-15 07:20)

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