 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Alexis
Date: 2018-05-10 16:18
Hi all,
Would anybody on the board be willing to communicate with me privately (email listed if you click on my name...I think) about the process of buying a new instrument from s and s?
Best wishes
Alex
Post Edited (2018-05-10 16:19)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Cappuccino
Date: 2018-05-10 19:11
Are you friends with anyone that plays on these instruments? I have taken a few lessons with Ayako Neidich, and she plays on them. I can ask for you.
Alexander May
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFZta2RG4iM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rh8O5DC4Tqs
"Looking at art, you're looking at the result of a philosophy." - John Emmett
Post Edited (2018-05-10 19:13)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Alexis
Date: 2018-05-10 21:19
Hi,
Yes, I know a few people. I am just trying to get as much info as possible about the ordering/manufacturing process as well as some idea of the consistency from instrument to instrument. It will be a big purchase if I go ahead, so want to know what to expect.
You don’t have to go out of your way - some people may have direct experience that they want to share!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: rtaylor
Date: 2018-05-11 00:37
I was in Bamberg about three years ago and decided to stop into their workshop and try their instruments.
Eduard Nagel, who is one of the master instruments makers worked with me while I tried out some of reform-boehm models. He was incredibly helpful and accommodating. I was there for about 4 hours, trying out 6 instruments and various mouthpieces. In the end I did not purchase an instrument from them but it wasn't because of their policies for quality. It was for financial reasons.
I have purchased instruments from Wurlitzer and Leitner & Krause. In every instance these companies are focused on your wishes and questions about their instruments.
I have every confidence that S&S operates with that same high regard for players and purchasers of their instruments based on my visit with them.
After I played Buffet for decades I too had concerns about buying a hand made German instrument. You order one and you get that one. There is typically a trial period so you are not stuck with it if you don't like it. Their consistency between instruments is incredible and this was true with S&S.
My experiences with all of these makers has been very positive.
I hope these viewpoints are helpful.
Cheers,
Robert
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: dorjepismo ★2017
Date: 2018-05-11 17:11
I ordered a set from them a year ago. They should be ready around July or August. I went there and tried several types of instruments out. I worked out with Jochen and one of his folks exactly what keys and the wood that I wanted. They printed out a diagram with all that. They worked out how much it would be, and I paid a deposit on a credit card. If you know what you want, you can also go to their website, work with their configurer software to specify everything, save it off, and conduct the whole transaction by email. But that's a lot of money not to try some instruments out first, and meet Jochen, who is friendly and extremely knowledgeable. It's a very straightforward process. They tell you everything up front. There's no need for private email.
They've got the billets there. When something is ordered, they treat them, I think with linseed oil but I don't know the process, they do the woodworking, they fit the keys, which they get from elsewhere unless they have to make some custom pieces, they send the keys off to get plated. The boring is mostly computer-assisted. When everything's ready, they put it together and do the finishing and tuning. That's the process. They will consider custom work. When I was there, there were some instruments with the low F correction working off of a fifth RH pinkey key, because someone in Holland wanted that key like they do on Toscas. If there's something off the wall that you've always wanted, you can talk to them about it.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Alexis
Date: 2018-05-11 19:58
Interesting to hear both of your experiences - thank you!
Which bore did you choose? Boehm or something hybrid?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: dorjepismo ★2017
Date: 2018-05-11 23:11
Their French bore, with some of the keys from the 3000 model. I went expecting that if I ordered anything, it would be the German bore Reform Boehm instruments, but the French bore sounded plenty German to me, and I liked everything about it. Boxwood sounded better to me than grenadilla. I took my current instruments (B&H 1010s) and a collection of French and German mouthpieces and reeds, with the idea that I wouldn't buy anything I couldn't get to sound better than what I'm playing now. In the end, it took about five minutes to get there, though I spent most of the day there playing different instruments.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
