 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Irwin J
Date: 2019-10-08 18:42
Hi, I have a 5 year old Buffet Festival Greenline B flat clarinet. Some of the pads are coming lose and I think it's a good time for a light overhaul even though it's otherwise in great shape. Years ago I used to send my clarinets to Linda Brannen to be "Brannenized", but just now I tried calling and the number is disconnected.
First question: are the Brannens no longer in business, or if they are, does anyone know how to contact them?
Second question: if they are no longer in business, can you recommend a place that does great work on Buffets?
Thanks.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: gwie
Date: 2019-10-08 23:36
The Brannens have segued into retirement.
I would also highly recommend the work of:
1. John Butler in Sugar Land, Texas:
http://www.jbwinds.com/
2. Wolfgang Lohff, catch him on his world-wide travels:
http://www.lpwindsusa.co/
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: bmcgar ★2017
Date: 2019-10-13 20:53
I second Meridian Winds. Eric did a bang-up job restoring my 1961 R13, including plating.
However, I question the necessity of going to one of the big names for basic stuff, especially when you can't be there with the tech to give your input and test play your instrument when work is done.
I use a local tech for straightforward repairs and adjustments, and only send my instruments away for "fancy" stuff like full overhauls, tone hole work, and such. Surely, if you talk to a few accomplished players in your area, you could find competent techs within traveling distance who will do a good job, with the added advantage of being able to work one-on-one with them.
There are many good techs out there, even in clarinet-anemic locations like mine.
B.
Post Edited (2019-10-13 20:54)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Irwin J
Date: 2019-10-13 21:05
thanks and that makes sense. I just have a couple of loose pads and haven't noticed an intonation problem. My initial thought from years back was "let's Brannenize" it since I never had one performed on it. I knew people many years back who, whenever they bought a new Buffet, sent it directly to Brannen from purchasing it.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2019-10-13 22:55
Yeah but...........
It is a leak, even at just one point that will kill the resonance (if not ability to play certain note or notes) of your clarinet. I had a local repair guy do one of those machine pressure tests on my "A" key when I needed an emergency repair. Of course it was not a huge issue for me to re-adjust the tension on that spring, but the setting they used was like a clamp!
I've also seen some techs use a "leak light" on a Bb horn.......that won't tell you enough on a soprano horn.
Just make sure your local guy has some chops.
..............Paul Aviles
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: clarnibass
Date: 2019-10-14 11:27
>> I've also seen some techs use a "leak light" on a Bb horn.......that won't tell you enough on a soprano horn. <<
It's pretty terrible as the only checking tool, but it's excellent as a very fast way to find some problems.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
