 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: clarinet14
Date: 2002-02-18 14:01
Help!!! I have an audition in 5 days and I just discovered this morning that my brand new Buffet R-13 has two cracks in the barrel!! As far as I can tell the cracks don't go all the way through, but I can't be sure. It would take too long to send away for another barrel, and to do so I would have to give up the cracked one. I don't know if I should just hope the crack doesn't get any bigger and keep playing on it....or just give up and use my old *shudder* Artley! What should I do??! And is it safe to keep playing on it...how can I keep the cracks from getting worse?
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2002-02-18 15:18
As a temporary, and at times a continuing, solution, I cut thin pieces of electrical [black] tape to the length of the crack , and press down firmly. It seems to at least diminish the leakage and may seal well, nearly invisibly! However skilled repair is advised. Luck, Don
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2002-02-18 15:39
It's just a barrel - thank goodness. You might want to contact whereever you bought it from and have them air ship you a few right away - they could overnight them.
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2002-02-18 18:13
Yes, as Mark said, it's just the barrel. This seems to occur more frequently in barrels--but should be covered over the warranty. Get in touch with your dealer at once and have them to get you a new one. Also, you might want to purchase a Chadash or Moennig tapered barrel for future use (66mm standard) and have one as a backup for those "hard to tune" days.
Oh, it doesn't sound like it will hurt to go ahead and use it if you don't get the replacement in time. If it's not all the way through it won't affect the sound---for now. But, it does need to be replaced.
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Author: Douglas
Date: 2002-02-18 19:14
Fill in the cracks with super glue (Krazyglue seems to be the best brand to use) to reinforce the wood. This will stabilze the wood and the cracks and can be removed with super glue remover at some point in the future. Don't get the glue on your hands!
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Author: diz
Date: 2002-02-18 21:05
But seriously! I would NOT recommend anyone undertaking self repairs on a clarinet - IMHO - this is skating on very thin ice - might I suggest you get a replacement (on warranty), or take it to an authorised, respected repairwoman/man and get it fixed (if possible).
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Author: Sally Gardens
Date: 2002-02-18 23:38
I would think that doing any "self repairs" on the barrel might invalidate the warranty, at least as far as getting a full-credit exchange on the barrel is concerned. I'd go with either playing on the barrel, if the playing is unaffected, or getting one of the suggested barrels right now. You can still exchange the cracked barrel under warranty, and it won't hurt to have a backup barrel.
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Author: diz
Date: 2002-02-18 23:55
I think validating the warranty is a certainty - maybe some of those "in the know" might shed some light on this - I'm curious.
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Author: Douglas
Date: 2002-02-19 01:55
She has an emergency situation, needs to get focused on an audition and you people are worried about the warranty. Well, she can use super glue, take it off later and get the barrel repaired/exchanged. She needs to get her equipment in place in a hurry and not be that concerned about the warranty on the barrel.
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2002-02-19 03:44
Douglas - have you heard of Overnight Express? The company she bought the thing from can get her a new barrel in less than 24 hours, and she's got 5 days. Supergluing the damn thing just might put her in a worse bind as soon as she tries to get it exchanged.
Any company worth its salt will get her the barrel right away.
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Author: Tamara
Date: 2002-02-19 16:08
I've cracked a total of 3 R-13's, all on or on the eve of very important auditions of concerts. Three cracks thru all the side trill keys during All-state...horrors. But it did happen to me that one did just crack thru the barrel. I swapped out the barrel piece with the old barrel of my Artley, no joke, i had an Artley too! I use Selmer's now, i'm really diggin the Prologue II, big dark lovely sound, i never did like the bright R-13. Anyway, hope this helps. Anyone you would be auditioning for would know the reputation of Buffets and their cracks, they should have mercy i would think, it just shows you've been practicing alot : )
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Author: GBK
Date: 2002-02-19 17:06
Tamara said:
..."Anyone you would be auditioning for would know the reputation of Buffets and their cracks,..."
Please enlighten us as to your knowledge in this area. I, for one, am very curious...GBK
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Author: Tamara
Date: 2002-02-19 23:42
Sorry if i offended anyone, i speak from personal experience. I'm by no means the definitive judgement of ANYthing clarinet related, but the fact that i've had 3 R-13's crack on me after a month has left a lasting impression. A friend of mine way back in high school went through 2 Festivals before giving up. Maybe it's just my bad karma.
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Author: Tamara
Date: 2002-02-19 23:45
Oh, wait...could that have been a crack joke? Hmmm...I am as yet unfamiliar with your queer brand of clarinet humor...hmmm. ; )
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Author: GBK
Date: 2002-02-19 23:58
Tamara...considering the many thousands of clarinets that are sold by Buffet each year, a certain percentage will crack. That is life, and a reality.
Perhaps the reason you don't hear of the other brands cracking as frequently (which they do) is because Buffet sells so many more instruments.
Many have said that this is the 2nd golden age of Buffet - the first being in the mid to late 60's, and today's quality and technical advancements have never been higher.
I just hate to have any entire company condemned by a few unlucky patrons.
By the way, I own 11 Buffets in varying keys, the oldest being 1967 - I've never had a single one fail...GBK
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Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2002-02-20 04:26
Here's my $.02:
1. "Any company worth its salt will get [you] an new barrel right away." You haven't told us where you bought your clarinet. If you bought it from a large dealer that carries alot of instruments, replacement barrels, etc., IMHO, this is your best approach. Ask for overnight express if it's mail order. Perhaps, however, you bought your clarinet from a (local) store that doesn't stock many R13's (even some of the bigger stores in St. Louis never have more than a couple or R13's on hand and, while they will order a replacement barrel, they don't strike me as sufficiently customer oriented to consider taking the barrel off another instrument). In this case, instant replacement may not be an option unless you can deal directly with Boosey & Hawkes.
2. For the short term, if it fits at all, the barrel from your Artley may very well work as an adequate substitute. At least, IMO, you should try it. Also, if any of your friends play clarinet, perhaps they might have a barrel you can use for your audition or perhaps your teacher can lend you one.
3. The superglue method is easy to use and it works. I have used it to repair both barrels and bells on old clarinets that I was resurrecting. After it has dried thoroughly, one can sand down any excess with fine sandpaper and the repair is almost invisible. I believe that this is the method the Brannen's prefer for this type of crack.
4. Supergluing the crack may very well void your warranty but you should call Boosey & Hawkes to make sure. The number I find under "Resources" is (818) 252-6305. Another number, from a relatively recent message to the Klarinet list is (800) 426-7068. Try to talk to Francois Kloc. Under the circumstances, with prior notification, they might give you permission (or they might offer to rush you a replacement).
5. If you void the warranty, a replacement barrel will run around $100 new from a mail-order store. You can probably find one on eBay for under $80. For about the same prices, you can pick up a Moennig or Chadash barrel for your clarinet. Many Buffet owners prefer these to the original equipment.
You don't say what the audition is for. If it's all-state band, in the long run it probably isn't worth voiding the warranty. If it's for a professional gig or college entrance, you can't get a replacement on time, and the Artley barrel doesn't work, it probably is worth voiding the warranty.
Best regards,
jnk
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Author: Tamara
Date: 2002-02-20 04:38
GBK- Ahhh, i didn't know you were with the company, my apologies. Buffet is certainly hands down the most widely used brand of clarinet so the reasoning that we only hear about the problems with them so much more is simply because there are MORE of them in usage is certainly valid. Maybe it's the weather in my area that made mine go wacky, i'm in central Kentucky. I'm not sure what the effect of humidity and climate is on wood in respect to cracking but there must be some sort of corelation.
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Author: GBK
Date: 2002-02-20 07:09
Tamara...Reasons that clarinets crack:
1. extremes in temperature
2. extremes in humidity
3. poor break-in procedures
4. owner neglect
5. sub standard/weak wood
6. any of the above
7. some of the above
8. all of the above
9. none of the above ...GBK
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Author: George
Date: 2002-02-20 13:23
One way of closing the crack is to reverse what probably caused it in the first place - dry winter indoor air. Humidify the barrel - even to the point of soaking it in water if you are in a hurry. This might well close the crack enough to play through the audition. And there is no question of removing anything later. But I agree that the ultimate fix is for the barrel to be replaced under warantee.
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Author: clarinet14
Date: 2002-02-26 22:29
Hi!! Me again! Well, probably nobody's reading this thread anymore but I just wanted to say thanks for all the help! I ended up using my artley barrel for the audition, which was for my local youth orchestra. Luckily, everything worked out great and I've been accepted into the orchestra! Yay!
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