 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Ben
Date: 2002-05-07 02:58
Does anyone know of a good repair person around the St. Louis area? I have to get some work done and only know of one place to take instruments. Thanks.
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Author: ron b
Date: 2002-05-07 04:51
Do you need to go to more than one ? 
(Seriously, Ben, I think it's a Good idea to check out as many places as you can. I just couldn't resist the comment though.)
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Author: Aaron D.
Date: 2002-05-07 06:01
Here's the place where some of the serious players take their instruments in STL. The name I know is in North County on Lindbergh Blvd. It is called Brass and Woodwind Repair. The exact name escapes me. But you'll be able to find it in the phone book now that you know the area were it is. I know Silfes takes his horns there, or at elast HAS taken his horns there in the past.
I have taken my horns there when in STL and they do a wonderful job. The main clarinet guy is Tim Werkmea, again the spelling may be off.
It's a great place, it's on the higher cost side, but they do good work.
I have spent more time in the KC area for the past few years while I've been at university, and i could name about 5 people here, however I'd only let two of them actually touch my horns.
Anyway. Try the Brass and Woodwind Repair on Lindbergh Blvd. Remember it's in North County.
IF YOU WANT DIRECTIONS, e-mail me so I can know where you are comming from.
From west county, take 270 north, to Lindbergh Blvd north. It's a good 3 miles north on Lindbergh. The Shop is in a strip center on the left immeadiately following teh first majorintersection you come to.
I'll look for the business card if youd' prefer a more exact address. Again just look for it in the Yellow Pages.
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Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2002-05-07 15:37
Ben,
I would say where you go depends on the kind of work you need done. Aaron is talking about St. Louis Woodwind and Brass Instrument Repair. AFAIK, all the clarinetists of the St. Louis Symphony and many top local professionals take their instruments there. The repair tech they go to see, however, is ("Marvelous") Marvin Krantz. I have taken some instruments there and they do beautiful work. If you need something touchy or complicated done, you won't be disappointed with Marvin's work. He can be, however, very expensive and you may have to wait several weeks for the work (though there is a wait at most shops, especially when the schools start bringing in their instruments for repair).
I give Musical Instrument Service Center (MISC) a mixed review. For a long time (before I started taking care of my own instruments), I took my instruments there. The owner, Mr. Mertens, did, IMO, very good work on woodwinds and he had another technician whose work always satisfied me. That technician left and they hired a new guy who really butchered a job on my daughter's clarinet. She had a (nickle silver) throat A key that was rather high for her so I asked them to bend it a little. While I was waiting, I heard a hammering sound coming from the shop. When I got the instrument back, the key had been lowered but it had alot of small nicks on top that looked like they might come from it's being struck with the (sharp) edge of a metal bar. The next time my daughter played the instrument, the body of the key separated from its tube. I think the tech must have put the key in a vice and pounded it into submission. In the process, I conclude he must have broken the silver solder joint. I haven't gone back. That was several years ago so maybe they have someone new (or maybe the existing guy has improved). On a positive note, the owner was always very good about identifying what needed to be done and not doing unnecessary work -- so I always found the costs of work at their shop reasonable.
The third place I have taken instruments (and from whom I bought a couple of used low clarinets) was St. Ann Music. They have merged with McMurray Music and Brook Mays but the woodwind repair tech, Chris Funk is still there. He did a very nice tenon replacement for me (on my one semi-bad eBay transaction) for less than the original estimate which was quite reasonable to begin with. Also he did a very good job adjusting the intonation of an alto clarinet I eventually purchased from the store. For basic repair work, you might get faster turnaround and a little better price with him.
Best regards,
jnk
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Author: James
Date: 2002-05-07 16:29
Unfortunately I don't know any repair places in Missori. But I do that a lot people send their horns to Brannen Woodwinds in Evanston IL to get worked on and shipping doesn't do any harm to the instrument. I know this isn't exactly your question but its an option www.brannenwoodwinds.com
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Author: Terry Stibal
Date: 2002-07-16 04:54
I'd second or third the vote for Marvin and Company. I had all three of my clarinets (Bb, A and bass to low C) overhauled and silver plated by them, and also had my Conn Artist model alto sax from the late 1920's rebuilt from a junk heap wreck. In each case, they were reasonable, relatively quick, and did flawless work.
I've even toted in the bass clarinet with a mystery leak that was unsolvable by the guys that "the Houston Symphony" used (and of who I thought very little); Marvin fixed it right up in two days and didn't charge me extra for the rush service.
I've got a quality old German horn in the back room right now, and it too will be sent on its way to Saint Louis Woodwind and Brasswind.
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