 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Aussie Nick
Date: 2002-12-28 04:47
I've had this explained to me briefly before, but I've never really understood exactly what this means. Both my Buffet Festivals were selected by both my teacher and myself, and we both thought/think they were/are beautiful instruments. Is there something wrong or bad about them if they haven't been brannenized? I have had 1 or 2 pads changed on each instrument (replaced 1 or 2 gortex pads with a cork) but I haven't noticed alot fo difference. Can someone explain?
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Author: Wes
Date: 2002-12-28 08:12
Most new instruments come from the factory needing adjustments, leak elimination, tuning, etc. The hand work required to make a good instrument play really well is considerable and cannot be done by the manufacturer if they are to keep the price low. The Brannens make the new instruments play well. Most new wood instruments, for example, have tiny chips in the tone holes, giving tiny leaks. This could be one item of many that would need fixing. There is also a Brannen flute company which may be related somehow. Good luck!!
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Author: msroboto
Date: 2002-12-28 10:12
"Brannenizing" is a word used to describe the work of Linda and Bill Brannen. http://www.brannenwoodwinds.com/ they are a sponsor of this site as well.
I do not believe they are related to Brannen Flute.
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Author: Aussie Nick
Date: 2002-12-28 10:53
So is there likely to be a problem with my pair if they haven't had all these adjustments? I regularly get my keys adjusted, and some pads, and I've had a tiny bit of work done on each for tuning on 1 or 2 tone holes...but other than that they are beautiful. My teacher is a professional player (orchestral, chamber and solo work) and also knew what he was looking for when he tested them. I just don't understand because to us, they played really well straight from the factory... unless the shop i bought them from had their tech work on them?
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Author: Morrigan
Date: 2002-12-28 11:08
Nick, your instruments are fine, especially if Paul Dean wanted your A for himself! Most clarinets aren't brannenized; if you read the info on their web site, you'll realise it's more to have a very low-maintenance instrument that will last longer and required fewer touch-ups.
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2002-12-30 15:12
If they play well and you are happy with them, don't worry about it. The Brannens put in cork pads on the upper and some better pads on the lower and will do some minor adjustments to make the play action better (spring tensions, etc.). The go over each instrument completely and check for any intonation problems with certain tone holes, etc. But, if you have a great instrument and you and your teacher are happy--why even think about having them Brannenized?
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Author: Gregory Smith
Date: 2002-12-30 18:57
As a point of clarification about the Brannenizing process:
I walk a fine line here since I have been commercially associated with their work recently but have said exactly the same things about their work to anyone that cares to listen for over 2 decades now.
It depends on what one determines is "good enough" in the first place. All instruments can be improved in some way but depending on the individual, there comes a point of diminishing returns depending on the situation.
My own experience with their work on hundreds of new and used clarinets for myself and students alike for about 25 years now is that in the cases of the very best instruments I've tried, before and after their work, the clarinet without exception has improved at least 25% in quality. And in the case of instruments that initally played mediocre at best, the improvement was at least 50 - 75% (if one can quantify these things in a meaningful way with such a numerical system).
It's what they do to the instrument that one knows about along with what one doesn't know about (everyone has their trade secrets).
So, in my experience even a great instrument, in their hands, will improve.
Gregory Smith
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Author: Gregory Smith
Date: 2002-12-30 19:44
I would add that my colleagues in the clarinet section share similar admiration for their work during the entire 20 or more years that I've known them. This considering all different brands (Buffet, LeBlanc, Yamaha, Selmer) and types of clarinets used in the section (Bass, Bassett Horn, Bb/A, D, Eb, and Ab sop.) that have been worked on by Bill and Linda Brannen.
Gregory Smith
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2003-01-05 06:02
Gregory, to me you seriously undermine your credibility by using % improvement figures for unquantifiable items.
It seems to me that "Brannenization" is little more than one can expect from a excellent repair technician. To me it is astounding that any impression should be given that this is the only place (in the whole of America?) where excellent adjustment work is done. In a different location I would like to believe that other technicians are doing work the equal of Brannens. In writing this I do not mean in any way to belittle the work done by Brannens.
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2003-01-05 14:18
Gordon (NZ) wrote:
>
> In a different location I would like
> to believe that other technicians are doing work the equal of
> Brannens.
There are a few people in the would who have reputations that are well deserved; you can perhaps compare them to race car engine tuners. Any competent mechanic can tune a race engine; only a few can wrest the last few horsepower out of them.
Hans Moennig was a legend among woodwind players (for the entire range of woodwinds); Brannen is a legend among clarinet players. Whatever they do or did, it isn't something that many other technicians can do;that's how their legendary status came about.
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Author: Gregory Smith
Date: 2003-01-11 17:00
Gordon said:
"Gregory, to me you seriously undermine your credibility by using % improvement figures for unquantifiable items.
It seems to me that "Brannenization" is little more than one can expect from a excellent repair technician. To me it is astounding that any impression should be given that this is the only place (in the whole of America?) where excellent adjustment work is done. In a different location I would like to believe that other technicians are doing work the equal of Brannens. In writing this I do not mean in any way to belittle the work done by Brannens."
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Gordon:
Henceforth the caveat included in my post "(if one can quantify these things in a meaningful way with such a numerical system)".
The items that I note as having been improved are indeed quantifiable IN MY EXPERIENCE. Assigning numbers to these items are quantifiable in my own rough way of doing so. Many would be right if they believed that *that* way of evaluating these improvements based on experience does nothing to undermine mine or anyone else's credibility.
My experience (as well as the rest of the CSO section and thousands of others) is that the Brannens do much more than what one can expect from a typical repair technician. I said no such thing that they were the only answer to everybody and everything to everybody. Surely you exaggerate.
If you had hundreds of instruments that went through their process as I and others have, perhaps you would be in a position to judge whether or not (in your opinion) "Brannenization is little more than one can expect from a excellent repair technician".
I have tried other well known repair technicians. If there are others that are doing work their equal, I and many others that rely on the Brannens have yet to experience it.
Gregory Smith
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