Author: Ralph Katz
Date: 2007-07-03 02:44
Dale,
Your results will vary depending on how the underlying plating is worn and how the keys are prepared. I had this done on a clarinet in the early 1970's - they didn't do that great a job prepping the keys, and the prior plating layers (base, copper, nickel-silver) telegraphed through the new metal. Talk to your guy up front about the current status of your plating and how he will prep the keys before the are replated.
Is the instrument really that great that you want to go through all of that? I mean, have you recently played on a new instrument that has been gone over well? Just after I had mine done, I played on someone else's new R-13 and was, well, bummed that I wasted the money. But that was my instrument, and, you know, a lot of clarinet players are cheapskates. Me too. I have to admit that I always asked about price first, until I found out what it was like to pay more and get more. Which doesn't say that the guy who does your overhaul won't do a perfectly fine job.
It sounds like you will pay for the overhaul+replating is below the price of a high-end overhaul such as by Brannon's or Tim Clark. No I don't want to argue about whether these specific people are good or a good value. I just want to say that it sounds like this is not too bad a deal, but only if afterwards you will think it was worth it and the instrument is gratifying to play on.
Regards,
Ralph Katz
Ann Arbor, MI
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