 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: chorusgirl
Date: 2009-02-27 18:15
Hi all -
My son's Buffet E11 is now 4 years old, and we have never had it serviced. He studied until quite recently with a teacher who never really mentioned or recommended, and it did not occur to me, that it should be.
It does not seem to have any issues - all the keys seem to seat well (to my untrained eye) and the pads do not appear to be worn in any way. We've never had the bore oiled, nor have the keys ever been oiled.
My question is, how do I go about finding a reputable repair tech? There are certainly any number of music stores around my area, but I had so much trouble finding a good clarinet teacher (everyone seems to teach guitar, piano, drums, and voice!!) and I don't want to hand the instrument over to just anyone.
Any advice? BTW, this site is wonderful - everyone is quite congenial and helpful, and as a non-clarinetist,I have learned so much already just from reading everyone's posts. Many, many thanks!
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Author: weberfan
Date: 2009-02-27 19:16
Are you in New York City, as your ISP address suggests?
If so, I'd recommend Roberto's Winds, at 149 W. 46th St. There are very good technicians there, and many professionals use their services.
You might also check Rayburn's, near Lincoln Center.
I can't vouch for individual outlets of large chains, like Sam Ash, but their band instrument stores often have technicians on premises.
In Manhattan, a good technician may charge up to $600 to $650 for a complete overhaul, which includes such services as removing all keys, cleaning, oiling, repadding, etc. Perhaps you'll just want it checked over and adjusted. That ought to cost a lot less.
You might try the bulletin board's search function, as well.
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Author: chorusgirl
Date: 2009-02-27 23:43
Weberfan -
Thanks! I am not actually in NYC (used to live, and work, there, but that was many moons ago, before a husband and kids) I am now about 1 1/2 hours away from the city. Actually, I'm equidistant from NYC and Philadelphia (don't know why the ISP address shows up as NYC).
I would love to find someone more local, but one of the problems with living in a rural area (although there are many wonderful things about it) is the dearth of cultural things. This includes good music facilities.
I doubt if the clarinet needs a complete overhaul, as it's been very well taken care of, but it is played a lot and should be serviced, I'm sure. Maybe I'll take a day and trek up into the city - I will try Roberto's - I know the area well enough.
Many thanks!
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2009-02-28 08:07
You might get an answer here too, but also might be worth asking in the (public) repair section on SOTW forum.
If you can be a bit more specific about where you are (e.g. closest city) I can ask for you in a repairers forum. If you can add possibly the longest you are willing to go it can help.
In Manhattan I know Matt in Sam Ash is supposed to be good (no experience but have heard). There is also a good one in Syrecuse (sp?) but I think that is very far from you (right?).
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Author: chorusgirl
Date: 2009-02-28 14:12
Hi Clarnibass -
Yes, Syracuse is quite a hike for me! I am actually located in Central New Jersey ("The Shore") and am actually half way between NYC and Philly. I could travel to either city. I would love to find someone more local (somewhere in central NJ) like Trenton, or Monmouth or Ocean County.
I will also take your advice and check out the forum you mentioned.
Thanks!
~chorusgirl
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Author: William
Date: 2009-02-28 14:42
" I don't want to hand the instrument over to just anyone."
First, let me say that I would recommend a "playing condition overhaul" as opposed to a "complete overhaul" because in most cases, the only repair needed is a few leaky pads or worn/missing corks--usually not ALL of them--and it's a lot cheaper than the complete option. Also included with a playing condition only service will be the repair of any bent key mechanizm and lubrication of all the keys.
And secondly, that a "playing condition" service can be excellantly done by any credable wind instrument repairperson. To find such a repair resource, simply check out where your local middle school band director sends their instruments for repair and you can be reasonably assured that the service will be of good--if not great--quality. You shouldn't have to travel to NYC or Philly to find a good band instrument repair shoppe that can do a good playing condition repair to your E11.
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Author: weberfan
Date: 2009-02-28 15:17
Central New Jersey?
Try Dillon Music, in Woodbridge: dillonmusic.com.
It seems to be a full-service woodwind and brass shop.
Post Edited (2009-02-28 15:21)
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2009-02-28 15:53
Find local, well established, capable woodwind players and teachers, perhaps at local orchestras. Keep asking more players who they recommend until a pattern emerges. Take a little more notice if one of those technicians happens to play clarinet.
I know a "full service woodwind and brass shop" that does appalling work. And amazingly, it gets significant work directed there from the local equivalent of band directors. That is because of ignorance and personal connections through playing in a local band.
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Author: William
Date: 2009-02-28 17:31
In response to Gordon's statement regarding "local equivalent of band directors" and "ignorance", it should be noted that all public school music teachers here in the US must have college degrees in music education and must be certified by their respective state licensing boards before working as music teachers, general, choral or instrumental at the elementary through high school levels. You can certainly trust the opinions and advice of your local middle and highschool band directors regarding the quality of repair work available in area music stores and repair facilities.
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Author: kdk
Date: 2009-02-28 21:58
I'm surprised to read that Dillon's does woodwind work. I've been there with my son and his trumpet, and I know they are one of the main places to take brass instruments. But I didn't see anything woodwind-related in the shop. Unless they've added woodwinds in the past 6 or so years or have a separate facility?
Karl
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Author: kdk
Date: 2009-02-28 22:14
It is true that school instrumental music teachers all can tell you of local repair shops where they send their students' instruments. Having been a public school instrumental music teacher for 30 years, though, I have to say that the main criteria for that situation are price, short turn-around time, and a level of repair that is *acceptable*. Whether "acceptable" is what you want or not is a choice for you to make. You will most likely get higher quality work from a specialty woodwind or clarinet shop (there are a couple of them in Philadelphia - Mike Hammer and Marc Jacobi both do really excellent work) and such shops will, if you're traveling a distance, work on appointment while you wait. Because they are not focused on working quickly, as the shops that cater to school programs tend to be, they can take the time to be more thorough. Things like the condition of the pad seats themselves (the surface around the tone hole that the pad contacts), spring tensions, pad clearances and other things that are too nit-picky for a high volume shop to spend time on can make a difference in the overall ease of playing the instrument. Of course, you pay for this degree of care, so it's for you to choose what level of work you want.
Karl
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Author: weberfan
Date: 2009-02-28 22:45
karl,
I've never been to Dillon's, but it advertises on the Bboard and its Web site is divided between brass and woodwind inventories. I couldn't find anything specific about repairs for any instrument, but it seems logical that repair work would be done on premises. The OP inquired about an E11, and Buffet is one of the two main brands Dillon's sells.
At least it's one more place to start.
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Author: EEBaum
Date: 2009-03-01 05:17
I'll have to differ with William, in his unconditional trust of band director repair recommendations. Yes, some of them know the good shops, and some of them know the difference between a good repair and a "yes, the notes all come out" repair. But some do not. Unless they go out of their way to keep on top of which shops are good and which aren't, your percussionist conductor may not know the best place to take a clarinet. There are also some shops that do quite good work on some instruments and less stellar work on others.
Further, until a person has had really good work done on their instrument, they may not be able to tell the difference between a really good repair and simply a passable one. I've taken my horn to a tech in the past and delightedly exclaimed, "What, you can fix THAT too??!!" because the previous few techs had failed to properly adjust something, and I just figured the horn was as good as it was going to get in that spot.
The relative quality of colleges and students also comes into play. A graduate from college A may have had 4-5 years of weekly hour-long lessons with the principal of a philharmonic who was very particular about what kind of repairs are done, putting on two recitals during their studies, whereas a graduate of college B may have had half-hour bi-weekly lessons, never asked about repairs as long as all the notes came out, and submitted a paper in lieu of recital.
And even a decent band director may not have either the time or the determination to keep on top of such things. As long as the instruments all play notes, they're kept busy enough with parents and booster clubs and fundraisers and state standards and festivals that maintaining a list of shops with good reputations is a very minor concern. If the last significant performing they did was in another part of the country or world, especially, they may have never even had any motivation to find out who's really good in the area.
The band director knows where you can go locally to get an odd spring tightened or cork replaced, and may indeed know a shop for an actual *good* repair, but I would most definitely get multiple opinions. The very continued existence of some questionable shops (who often get school repair contracts) demonstrates the need for this. Within an hour drive of my house, there are, I believe, dozens of shops that claim to do repairs, but for any work of significance I would only take my horn to 2, perhaps 3 of them. A few of the others, I'd trust with cork replacements. The rest, I'd be anxious about getting my horn back in worse condition than I sent it in, or with different things wrong -- two steps forward, one step back, especially if they're messing around near some precise adjustment made by a previous tech.
Excuse me for being a bit cynical on this, but while a good majority of band directors and other music graduates are quite competent and knowledgeable, I do come across some that leave me skeptical about their claims of having attended music school. Some others are fine band directors but just may never have had really good work done or just don't find it a priority.
There's a big variety of shops out there, with a variety of technicians and of quality of repairs. People who perform the most and who rely on a well-functioning instrument for their livelihood are likely to give you the most reliable opinions, and can probably even tell you which shops are best for top-rate repairs, which will do for general playability without harming the horn, and which to avoid. Multiple opinions work best.
-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2009-03-01 06:01
Chorus girl, I asked on the repairers' forum and let you know if they give recommendations in your area.
I also agree with Alex. Unfortunately, in spite of what many believe, professional just doesn't automatically = good. Both in music and repairs.
Post Edited (2009-03-01 06:35)
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2009-03-02 01:17
Thank you Alex, for your support of my statement, which is obviously based on experience at the coal face. (Why did I get the impression it was being questioned on this occasion from nationalistic fervour?)
If one is in the company of a group of experienced, well-respected repair technicians in USA, stories about the very clear ignorance of at teast some instrumental educators are legion. So it would seem that automatic respect of their opinions is certainly not warranted. I was trying to present a somewhat more reliable source for guidance.
As in most fields, a certificate that shows a little formal education actually means very little at the coal face (including repair technicians...
Post Edited (2009-03-02 01:20)
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2009-03-03 06:30
OK chorusgirl, on the repairers forum there wasn't a lot of help but one person recommended Mike Hammer, who is between Trenton and Philadelphia. I remember that name from several who also recommended him on the saxophone forum (SOTW). I'm not sure if it's ok to advertise his contact details here, so if you are interested email me and I'll email you his address, phone number, email). Click on my username for my email address.
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Author: ABerry
Date: 2009-03-03 19:09
Chorusgirl,
There is a former professional clarinet player in South River, Vytas Krass. I believe he is (or used to be) a sponsor on this board.
Another good clarinet technician is Guy Chadash on W 41st Street NYC.
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