 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: CassieC.
Date: 2009-04-07 02:21
A friend of mine is getting her clarinet a tune up andit's the first she's ever had and shes had the clarinet for about four years.
Here's the story:
She got it from her mothers friend who used it all of her playing carrer and she got it from a garage sale.
The Clarinet is a Noblet (LeBlanc If I'm not mistaken) and I would post a serial number but the clarinet is in the shop. And that's about all we know, no year or specific model etc. It is wood and plays nicely except for the fact that it needs $180 worth of work done to it and my question is if this Noblet is worth that much work. The repairman said it needs a complete stripdown and repair all pads,corks etc but we could go the cheap $40 route and get the bare minimum.
Should she get the $180 or the $40 job and can anyone tell me about the Noblet model?
Thanks
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Author: Tobin
Date: 2009-04-07 02:26
$180 is a small amount of maintenance for a clarinet so old.
And a complete strip down and rebuild from my folks costs $400 (worth every penny).
James
Gnothi Seauton
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Author: bmcgar ★2017
Date: 2009-04-07 03:19
What should determine whether "it's worth it" isn't the retail value of a used Noblet, but whether she wants an instrument that's not going to fall apart in her hands or nickle and dime her to death as one thing goes wrong after another, and that is adjusted so that it plays correctly.
If it "plays nicely" now, then that's all she needs to know to determine if it's worth it. Other than that, $180 is darned cheap for the work you're describing (if the "etc." include checking and replacing springs if necessary, cleaning the body and tone holes, making minor repairs, and regulating the whole clarinet).
Or she could consider the alternative: "pay me now or pay me (more) later." Get the $40 "in playing condition" work done, then pay another $25-$45 for each problem that may arise after that. (For example, many "small" repairs like replacing a spring or pad requires at least partial disassembly and then reassembly of the instrument, which costs in labor.)
I've paid $200 and more to get so-called student model clarinets "overhauled," rather than just patched up, that one could buy for fifty bucks on that auction site. Why? Because they played well and the work transformed them.
BTW, the Noblet was (is still?) Leblanc's "intermediate" instrument, and there are many around still being played every day by good players (especially the Noblet bass clarinet).
BTBTW, I'd venture to say that most clarinetists who want to be able to rely on their instruments and want them to be in good adjustment spend much more than $180 every year for routine maintenance.
Hope this helps.
B.
Post Edited (2009-04-07 16:57)
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Author: Neal Raskin
Date: 2009-04-07 03:32
In my opinion, its better to get the whole thing working right, cleaned and adjusted. Pay the $180, thats relatively inexpensive for an overhaul. After that, all the horn should need is a tune up (slight key adjustments, cleaning) every few months depending on how hard the horn is played/handled.
For students it is always the best idea to use the best equipment possible to ensure a good experience with music. You don't want to ever be discouraged due to a maintenance or equipment issue.
Best,
Neal
www.youtube.com/nmraskin
www.musicedforall.com
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2009-04-07 07:00
In a nutshell: Yes, $180 is worth it, at least for a clarinet that plays nicely. Don't be intrigued by the market value of an instrument - the usage value can be much higher, and an instrument that stood the test of time can be priceless.
(Currently one of my best horses in the stable is a wooden Vito VSP which is exceptionally free-blowing with a nice tone an all. The market asked $40 for it, but an $800 horn can't possibly play 20 times better)
As mentioned above, the $40 minimal service will just buy you some months until something else starts failing. Get it done right, get it done once.
--
Ben
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Author: Molloy
Date: 2009-04-07 12:43
My experience with Noblet clarinets is positive. Unless you have some reason to suspect that the technician is trying to sell her work it doesn't need (seems unlikely), it's worth spending the $180.
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