 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: chorusgirl
Date: 2011-10-25 21:22
Hello!
My son has a student model Lyrique - 3 years old - that was in sore need of an overhaul. Most of the pads were worn, corks needed to be replaced, etc. Our local repairman gave me an estimate of $140.00 for the job. He also tried to sell me a new clarinet instead - something called a JZ - he says it was made in Italy.
He seemed skeptical of the Lyrique, didn't know much about it, was surprised when I told him what we paid for it new ($650).
I just told him to repair this one - I wasn't interested in the JZ. Honestly, to me, it seemed like junk, but what do I know? I'm not a clarinetist!
Did I make the right decision? Has anyone heard of the JZ?
Thanks!
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Author: SteveG_CT
Date: 2011-10-25 22:20
I've never heard of the brand "JZ" either. It's most likely one of the many Chinese stencils. You made the right decision in sticking with the Lyrique. I'll echo Chris P's advice and suggest that you look for a different repair tech. A tech who is willing to sell you a stencil clarinet of dubious quality is probably not one I would want working on one of my instruments.
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Author: Bob Bernardo
Date: 2011-10-26 03:07
$149 for a repair is a pretty fair price. I'd do the repair.
Since Tom built the horn maybe he will repair it. He's pretty much a master at everything involving clarinets.
Designer of - Vintage 1940 Cicero Mouthpieces and the La Vecchia mouthpieces
Yamaha Artist 2015
Post Edited (2011-11-14 02:43)
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Author: dann
Date: 2011-10-26 04:01
At this point, I'm really afraid that the repairman you were talking to is going to make your Lyrique become JZ. One more vote from me to try to get a new guy.
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Author: Tobin
Date: 2011-10-26 13:00
$149 for an overhaul is cheap. And not in a good way.
I can understand a knowledgeable repairman being unfamiliar with the Lyrique clarinet line, but I don't understand a knowledgeable repairman pushing what may be junk.
James
Gnothi Seauton
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Author: Lelia Loban ★2017
Date: 2011-10-27 16:31
I'm an amateur, but fwiw, I think it's a safer bet to get a known brand repaired (by a competent technician, preferably someone other parents in the area have used and recommended) than to buy an extremely cheap new "no-name."
Lelia
http://www.scoreexchange.com/profiles/Lelia_Loban
To hear the audio, click on the "Scorch Plug-In" box above the score.
Post Edited (2011-10-29 18:32)
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Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2011-10-27 19:02
I think repairing was the way to go. Given the clarinet is hard rubber and, overall, is likely still in pretty decent shape. The "overhaul" probably consists of removing the keys, replacing any broken springs (but the odds that there are any are probably small), replacing the pads and tenon corks, perhaps giving the body a wash while the keys are off, and oiling the keys. I think a competent repair tech might be willing to do that for $140. There are still some good honest repair techs out there who don't charge an arm and a leg for basic services.
Since I've never seen a JZ, I can't comment on its quality. For all I know, it might come from the same factory and be based on the same design as the Lyrique. As for its coming from Italy, I would point out that the Italian alphabet does not contain the letter J (though Italians use j in words imported from other languages).
Best regards,
jnk
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2011-10-28 04:51
An overhaul if often a vague terms meaning many different things. Many people call any repair an overhaul. So it's best to know exactly what is done as opposed to a (now random) term like that. It's very possible that a clarinet doesn't need more than $150 of repairs to fix all the problems. But calling it an overhaul is just confusing and to be honest, the $149 price is suspicious and suggests it could be a "recipe" repair... so I'd try to get a second opinion...
I don't know for sure, but the link for the JZ clarinet really suggests it is Chinese. Maybe best to contact this place to ask since they might be the importer.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2011-10-28 12:50
Just makes me think if this repairer is trying desperately to push these clarinets, then they're either not all that competent a repairer or they get commission for each of these unknown brand clarinets they palm off onto unsuspecting customers. Would they do the same if someone brought in an R13 (for example) for a service?
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: chorusgirl
Date: 2011-10-28 13:44
Thank you, everyone, for your comments.
I really do not have a handle on this fellow - he pulled out the JZ, unwrapped it, said he didn't know much about it but he had just gotten it in and would sell it to me for $180. He stuck a mp on it and played - it sounded awful, but to be fair, he's not a clarinetist (nor am I)
The work the Lyrique needs is really just to replace pads - many of them were quite worn - and do some key adjustments. It also need to be cleaned - there was some gunk forming around the top tone hole by the register key, and probably more gunk elsewhere that I did not see. So, it really was not a complete overhaul.
I need it back in a hurry because my son has a competetion tomorrow, it is supposed to snow (!) and I don't want him taking his Buffet out in that weather!
I have found that, for some reason, the area in which I live is rather devoid of quality repairmen and most folks just send all of their instruments to the local music store. Who knows who is doing the actual work on these instruments?
Fortunately, I live within 90 minutes of two major cities, so I can take my instruments (we have several) into one of the cities for real work. I just need this clarinet back in a rush, this guy was close, and I figured he could replace the pads for me.
I sure hope I haven't made a serious mistake - I'll find out tomorrow morning when I go pick it up. I'll post back here to let you know how we make out.
As always, this is the absolute BEST forum anywhere that I've found. You are all a wonderful community - thank you for your patience with my questions, and for your always excellent advice.
Now, if I could find a great forum for trumpets (can you tell I'm a voice/choral person? Why won't my boys just sing - I can help them with that!!) I would be in great shape!
Thanks again -
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Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2011-10-28 15:18
Maybe you are planning to do this but, just in case, I will suggest that if it's at all possible, take your son with you when you go to pick up the clarinet and have him play it. Then, if any adjustments or further work are necessary, you can have them done on the spot.
Since so many others, who KNOW absolutely nothing about this repair tech are willing to speculate on his competence and integrity based on very scant information, at best, here's my $.02. While the JZ may, if fact, be a lesser clarinet than the Lyrique, as far as the tech is concerned, the Lyrique is just another cheap Chinese-made instrument (and why shouldn't he think that -- aside from some likely invisible design modifications and tweaking by Tom Ridenour, that is, after all, exactly what it is). The repair tech is willing to give you two options -- for $140, he'll fix up your existing Chinese instrument or, for $180 (about half the advertised price on the website Chris links, BTW), he'll sell you a new, in his eyes, equivalent instrument. Your choice. Repair an old clarinet or, for $40 more, get a completely new one.
BTW, the OP referred to the needed work as an "overhaul." There's nothing in this thread yet to suggest that that's how the repair tech referred to the work.
Best regards,
jnk
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Author: chorusgirl
Date: 2011-10-28 19:44
Jack -
Thank you for your take on this. When I brought in the clarinet, the guy looked at it and said it needed an overhaul. I knew it needed pads replaced, some cleaning, and some key adjustment, but didn't think it was all that bad. He used the word "overhaul". I realize, after reading here for a few years, that that term can mean different levels of service.
He did comment to me that the Lyrique was a Chinese clarinet, and was suprised when I told him that I spoke directly with Tom Ridenour, down in Texas, and that I spoke at length with him, several times, before ordering the clarinet. We have been very happy with the instrument. He didn't seem to know anything about Tom or the Lyriques.
This repairman seems to have a decent rep around here, our two local highschools use him for all their repairs because they do not like the repairs done by the local music stores. That is why I went to this fellow. Now that I think of it, however, all the HS teachers are either brass or percussion guys - not a single woodwind player among them.
I love your idea of bringing my son to play it before we walk out of the shop. That is a great suggestion.
Again, my thanks to you, and everyone else, for your help and good advice.
~Marge
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Author: Franklin Liao
Date: 2011-10-29 02:34
Think of the Lyrique as what an master tech can do when given the technical limitations of mass production from China. The keywork on the Lyrique leaves much to be desired, the design spartan, the transformation from FOB Tianjin China to 'from dock' in Texas... it is very likely for a tech to see the Lyrique as another clarinet-shaped object, given the astonishing level of imitation that exists within the Orient.
I too, would be wary about any tech handing out recommendations on such an 'exotic' brand as JS, to the point of seeking the opinion of other techs. Making such leap of faith to me feels unwarranted.
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2011-10-29 05:39
Some people talk about clarinets maily for specific types of music, like orchestra, chamber, etc.
Obviously the JZ is made specifically for hip hop and rap...
Post Edited (2011-10-29 16:04)
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Author: chorusgirl
Date: 2011-10-30 19:01
Well, I am one unhappy customer. The clarinet was not ready yesterday - when I spoke with him on Friday, he said the bottom half was done but the top half was in pieces and would not be ready until Monday.
Tomorrow being Halloween, I don't know if I can even get there and make it back home before the little kidlets in the neighborhood start coming around.
It was promised to me in "a couple of days". My son needed it yesterday for a MB competetion. He had to use the Buffet but thankfully, due to the miserable weather we had here in the northeast, the competetion was indoors. I guess we look for hidden blessings! Still, this guy did not follow through on his promise.
I guess I'll find out tomorrow what kind of job he did. And yes, I plan on taking my son with me to try it out.
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Author: Franklin Liao
Date: 2011-10-30 19:37
The unfortunate reality is the fact that some individuals can be keen to take the money and slow to perform, with no guarantee of results. I sincerely hope the best of outcomes for your son's clarinet, but creating contingency plans never hurt; take pain to find a tech that one can develop a partnership with, for the game need not be zero-sum.
Marge, I would strongly advocate for your son to develop and subsequently voice his own perspective from this episode, as your woes from this exercise was to make benefit for him.
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Author: chorusgirl
Date: 2011-11-12 20:07
Well, this all had a pretty happy ending, thankfully. We picked up the clarinet, my son stuck his MP on there in the shop, played a few scales, etc. on it and was quite pleased with the result. All in all, I was charged $149 for the job. All the pads were replaced, it was cleaned, a couple of corks here and there were replace, keys adjusted, and it feels good.
While we were there, another fellow was there picking up his sax neck - not sure what work was done on it - but this fellow is a professional saxophonist and plays with a band in the Jersey Shore circuit, and spoke quite glowingly about this fellow and his shop.
Turns out that this is the guy who markets his own ligature - I had posted once a year or so ago about the ligature asking if anyone had ever heard of it.
All's well that ends well - I was just a nervous nelly, I guess. Thanks again to all for your advice.
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Author: Cl69
Date: 2011-11-13 11:30
Dear Mr.Franklin Liao!
Do You live in Hong Kong now? It is remarkable!
Could You tell me – is there a good master for repair of clarinets in Hong Kong.
I ask on the future necessity - because my clarinet is new - I hope, still long time is not required to repair, but can be, time service in half a year or year is required.
I am a Russian man, study a clarinet.
I live in Shenzhen now – so we are the neighbours.
And I will be very glad to get acquainted with you.
I can speak chinese (mandarin).
Thank You!
Igor.
Post Edited (2011-11-13 15:18)
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