 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: CuriousClarinet
Date: 2012-04-13 21:58
Okay, so my private teacher/repair tech just sent me the following email about two hairline cracks I discovered on my R13 (extending from the top joint's bottom tenon) about two months ago. What would you guys suggest doing in this situation? Buffet has offered me a new top joint, seeing as I still have 8 months left on the waranty.
"So here's the scoop on the clarinet. The crack does go into the c# tone hole on the one side. The good news--neither crack leaks. All the leaking problems are coming from 3 bad pads--the C#, Eb, and A pads are bad and need to be replaced. This would solve any immediate problems.
As for the cracks themselves, the other woodwind tech and I both feel that the only way to repair the cracks would be to replace the tenon. The crack is not in a good place to fix more conventually by pinning or banding. To do the repairs I am suggesting would require us to send the clarinet off to a Buffet dealer since we are not equipped to do such repairs here. Quite honestly, we don't have much experience in these type of repairs anyway. You might be better off sending to the store where you bought it to see what they will do.
We have tried to contact Buffet ourselves to discuss the options with them. There is a person there who has been helpful to us in the past. We are waiting to hear back from her.
Do you want me to replace the 3 bad pads? Let me know."
The store my teacher works at isn't an authorized buffet dealer, since I live in Utah with no big music stores nearby, I got the R13 online from Interstate Music. Does anyone know anything about their technicians? What about Kessler Music in Nevada? I've been to their store before, that's where I bought my Moba barrel, but haven't used any of their repair services. Any other ideas of where to take it to be repaired, or should I just take Buffet's offer on the top joint?
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2012-04-13 22:05
My son had very good luck when Buffet replaced his top joint many years ago. YMMV ...
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Author: CuriousClarinet
Date: 2012-04-13 22:11
When Buffet replaces a joint do you ship them the cracked one and they transfer the keys over? Do they send me the top joint and I have to find somebody to transfer everything? How does that work?
Post Edited (2012-04-13 22:44)
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Author: FDF
Date: 2012-04-13 22:30
Get the warrented replacement while you can.
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2012-04-13 22:49
CuriousClarinet wrote:
> When Buffet replaces a joint do you ship them the cracked one
> and they transfer the keys over? Do they send me the top joint
> and I have to find somebody to transfer everything? How does
In our case the entire operation was handled by Buffet, but I believe the dealer normally handles the key transfer. You'll have to use an authorized Buffet dealer for the warrantee work, but I don't know specifically if you need to use the selling dealer. You'll need to contact a Buffet dealer or Buffet corporate for a reliable answer.
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Author: bethmhil
Date: 2012-04-14 04:01
Unfortunately, my Tosca cracked last January. Even more unfortunately, I got it through Woodwind-Brasswind-- my experiences and all of my colleagues' experiences with WWBW have never been good. Of course, they were very much dragging their feet about replacing my upper joint (even though I quite clearly still had a warranty on it...). I told Buffet about my plight, and thankfully, they were incredibly sympathetic. Matt Vance at the warranty department is an incredible guy.
Fortunately (yes!), my instrument repair technician put carbon fiber bands around the crack to stop it from getting worse while it was still chilly here in Illinois. I contacted Buffet last week, and they are making me a new Tosca as I write this message at no cost to me, no problem. My local repair tech will do the key transfer, free of charge since it is a warranty repair and since he is an authorized Buffet dealer.
As others have said, DO try to get a new upper joint sent to you, since it is still under warranty. The wood on my original upper joint is considerably lower quality than the wood on the lower joint, therefore, there is still a chance a crack could form in a different place, even with the carbon fiber bands. I don't know anything about your clarinet, but it could be a similar situation... in which case, it is important that you obtain a new (quality) upper joint from Buffet. Plus, it's free, so why not?
I would probably go with Kessler Music to do the key transfer and any other warranty repairs for your clarinet. They are authorized Buffet dealers, and they would be considerably closer to you than Interstate Music-- IM is in Wisconsin.
BMH
Illinois State University, BME and BM Performance
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Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2012-04-14 04:16
I would get the replacement joint, if it was my clarinet. FWIW, the Buffet website lists the following authorized dealer in Utah:
Bert Murdock Music
981 N. 1200 W.
Orem, UT, 84057
Looks to be about an hour-and-a-half south of Ogden. (Is that where you are?)
Best regards,
jnk
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Author: CuriousClarinet
Date: 2012-04-14 04:30
I'm just worried that the two mismatched joints won't play together as well.
By the way, having a cracked instrument is super depressing. I have absolutely no idea why my clarinet cracked. I take immaculate care of my instruments, and always have. I follow the directions on how to care for my clarinets exactly according to Buffet's instructions; I've even gone as far as taking my clarinets into restaurants so they don't freeze/overheat in the car. Guess it’s always a risk with wooden instruments.
The quality of the wood seems fine to me, both joints grains are very similar. I have an E11 A clarinet, and the wood grain on my R13 isn't nearly as bad as that one. (E11 is not cracked; they're both about the same age) My 1183 bass clarinet's wood is remarkably less grainy then the R13. Not that it's terribly surprising. It should be that way; the bass is a prestige instrument.
I kinda wonder if my R13 has always had those cracks. They are incredibly hard to find, the instrument has to be just in the right light to see them. My teacher didn't even believe me at first when I told him it was cracked, he had to take all the keys off to actually tell where the cracks ended and where they started. Not to mention that they don't cause any leakage. But I have no way to prove that, and no real idea of how long the cracks have been there. But I don't believe they've gotten any worse since I've discovered them 2 months ago.
I'm entertaining the idea of having Interstate send me the replacement joint, but only switch over to it if/when the cracks start leaking. Good or bad idea?
(Edit, I didn't see the last post before I sent this): I'm not in Ogden, but Bert Murdock is the closest Buffet dealer. They often don't have Buffet instruments in stock, however. Last time I went there they had a few professional Selmer's and one RC Buffet. All of which they traded in the next week for beginner Trumpets. I don't know anything about their repair technicians, except that my teacher doesn't think very highly of them, and that my school often sends instruments there to be repaired. They often come back untouched, in exactly the same condition they were before. I guess I could contact them and see if they are willing to help, (that is if I trust them). But I bet they will still charge me, because I didn't buy the instrument from them. And in that case I'd rather have some I trust repair it.
Post Edited (2012-04-14 04:37)
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Author: bethmhil
Date: 2012-04-14 04:55
Cracks happen. Two clarinets are made from the same piece of wood-- both are taken well care of exactly the same. One cracks, the other doesn't. There isn't an explanation. You have done nothing wrong. It just happens, and it sucks and is definitely depressing... but, it will be okay.
Just to say, just because an instrument is a "prestige" instrument does not mean it won't crack or is high quality. I mean, mine is a Tosca. Looking at the inside & the outside of the upper joint, it looks horrible-- brittle, dull, grainy. The Toscas are supposed to be made of the highest quality wood... -_-
I have also toyed with the idea of having Buffet send me a new upper joint just to have in case my original upper joint cracks again. You have to do what is best in terms of timing with getting the new upper joint. I have waited because of the weather for one, and also because I am giving a recital this Sunday-- breaking in a new joint right now would be terrifying. I'll have a lot of down time this summer, so it will be the most ideal time.
Buffet actually told me this, and it makes a lot of sense-- getting a new upper joint is like getting two new tires put on your car. Yes, everything will feel different at first. But, once the wood is broken in, the clarinet will feel almost exactly the same as before in terms of tuning, tone, & response... maybe even better.
Stay optimistic. Everything will work out, I promise.
BMH
Illinois State University, BME and BM Performance
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Author: Bob Bernardo
Date: 2012-04-14 08:18
This is a hard question. Can you send a pic? Sometimes I just like filling them unless they go through the horn. I may also pin the crack about half way and fill the erst with special glue. So where do you live and what climate were you when it cracked? This surely can help the repairman decide what to do.
Sometimes when you pin a crack this puts stress on other areas of the wood and it's a sign that the wood isn't old enough. Wood should rest a few years or more.I've seen a horn with 4 cracks on the upper register. The sound and tuning were so good the person didn't want to get rid of the horn. A wonderful repairman named Bob Scott fixed it. Bob is often called Scotty. His work is very good. Located in Michigan. You can google him or write to me if you can't find him on the net. Wonderful gifted repairman, probably in his late 60's and still working hard.Anyway he can fix any cracks.
If you send the clarinet back to Buffet and they replace it, think twice about doing this. The serial numbers will match, but I'm not sure if the upper register will match the lower in pitch, octaves, stuffiness, tuning and more. So be careful with your decision. Needless to say, get the pads done before you do anything.
If it were my horn I'd send it to scotty or Levi here in Los angeles.
Designer of - Vintage 1940 Cicero Mouthpieces and the La Vecchia mouthpieces
Yamaha Artist 2015
Post Edited (2012-04-14 08:31)
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Author: CuriousClarinet
Date: 2012-04-14 22:31
I'll send a picture when I get the clarinet back from my teacher on Monday. But I'm not sure if they will even show up in the pic. I'll try, though. If it cracked a few weeks/days before I found it then it probably cracked in the winter, close to Salt Lake City in Utah. I use to have a hydrometer, but I can't seem to find it at the moment. At least one of the cracks does go all the way through the bore, but it doesn't seem to be leaking.
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Author: michael13162
Date: 2012-04-15 15:15
I'm pretty surprised that no one locally has told you this already (I'm in holladay Utah) , but there is a wonderful repair tech by the name of Bob Joffs situated close to Wasatch Junior High (google maps is your friend). Give him a call about your problem and see what he says about it. I trust him completely; He's a very knowledgeable person and very easy to work with. He's done great work on my horn before. Here's his number: 801-703-5248
BTW, I agree about Burt and Murdock music, they aren't very reliable. Summerhays is the best music store in the Salt Lake City area and it's located by the big Intermountain hospital.
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