 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: TAS
Date: 2013-09-24 20:38
I am curious as to member recommendations for the best clarinet repair shop in the US.
I have used Brennan woodwinds back in the day, but shops change. And great clarinet craftsman are hard to find.
I have a circa 1962 R-13 that is a superb instrument. I have been playing it for fifty years! I recently came out of retirement to play in a smaller city symphony orchestra and need both my Bb and Buffet circa 1969 A Clarinet overhauled.
Thanks, folks.
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Author: rmk54
Date: 2013-09-24 23:05
Guy Chadash in NYC.
The best repairman I ever had was Moennig, but Guy comes really close.
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2013-09-25 01:21
Guy Chadash is really good. You should know, however, that he works his way or not at all.
His ideal is the original Buffet R13, and he owns Robert Marcellus's (pre-R13) Bb, which is the best clarinet I've ever heard.
He says that you buy an R13 for its qualities and must not do anything that changes them. For example, at a master class, a student had a Backun bell on his R13, and Guy browbeat him mercilessly into switching back to the original bell, even though I liked his sound better with the Backun.
If you agree with everything he says, he's as good as they come. It's worth doing that, to get his truly expert work.
He comes from Israel and goes off on the subject if you mention it. Just keep quiet, agree with everything he says and don't stint on the small compliments.
Ken Shaw
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2013-09-25 01:43
There are plenty of amazing Clarinet Repairmen out there.
Mark Jacobi, Mike Hammer are among the best of the best. They are in Phila. area.
I have a student who has/had a Buffet R-13 from the early 60's, and the keywork was mush crap. The crows foot bent way, way too easily.
Crap soft metal keywork - and was worked on several times by great repairmen.
http://www.SkypeClarinetLessons.com
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Author: BobD
Date: 2013-09-25 10:58
Based on Ken's comments I'm surprised that Seinfeld never had a character like him in his series.
Bob Draznik
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Author: Steven Ocone
Date: 2013-09-26 12:23
There are many great repair technicians out there, and I've seen less than stellar repair coming out of some reputable shops. The more famous repair techs sometimes can't put the same amount of time into your clarinet. They have their famous working musicians to take care of. There may be a great tech in your area that you can develop a relationship with.
Steve Ocone
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Author: ruben
Date: 2013-09-26 19:36
Good point, Steven! I've seen repair people botch up the clarinets of people because they can't be bothered with somebody that doesn't play with the Berlin Philharmonic or the Cleveland Orchestra.
rubengreenbergparisfrance@gmail.com
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2013-09-28 13:51
I agree with Ken that Chadash can do truly great work but he doesn't always when it comes to a non professional. As Ken said, he's very outspoken and tends to tell you what you want instead of the other way around. At least that's been my experience with some students or amateurs. I've known several that went to him, even some pros that I know. I stopped sending him students unless I was able to take it in for them. When I spoke to him about something he did or didn't do on a students clarinet he said to me he should never have worked on an amateurs clarinet. DUH. By the way, on my Buffets, I have both Selmer and Buffets, I use Backun bells and barrels on both. Prior to that I used Chadash barrels. My opinion is it's nonsense that one has to use a Buffet bell and barrel because that's the way it was built. Chadash makes his own barrels too. Anyway, my take is that I would never send out my clarinets to anyone and don't ever recommend that unless you will go to the tech to pick it up and take the time to play it on the spot. Techs tend to do things their way, spring action, key heights etc. Then the tech needs to be willing to take the time to make any adjustments you want them to make before leaving the shop. Sometimes, in shipping, something goes wrong and you don't know if it was the tech or the shipping that caused it.
Take Steves suggestion and find someone locally if you can, at least in driving distance if you're not going to pick it up, play it and have the necassary adjustments made to YOUR liking.
ESP eddiesclarinet.com
Post Edited (2013-09-28 19:52)
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Author: jbutler ★2017
Date: 2013-09-28 18:16
Where's the "like" button???....right on Ed. I do quite a bit of work on instruments shipped to me but nothing beats having the client sit down with you and go over particulars. I like it better if they come back in a week or two after playing the instrument to go over any details that they may have overlooked when the instrument was picked up.
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2013-09-28 18:41
Back in 1964, when I was young and foolish, I had an important audition coming up (for the West Point Band). I took my wonderful 1960 R13 to the Famous Repairman Murray Snyder for an overhaul. He stuck a gauge down the top of the upper joint and told me "The bore has collapsed; I'll have to rebore it." I just nodded my head OK.
I told him I needed it back for an audition a month away. He promised it back within two weeks. When it didn't arrive, I began calling him, and he told me he had work to do for important players, but that he would definitely have it back in time for the audition.
He kept the clarinet for over two months, and I had to borrow another for the audition. When I called him and told him what had happened, he said "Well, you'll just appreciate it all the more when you get it."
When I got it back, it covered well, but the re-boring killed the tone. It never played worth a lick after that, even when Casimir in the Moennig shop overhauled it.
Kalmen Opperman and Jimmy Yan treated me the same as anyone else. I'm still pissed off at Snyder, almost 50 years later.
Ken Shaw
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Author: Clarnetamaphone
Date: 2013-09-28 22:59
The idea that repair techs would treat professionals better than students or "lower level" (don't know how to say it without it sounding bad) players is fascinating to me. For every professional theirs about 10000 students or intermediate players. You'd have to be an economic dunce to cater your business towards such a small minority of the potential market.
Makes absolutely no sense!
Ridenour Clarinet Products
1-888-AKUSTIK
ridenourclarinetproducts.com
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2013-09-28 23:52
I've heard horror stories of a certain NY Repair Tech treating legit Professionals crapily if they questioned his expertise - for issues that the player knew he was right!
Egomaniacal self delusionists some are.
I've seen a little of that, but proved that I was right, and got an apology for a student.
Another large repair guy was said to call a certain NY player a "lightweight musician".
Fact of that playing being a major star (Orchestrally, and Conservatoire also) makes the repair guy seem kind of dumb.
Nothing to do with Ricardo, so don't assume him, cause not. He does have several acclaimed recordings.
There's another extreme irony in it all, but not going there.
http://www.SkypeClarinetLessons.com
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Author: ruben
Date: 2013-09-30 11:44
David:
I heard Luciano Pavarotti called "rather a lightweight". The one thing he wasn't!!
rubengreenbergparisfrance@gmail.com
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Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2013-09-30 12:59
Clarnetamaphone wrote:
> The idea that repair techs would treat professionals better
> than students or "lower level" (don't know how to say it
> without it sounding bad) players is fascinating to me.
Hans Moennig had a reputation for being a little crusty and temperamental and there are stories about his having banned certain players from the shop. But one thing that always impressed me was his *kindness* toward students. He charged us a good deal less than he asked of some of his well-known (and pretty well-paid, even in those days) clients. Often he would make small adjustments gratis if a student walked in with his or her instrument in hand.
Karl
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Author: Garth Libre
Date: 2013-09-30 19:05
Mr. Wesley Rice did a nice job on my R-13. Now my Yamaha Custom is acting up and I have no idea what the problem could be. I trust him, but I'm surprised that only three names on this thread have come up. It seems that these upper echelon tech people are as strange as they are talented. Mr. Rice is not strange at all.
Garth, 305-981-4705. garthlibre@yahoo.com
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2013-10-01 02:17
My repair tech is a guy named Roger Young, in MD out side of Annopolis . He does great work. He's overhauled every one of my clarinets including my bass. I swear, once he did them I didn't need a single adjustment or almost ten years. In my opinion, he's as good as any tech I've ever used. There are actually many good techs out there but I've heard there are also many that are not so great. I've heard glowing things about Kristin in NYC.
Steve Ocone, above, does fine work in Baltimore as well but I began working with Roger before I met Steve.
ESP eddiesclarinet.com
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Author: genekeyes ★2017
Date: 2013-10-03 01:45
Doesn't pay to be pissed off anymore...Murray Snyder died at least 15 years ago.
Post Edited (2013-10-03 01:47)
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Author: William
Date: 2013-10-06 16:34
I have never been disappointed with any adjustments or repairs done by Mary Jones at Ward Brodt Music here in Madison, WI. She has serviced my Leblanc Concerto Bb & A, all of my R13 and my Buffet Prestige low C bass with meticulous attention for many years and I have no need for any repairperson with a national reputation and deep pockets (expensive). Here in Madison, I don't know of any clarinetist's that think they have to go to Chicago to get a top-notch overhaul or repair. We just go to Mary at Ward Brodt right here in Madison, WI.
http://www.wardbrodt.com/
Post Edited (2013-10-06 16:39)
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