 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Garth Libre
Date: 2013-12-30 18:54
I stopped into a small local music store that has a fair assortment of method books and sheet music. On the way to the stacks, I stopped to examine a table of more than a half dozen used clarinets. There were two Bundys, several Noblets, and a B12 Buffet. All the clarinets but one had minor leaks or other conditions that could possibly be corrected with an hour or so of labor, however the B12 seemed to be in very good, almost new condition. The keys were not sloppy, the sping action was good and both top and bottom joints held vaccum and didn't have obvious leaks on positive pressure either. As I continued on to the stacks of sheet music, I could hear the store owner take a phone call from a parent who was looking for a clarinet for their child. I figured that B12 would be the perfect instrument for a young student, but instead the owner tried to dissuade the parent from that clarinet even though the parent seemed to be calling expressly for that instrument.
The owner called the Buffet, "a proffesional instrument" and that the Bundy or the other "American made instruments" would be more appropriate for a student and would be easier to repair. He stated that these used instruments had all been checked by a repair technician and were trouble free.
I wonder how students manage to survive their first year of wind instrument study. I think back to 1968, when I was 14 and my brother who was already on the verge of becomming a proffesional musician checked over my first student instrument. I actually played his R13 for the first few months while he taught me some basics, before my parents rented the Ponte they would eventually buy for me. Although I didn't know it then, a small leak or slop in the keywork can result in an almost unplayable horn even in the hands of an advanced player.
Clarinet is hard enough without someone like the owner of Miami's Abe Music recommending leaky instruments for the beginning student.
Garth, 305-981-4705. garthlibre@yahoo.com
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Author: pewd
Date: 2013-12-30 19:19
An all too common problem unfortunately. I try to remember to play test each of my younger student's instruments once a semester, then either fix them myself or send them to a shop I trust. Several of the local stores here are excellent, a few are to be avoided for exactly this type of issue.
- Paul Dods
Dallas, Texas
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Author: BartHx
Date: 2013-12-31 01:04
If you are not comfortable doing repairs on a student's instrument yourself, make sure you know the shop you are taking it to. If parents take that responsibility, make sure they know the shop they take it to. I live in a very rural area and there is only one shop in the nearby area. I, literally, have never seen an instrument come out of that shop's repair department that approached being playable. I had a friend bring me an alto sax fresh out of their shop and asked me to look it over. He had payed several hundred dollars to have it repaired and was having trouble playing it. The obvious things I noticed right away were eight leaking pads, no felt bumpers, and no attempt at regulation. A flute player in our community band took a very nice flute (gold keys, etc) to them to have one piece of cork replaced. The next thing he knew, they had it completely disassembled with multiple bent keys. He ended up collecting all the pieces and taking it to a shop that did a very nice job of repairing it. I could go on and on, but you get the point.
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Author: Garth Libre
Date: 2013-12-30 22:23
I live in Miami and I have a constant fear that something minor will go wrong with my clarinet. The last time I gave it to a local, it came back with problems it didn't even have before (unauthorized work). The one guy everyone recommends is 30 miles North of me and the last time I tried to get an appointment I was told to forget it. I have to send my clarinets to Wesley Rice to get them right and I'm happy with that. For this reason, I must have at least two clarinets while I wait to have one fixed. When I lived in NYC, all my brother's instruments and my one clarinet got worked on by Saul Fromkin. I don't remember my brother ever having to make an appointment though. Maybe we got sent to the top of the list because my brother was somewhat well known. Nowadays anyone can hang up a shingle and take in 200 school band instruments at the beginning of every school year. I have no idea how someone can work on 200 instruments in less than one month and come out with a good result.
Garth, 305-981-4705. garthlibre@yahoo.com
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2013-12-31 04:13
When I was coming up (late 1950s), ever musical instrument store had a repairman (always a man) working in the back.
There are still places like this, but you have to get past the front desk. I've found the best way is to say I've found a leak on a particular pad or need a specific adjustment and ask to talk to the repair tech.
This means you need to do the initial testing yourself to find out what's not covering. It's not difficult, particularly if you make a feeler gauge by cutting a strip of newspaper 1/8" wide to check around the edges of pads for the seal.
I agree that standards are not what they were. I bought a brand new Yamaha plastic oboe a few years ago that needed several pads re-seated. I went to the seller and wouldn't take no for an answer until I talked to the tech, who, once he realized I knew what I was talking about, did a good job.
There are still reliable people. I've had good work from Susan Eberenz in NYC, who refurbishes student instruments and sells them at a decent price https://www.facebook.com/susan.eberenz, http://members.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewUserPage&userid=vintageflutes. Expect to pay at least $200.
Ken Shaw
Ken Shaw
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Author: clarinetwife
Date: 2013-12-31 08:08
As the person at the desk at a music store, I should point out that even for those who know their instruments somebody has to check contact info and generate an ticket for an estimate. That isn't a real good use of the repair folks' skilled time; that is why the clerks are there.
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Author: gkern
Date: 2013-12-31 03:25
As the patron of a music store, I want to talk directly to the tech about the situation. I have had repair clerks not wanting this to occur, and they had not even the foggiest idea what the problem was. What were they going to tell the tech? Perhaps this is why repairs get messed up?
Gary K
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Author: clarinetwife
Date: 2013-12-31 03:37
At our store we do the paperwork and then walk them back to the shop to talk to the techs.
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2013-12-31 04:26
>> The one guy everyone recommends is 30 miles North of me and the last time I tried to get an appointment I was told to forget it. <<
What...? So how do others schedule appointments there?
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Author: seabreeze
Date: 2013-12-31 04:27
I have also heard good things about the Wesley Rice repair shop in Maryland, but I have not tried him. Tonight, he is advertising for sale a used Chadash clarinet that was made in 2006. It cost $4500 when new, and he is selling it (after restoration) for $1199. If this is a typical hand-finished Chadash--designed to play like a top vintage Buffet R-13--then it is a great bargain. Does he always offer reconditioned professional-level instruments at such good prices?
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Author: pewd
Date: 2013-12-31 21:10
> I have no idea how someone can work on 200 instruments in less than one month and come out with a good result.
Yeah, let me know if you figure that one out.
I have a student instrument that I need to take back today - it was worked on a few weeks ago and still isn't working... What was that 'unplayable' comment above? grrrrr
I'm not set up to straighten bent keys unfortunately. Almost all other issues I do myself for my students.
- Paul Dods
Dallas, Texas
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Author: MSK
Date: 2014-01-01 03:14
I had Wesley Rice overhaul my 1971 era R13. He did a great job, and I will definitely go back to him for my next big overhaul. I liveabout 1 1/2 hour driving distance from his shop. He extended his hours to accommodate my schedule. He also let me stay for a while and play test the instrument to make sure I was satisfied. However, he is too expensive to justify the expense for a student grade plastic instrument. I used my local band shop to overhaul my old plastic instrument before passing it on to my child, and I also use them for minor repairs on my good clarinet.
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Author: William
Date: 2014-01-02 23:22
Garth, I visit in Pompano Beach frequently and would appreciate knowing the name of the "fellow" who lives 30 miles north of Miami and is noted (or recommended) for clarinet repair. Thanx
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Author: Garth Libre
Date: 2014-01-03 03:33
From Miami to All County Music in Tamarac is exactly 32.9 miles. There is a branch of All County music in Pompano which is closer but all the work gets sent to Tamarac where their technicians work. When I went to the Southern store I was told that in order to speak personally to a tech, I would have to go to the North store. At the North store, I was told they were too backed up.
Garth, 305-981-4705. garthlibre@yahoo.com
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Author: Garth Libre
Date: 2014-01-03 19:41
Brett of North County Music is the person recommended by two list members.
Garth, 305-981-4705. garthlibre@yahoo.com
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