 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Alseg
Date: 2021-03-17 01:28
I just read a posting by Ben Redwine on Facebook that Omar Henderson, PhD has passed. "The Doctor" innovated many unique products for the clarinet, including a natural cork grease, a granadilla bore oil, and specially shaped silk swabs ("available in any color you choose, as long as it is black"), and many other items. He devised the Forte C clarinet-an affordable and usable C instrument. He purchased the Chedeville brand name and produced mouthpieces and blanks.
He and I collaborated on the Chedeville Barrels that he made based on the mouthpiece compound.
Omar was a joy to work with. He was a humble person with an abiding sense of humor and had deep interest in music and scientific endeavors. He had worked for NASA and the CDC
Ben, and others, if you have anecdotes about Omar, please post them.
Former creator of CUSTOM CLARINET TUNING BARRELS by DR. ALLAN SEGAL
-Where the Sound Matters Most(tm)-
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2021-03-17 03:44
Dr. Segal,
Without "Flash Player" (Flash Player no longer exists) I cannot get into your website.
Any thoughts?
And on thoughts of Dr. Henderson, I had his odd barrel that looked like it was shot full of holes. It did help with projection, certainly to the point where a colleague wanted to borrow the product and never returned it.
.................Paul Aviles
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Author: Alseg
Date: 2021-03-17 05:01
Paul, I am no longer making barrels
Former creator of CUSTOM CLARINET TUNING BARRELS by DR. ALLAN SEGAL
-Where the Sound Matters Most(tm)-
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2021-03-17 06:04
Sorry to hear that Dr. Segal.
Thank you for all the great work!
................Paul Aviles
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Author: Alseg
Date: 2021-03-17 17:11
Paul...that was his Power Barrel. It had a cover out center covered by a perforated metal baffle that acted like a sounding board for a piano or fiddle, supposedly. I never tried one, but that was the concept.
Former creator of CUSTOM CLARINET TUNING BARRELS by DR. ALLAN SEGAL
-Where the Sound Matters Most(tm)-
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Author: bradfordlloyd
Date: 2021-03-17 17:43
I own one of his Forte C clarinets, and it's a really nice instrument! I also have enjoyed the cork grease he invented -- great stuff. It sounds like I need to find a Power Barrel!!
Sincere condolences to all that knew him. May his memory (and wonderful products for clarinetists) be a blessing to us all.
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Author: kilo
Date: 2021-03-17 22:05
I'm sorry to hear this. He had a bit of that "mad scientist" vibe and it was nice to have him in the clarinet community. I was just recommending his cork grease last week. Thanks, Doc.
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Author: gwie
Date: 2021-03-19 08:41
I bought a lot of cork grease and key oil from him over the years. Always left me nice notes in my receipt--even reminded me after a couple years break in ordering that I was one of his first dozen or so customers. I had a couple beginners on his Forte clarinet back in the day, and will miss seeing him at ClarinetFest.
Still remember those lipstick tubes he first used for the cork grease!!
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Author: Leonard Alterman
Date: 2021-03-19 19:37
Loved his comme
nts on this board and loved dealing with him and using his products. A wealth of knowledge and dedication to the clarinet community,
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2021-03-19 19:56
Oh no - that's dreadful news. I had a good discussion with him on here about the Forte C clarinet back in the day.
Rest In Peace Omar Henderson.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: massa
Date: 2021-03-21 00:29
Doc Henderson,
I will surely miss you...
Doctor's slick cork grease,
Black Legend silk swab,
Thirsty Reed Pad,
Key oil, Mouthpiece pouch, Pad cleaner, miniature clarinet pin, were the items I received from Doc. Also, he was the person introduced me to Gonzalez F.O.F. reeds. He was always wonderful to deal with.
- m
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Author: DougR
Date: 2021-03-21 01:52
Dear Dr. Siegel--
Thanks for letting us know. There are only a few names regularly appearing on this board over the years that I have respected as much as Dr. Henderson (along with GBK and Ken Shaw). It's not just the Good Doctor's products, which (for me) always worked as advertised, it's also the tireless and helpful posts he wrote over the years, most of them attempting to address clarinet issues in a systematized, scientific way that most of us had only anecdotal, subjective, or "somebody told me once" reasons for belief in. His posts were always in-depth and informative, but also expert teaching sessions; about water and wood and absorption, about reeds, about cork and its botanical properties.
I still have a few sticks of his cork grease rattling around in instrument cases (a couple stored in the fridge too, for when it's time to deploy them) and a small, brown-glass pharmaceutical vial of GrenadOil, that cost me so much money I never got around to using it up, and a little bottle of grenadilla wood cleaner, and ... Oh, and the case-cleaning spray! Got that around here too somewhere, and he was always careful to add into his shipments the "right" spray bottle for it too.
If you're newish to the board since Dr. Henderson was active, and you want to know a thing or two (or twenty, all generously documented) about corks, bore oil, and the science of the clarinet, I invite you to try the Search function and learn some stuff.
I'm sorry for his passing, I hope his end was pain-free, and I appreciate his legacy here--which I'd characterize as honesty and integrity and ... well, I guess the word "service" is popping into my head so I'll add that too.
Ave atque vale, Dr. H!
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Author: jack
Date: 2021-03-21 10:58
I was chatting with him at a Fest 10 or 12 years ago and mentioned that my wife was with me but hadn't yet signed her up to attend. He simply handed me the neckstrap admittance materials and mentioned that his wife was unable to attend. Just graciously gifted the full attendance pass.
I still use his cork grease, swab daily and other stuff as needed.
He will be a fixture in my clari memories.
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2021-03-24 03:59
I met Doc Omar at ClarinetFest years ago when it was held in Maryland, really nice guy and like many other folks I've bought and enjoyed using his cork greases and bore oils. He'll be missed.
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Author: Johan H Nilsson
Date: 2021-03-24 19:22
This was sad news. I enjoyed talking to him and the small handwritten notes he sent with his receipts. Hope he was able to pass on his knowledge to someone.
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Author: claralot
Date: 2021-03-27 02:40
Just to let everyone know, you can still buy some of his products at:
https://www.doctorsprod.com/https://www.doctorsprod.com/
The website shows that various oils and the cork grease are still available.
I was just in touch with the owner.
Regards,
...Mike
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Author: kilo
Date: 2021-04-01 12:03
Quote:
Did the ownership change hands before Omar died?
Yes. I tried to order some cork grease in January '20 and noticed the old site was gone and only a few of the products were being carried on the new one. I'm sure the change was in effect some time before that.
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Author: Wayne Thompson
Date: 2022-11-22 05:37
I would like to honor Dr. Hendersen, too. I liked his business idea imediately when I learned of it. Use good science and good manufacturing methods to make useful products. Communicate clearly and honestly. I've used only his cork grease and mouthpiece cleaner since I learned of him. I met him at a conference and enjoyed talking with him. If memory serves, I sold two of his Forte clarinets to students. I had forgotten that he made a Forte C; he must have had Bb's also. I believe his clarinets were manufactured by Amati.
Rest in Peace, Omar.
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Author: Sebepe
Date: 2022-12-26 01:06
Triste, muy triste noticia, me acabo de enterar. Desde Tenerife, en las remotas Islas Canarias, quisiera dar mis sinceras y sentidas condolencias a la familia y amigos de Omar Henderson. No le conocí en persona pero fui cliente suyo desde hace muchos años y compré un Power Barrel (que me encanta y realmente amplifica el sonido), un Silk Swab de color negro, varias unidades de su grasa sintética para corcho (que es una maravilla, no descompone el corcho y dura muchísimo tiempo), aceite para llaves y cera para la madera. También le compré un Custom barrel (Dr. Allan Segal)... que me encanta y uso a menudo.
Siempre muy cordial y amable, en cada pedido incluía una nota con consejos y buenos deseos.
Espero que todo su conocimiento y buenos productos no se pierdan.
Se le echará de menos, en el cielo se está mejor desde la llegada de Omar Henderson.
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