 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: ClariTone
Date: 2007-01-31 00:23
Hello
I am in need of a professional, reliable clarinet technician, preferably located in the South West Missouri / South East Kansas (USA) Area, however I would also consider repairmen outside my area who I could ship the clarinet to. I am needing some minor repairs and adjustments done to my clarinet including adjusting the bridge mechanism as well as fixing some pad/key height clearance issues, changing pads, etc. Who do y'all use???
Thank You!!!
Clayton
*Edited for Spelling...must s-l-o-w-d-o-w-n...*
Post Edited (2007-01-31 00:24)
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2007-01-31 00:34
You ask well-established and respected LOCAL players until a pattern emerges in their recommendations.
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Author: ohsuzan
Date: 2007-01-31 01:10
<<You ask well-established and respected LOCAL players until a pattern emerges in their recommendations.>>
Interesting. But what is "local", in today's world?
We used to have our "local" music stores -- some of which were very good. And some of those hired repairpersons.
But today?
It's all at least regional. And with the internet, one's network may be more like national. Searching for an English horn, I contacted people in Oregon, California, Minnesota, and Georgia. Had I searched "locally," in the old-fashioned sense of that term, I would still be looking.
Clayton: there are a number of threads in the archives of this list which supply the names of well-regarded clarinet repair persons around the country. Try a "Search" and see if you don't find them. If you don't find them, contact me off-board and I'll send you a couple of names.
Susan
Susan
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Author: hartt
Date: 2007-01-31 04:34
consider sending it to John Butler: Instrument Restoration. He's a BB sponsor.
Top notch work at fair prices. He's located outside of Houston, TX.
You can google Instrument Restoration.
be careful sending an instrument North at this time.
I know of a Northern baerd tech who has 7 oboes to pin due to cracks from the cold
Of course, there is always overnight express delivery as opposed to priority mail
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2007-01-31 05:40
Local is where there is less chance of damage or loss in transit, and where it is easy to go back and communicate if any problems do eventuate.
That said, I have customers 1000 km away. "Local" was a dead end for them.
Post Edited (2007-01-31 05:41)
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2007-01-31 05:48
"You ask well-established and respected LOCAL players until a pattern emerges in their recommendations."
If someone did this here, they found many recommendations on who NOT to use  Another problem is that many people don't really know if they had good work or not. Unfortunately I found this from my own experience (going to someone "recommended" for repair) and also repairs I had to over-do because the former "recommended" repairer didn't really fix or even made worse.
Sometimes shipping will definitely result in a better repair, but the problem then is there are too many individual choices that are mostly impossible to do without the player. Key heights, ring heights, etc.
Maybe one good alternative is to ship the clarinet to someone very good (make sure of that somehow), but who is not too far away, and then schedule when you will come to pick up the clarinet, and finish the work to fit you. That way you don't have to travel twice.
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Author: seafaris
Date: 2007-02-01 14:08
I have sent 3 clarinets to John Butler. The first one needed a total overhaul. I was so pleased that I sent 2 others for a general service. They are all adjusted the same ie key height and he found airleaks in one that just had a complete overhaul by a major music store in S. Calif. As far as I am concerned John is easy to deal with, quick with his work and return of the carinet, and a superb craftsman.
...Jim
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Author: ClariTone
Date: 2007-02-01 15:23
Thanks to all who have responded!!!
Gordon: Been there, done that. My previous tech (the afore-mentioned Mike Lomax, is no longer doing instrument repair, but rather his son, Joel, is doing the repairing. This allows Mike to take on his mouthpiece business full-time.). Will also consider John Butler.
Susan: I attempted a search but was bombarded with information, and found it hard to sift through. Will try more indepth now that more time is apparent.
Thanks!!!
Clayton
Post Edited (2007-06-11 17:13)
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2007-02-01 16:27
Hi Clayton - I do [multiply] rec, John Butler, his restoration of a good-old Pruefer is excellent. Nearer home, NE Okla, I have had or have seen fine work by several "local" shops-repairers. In Tulsa, the McGuire brothers are my first choice. Steve is expert re: clarinets {an early 1930's SPECIAL Leblanc shows his competence}, Carl re:oboes [his recovery of my [now sold] older Fr no-name ?Loree?] evidences his skill , they do all winds and strings also. There are several more competent repairers, close by -Tulsa area-, and Wayne Stuart, at Larsons [Brook-Mays], in OK City. Luck, Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: Clarinetgirl06
Date: 2007-02-02 16:01
Clay-
Joel seems like a pretty good repair tech. He fixed Iggy's clarinets for the OU Competition. Also, I don't think his father would let him be a poor repair tech.
If you want to send it to Kansas City, I'd reccommend Judi. She's a hoot to be around and always does a great job!
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