I have a clarinet.
That's all I know about it.
My father bought it for me for Christmas about 7 or 8 years ago. He said it was 'pretty expensive' (not quite that but....) but I don't know what expensive is in his terms.
It's really really lovely and has quite a dark tone (not flat but kind of depressed/menacing) and the keys suit me (I borrowed a friend's Buffet B12(?) but I couldn't get on with it - the tone seemed less dimentional and the keys were too floppy*).
Because of this not-knowing I am really hesitant to get repairs done to it in case the person laughs at me
I did get one piece of cork replaced a few years ago as I'd ripped a bit off. They replaced it with much less cork which is much easier. The top bit (where the barrel meets the key-y bit) has much to much cork on and the pads could do with being looked at as well as a general looking-over.
I'm not planning on replacing it but I'm worried about what people will think of getting repairs on such a "cheap" instrument (I'd have been fine in my old town but here in the 'big city' it's scary!).

So, would you get it sorted, in my position or would you just leave it? (I won't be able to afford a 'better' instrument for quite a while, if ever)

Also, if anyone would like to help finding what it is, I'd be greatful (but I have a feeling it might be a few things at once...).




*Please note this is my experience - she is a very good player but couldn't get a note out of my clarinet because it was too 'strong' - I have absolutely nothing against Buffet and in her hands it sounded great.

I still have to go and get my plastic Jupiter serviced every new and then, I play it once an week (if that) in school and when we have outdoor gigs at band - but it has to be kept to the same standard as my RC which I play every day!

It would be a very unprofessional repairer who would laugh at an instrument. If you play the clarinet and think it needs work the go for it!

When we bought an ancient bass clarinet of a now little known make, we found that our usual (though she wasn't at the time!) clarinet servicing lady was very happy to give it a quick look over without charge and to give us an estimate of how much her work on it was likely to cost. The (admittedly few) clarinet repairers I have encountered have all been nice, helpful, not at all scary people, who would be delighted to look and advise without making me feel small. Be brave, and go and seek an opinion. We decided to have the work done on our bass clarinet and it made it hugely more playable.

I have good experiences of repairers, in general. I once - madly- bought a second hand cello off ebay, and found that our local string shop were friendly and helpful about advising me on the pros and cons of work on that, without making me feel like an idiot. They were kind enough to tell me I'd got my money's worth, that the cello could be improved somewhat at relatively little cost, but that even then, it would not be good enough for the purpose for which it was intended.

It seems this is just the sort of information you're after, so go ask! Good luck!

I've had repairs and servicing done to an ancient old Boosey & Hawkes (plastic) Regent, without a qualm. I really wouldn't worry about what "people" (whoever they are) will think of getting repairs done to a cheap instrument. The repairer ought to be professional enough to keep any such views to him/herself, and it is entirely up to you what you spend your money on. If you prefer to keep your known and loved instrument, whatever make it is, that's your business. And you might even find that the repairer can shed some light on the identity of your instrument.

Less scary in the city - if the clarinet repairer has the temerity to laugh at you, you'll probably never ever see him again. And you'll probably be able to find an alternative one who won't laugh at you

If it has any identifying markings on it at all, describe them or post a photo - then barry-clari will come along and tell you exactly what it is and when it was made and where the factory was and what the supervisor's name was and so on

I agree that it'd be a rude and foolish repairer who laughed at you for having a (possibly) cheap instrument. So long as you are happy with it and want to get it serviced/repaired then that's what's important and they make a living out of doing repairs so should be only too happy to help.

As has been said, the repairer may be able to help you identify it.

That's a good point! But having a northern accent means that people talk down to you in the south


I was hoping for that (I read the forum/past threads for quite a while before I joined)

Thank you for your help RAM!

Halka, thank you for your wise words. I think asking here (with many people playing expensive instruments) was a measure of if I should get it done. It's good to read your experiences they're really encouraging!

Saxophile - the "people" were originally the people in my school orchestra (who couldn't get a note out of it funnily) who could afford a wooden clarinet from the start. They gave my poor clarinet 'looks' and got me to try their 'brilliant' ones . Thank you for your input!

MrsB - Thank you for your encouragement! My only thought is that why would they spend time making my clarinet better when they could be making a "better" clarinet better?
I like the fact that you put "possibly" cheap clarinet. I have been thinking of getting a nail-art pen and squiggling something on it - Voila! An "expensive" "little known make" of clarinet
(Please note that I would never write on my clarinet - I was just thinking about it in an "I would never do that" sort of way!)

Just say it was a gift, that you know nothing about it and ask their professional opinion whether it is worth spending any money having it done up. They may say you are better off saving the money towards a better instrument, or that they can make it play beautifully. I'm sure they will have seen some complete ignoramuses in their time. (Like me every time I take one of the children's instruments in and have to have a diagram as to which key needs attention)

I don't think the value of the instrument makes any difference to them really as even the most basic instrument needs maintenance. I play a 'cheap' oboe but that doesn't mean I won't take it for repairs as and when.

As andante says, if you're worried you could always ask them for their opinion on its value as to whether/how soon the repairs will exceed the cost of a new clarinet. But if you like that one then you may prefer to keep playing it regardless of the maintenance costs.

They try to give that impression, but I think they're just jealous really .

My excuse when I asked the people in the Early Music Shop to look at my wooden recorder, because my friend who is a recorder teacher said something about the block, was that I didn't know anything about recorders because my instrument is the piano. They were very friendly and helpful, and said that as it was a cheap recorder the block had been glued in. They did do whatever it was they did to clean it. I ought to add that I was also in there buying a plastic recorder and a stand.

When the London bit of the Early Music Shop was in its previous premises and I was a fledgling recorder player - and even worse than I am now - I went in to seek advice about, indeed to buy, a tenor recorder. In the course of making the purchase I managed to smash one of their glass cabinet doors, causing shards of glass to fly all over the shop.... Few people can have had a more embarrassing first visit to a music shop.

So.. take heart.. however you get on you'll probably not feel as bad as I did after that...

But they were very nice about it, and I was brave enough to go back... eventually..

Really? When I moved from Manchester, everyone thought my accent was 'just beautiful'

Onto the more serious issue though...

1) Business is business - any experienced repaire will never laugh, and even if the worse happens and they don't want to repair it, you could always take it to another one! 2) I had this experience when I wanted to check my violin - which was literally ?50 - and got quoted ?45 to get the tailgut changed! I thought it was definitely the shop being cheeky as my teacher changed it in no time and the tailgut itself only cost 5 pounds. 3) For your enjoyment, get it fixed - and never mind what others say!! Happy Clarinetting!

-From a fellow clarinettist

Andante - It doesn't need much doing to it (that I can see) but I would like someone to sort out the cork and look at her as she's never been looked at (apart from new cork on the joint). It's times like these that I wish I could send my mum in! (She lives 100 miles away)

MrsB - Thank you again! She does play really nicely (maybe because she's mine?)! I really can't afford a new clarinet and I'm hoping, if anything does need to be done, I can do one thing at a time to spread out the cost.

Halka - I think they may be jealous.... . I don't carry a hand-bag for this reason and I always tie my hair back so that I don't see things out of the corner of my eye and turn around quickly.

Pianonotes - That seems like a good idea. My first instrument is/was/who knows voice (clarinet overtook bass guitar as second pretty quickly).

ViolinClarinetQueen - At the moment, I've only found one repairer(?) (I've only lived here 2 years....... ). I think the main problem is finding someone to look at it (I've only just picked it up after a while away from it but I can still remember my pieces from 3 years ago!). I love my clarinet (I used to hug it in orchestra....).

Thank you everyone!
I don't like this grown-up stuff! Before, I could act like a child and ask 'silly' questions and no-one expected me to have a good clarinet but now...

The term 'good clarinet' is bandied around too much. As long as you have a set up that works for you, a descent mouthpiece and nice reads, then that is a good clarinet. I achieved high marks in grades 1-5 on a ?250 Jupiter, the person who plays second clarinet with me in my orchestra uses a plastic instrument (Bb and A) and it's been known that people take grade 8 and beyond on a Buffet B12!

A more expensive instrument CAN help but it's not the be all and end all. You just have to make the best of what you've got - not many people, other than you, really care what instrument you play - it's the sound you produce!

I'm from London, and I don't talk down to anyone! I talk to people on the train on occasion (which seems more of a northern thing - I regularly go up north), and some people as a result no doubt think I'm strange.



Photograph, serial number, distinguishing marks and manufacturer if you can please!

My clarinet teacher does repairs... I could ask him for his details and stuff the next time I see him for you if you want

Sorry if I confused anyone, I'm not in THE big city - it was more of a Babe-Pig In The City reference
I'm in a city that pretends to be a city and people call a city and even has a city centre but it's not a city.


My neighbours are now used to me saying "Good morning". Sometimes, they even smile!

I've sent you some photos!

Don't forget the eye colour!

It's good news and bad news - barry-clari has found out the make (Intermusic) and the company who ordered them (Rikter). They can have leakage problems (possibly because the pads don't sit properly) and the keywork is on the soft side but it isn't as soft as it could be.
They're not as bad as some of the clarinets some people online have compared them to.

Barry-clari's advice goes along with what people have said here - find a friendly repairer and see what they can do!

I was sad about it but there is hope!

No, it's not sad. You like the sound and that's far more important than the name on the front. There are good and bad clarinets of all brands... and different clarinets suit different players. Celebrate that you have found a goodie.

Rikter is a related trade name, not the company who ordered them

Thank you!
I'm just going to try repairers

Barry-Clari - Sorry, I misunderstood. I thought it was like Ford Focus