We wish you all a
2019 has been a busy year for Andrew Roberts Clarinet Service, apologies for the lack updates on this site, we can either rebuild and improve instruments or make the website up to date, but struggle to do both at the moment!
As you will guess the workshop is super busy with customers from around Europe, the US and the Far East paying us visits and sending their instruments for the ARCS special service.
We hope you have had a good year and will look forward to speaking and working with you in 2020!
Further updates will arrive soon with pre owned instruments arriving on a regular basis our sales are also thriving watch this space…..
Missing a Key? Our bespoke service might be just what you need!
During a recent overhaul of an older Selmer Bass Clarinet the absence of the left hand low D key was causing a problem. Selmer no longer carry stock of key for that model and the original was lost in a house move. By coincidence a second Selmer of the same age came into the workshop and provided the perfect template for a copy to be made see photos below.
First stage key shape sawn out by hand
First stage key shape sawn out by hand
Second stage soldering the touch piece
Third stage filing to the right shape
Final stage silver plated to look like original
Final stage silver plated to look like original
Checking length of touch piece
Fitting the tube to the right length and position
Third stage filing to the right shape
Final stage silver plated to look like original
Advertise your second hand instruments
New Stock now available!
Want to sell your second hand instruments then advertise your second hand clarinets somewhere that will attract interest. With some many hits our website offers the perfect place to add you instrument, include a picture and make it sell quickly. Why pay too much commission? Our initial commission rate of just 5% is the lowest available and will mean you get more cash from your instrument sale. Ask about our enhanced sales offer, you can’t lose! Contact us at sales@theclarinet.co.uk for further details.
New Price!
We have delighted to say that we can now offer the last few remaining older Mk 2 models of the outstanding bass clarinet crooks with a 20% discount! The price for the MK3 is slightly higher please call for the current prices for all models, if you haven’t tried one yet this is the time to see what it can do for your bass clarinet – its a bit like adding a turbo charger
Current stock list below
1 x Selmer MK2 RA HH gold plate
2 x Buffet MK2 SA HH gold plate
I x Selmer MK3 SA HH gold plate
1X Buffet Tosca MK3 SA HH gold plate
Latest customers reviews
I am very happy with the work you’ve done on my clarinet. It’s probably the best I’ve ever known my instrument, it plays with ease and silently for the first time ever! I wish Buffet actually set up their instruments like this from new! It’s really obvious how much my instrument had deteriorated I was working quite hard for an airy unfocussed sound but had just adjusted over time, but no more! I’m delighted with the ease of response , the beautiful consistent tone across all registers and the ease of producing the wide leaps and large slurs across registers. I have found that I can drop a couple of my venting fingerings as the intonation and tone colours have all improved too. The most surprising improvement was how much more alive and immediate the sound was, with no wasted air the dynamic response is more obvious and has more subtlety. The pianissimos were amazing! The “niente” effect was just magical when I discovered how easy it is now! The cleanliness of articulation is also better especially with staccato attacks. Everything I’ve read and head about your brilliant overhauls has been proved, I am absolutely delighted and look forward to being able to concentrate on the music rather than the technique in my playing – shame it’s 10pm – I want to practice again!!
Rob Cox
Freelance player and teacher
My Buffet RC Prestige is now 35 years old and had been subjected to ten years of heavy use since you last serviced it.
The whole instrument has been restored to its former glory. I would even go so far as to say that it now plays better-than-new thanks to the new ARCS MK5 pads you have fitted. These, in combination with the felt you use instead of cork, make for a totally noiseless action. It’s a small but vital point, and one I wasn’t expecting, but I love the cushioned thumbrest you have created. I was previously thinking of trying something like the Kooiman thumbrest but the cushioning you have provided on the existing thumbrest suits me well and is really comfortable. Overall the marked improvements are:
Intonation – noticeably improved in the altissimo register.
Speaking – rapid staccato tonguing is now a joy across all registers and notes that were sometimes reluctant, such as top D, now speak freely.
Tone – is improved and is more flexible at all dynamic levels. The bottom register is also beautifully rich.
Keywork – somehow the keys feel tighter into the instrument. There is an evenness in the action that allows your fingers to “ripple around”. It’s fun!
In a word, the clarinet is now effortless. It finally sounds like me, rather than like me fighting to be me. Many thanks for your expertise in restoring a much-loved instrument.
Chris Evans MA
Solo Clarinet, Waterloo Band of The Rifles
After trying a colleagues clarinet that had just been overhauled by ARCS I thought it was about time my own Buffet R13 deserved an overhaul.
What a difference this made I was literally blown away, what a transformation, it plays better than new, not really surprised as it was losing at least 30% of its air tight seal !! Very quiet keywork, his own designed pads seal the tone holes beautifully, now it’s a real pleasure to play.
Andrew also advised that the bell required some attention due to this being dropped, this was repaired with carbon fibre, again wonderful job.
Andrew is a genius, I highly recommend him and I will certainly use him again
Robert Ghigi
Army Musician
Thank you Andy for the fantastic work you have done overhauling both my A and Bb clarinets. I was beginning to feel frustrated that the clarinets were stuffy and not projecting fully across the range, plus the key work was noisy, and didn’t sit correctly under my fingers. The main difference now is that they play freely and I feel like they are working with me, rather than against me. I now feel that I don’t have to work as hard to achieve the result I want. Thank you also for cleaning them up and making them look like new again. I would highly recommend your overhaul service to colleagues and pupils’
Emily Anderson, clarinet teacher RWCMD Junior Conservatoire
I have only known Andy personally a short time, but I have been aware of him for considerably longer, having blown several colleagues instruments that have had the ‘ARCS’ magic performed on them. He worked on my B&H 1010, improving the C#/G# note by removing and fitting a custom C#/G# tone hole and reshaping the key. He also tweaked and altered the shape and feel of the key-work to make it feel more like a Buffet. What a massive improvement. He has since gone on to adjust my R13 ‘A’ clarinet to correct two very stuffy notes, and has done a complete overhaul of My Buffet S1 Bb clarinet using his latest Mk 5 pads.
Andy is a genius, not only is he a wonderful soloist/clarinet player himself, but is also a marvellous technician. He is able to offer his personal knowledge of playing to advise you and then execute the highest level of workmanship to his repairs, modifications and overhauls. He is very easy to communicate with, and from the very outset, it is clear that he knows everything there is to know about clarinets. He is also able to offer advise on everything from posture to mouthpiece choice, (I am now using a Brad Behn mouthpiece purchased from Andy).
Thanks so much Andy.
Mike Read, freelance woodwind Specialist and Tutor Leicestershire
Just wanted to drop you a line as promised and tell you how pleased I am with the overhaul you did on my Bb clarinet. The whole thing is balanced beautifully and plays so evenly and smoothly! It responds like a new instrument. It’s always daunting handing over an instrument for repairs, but I know how seriously you take your work and so I knew I could trust you to do your absolute best for me. You didn’t disappoint! Your patience in helping me get to the bottom of an issue which had been plaguing me (and other instrument technicians!) for months was greatly appreciated. I can’t wait to get the A done now. Thank you so much for the new lease of life you’ve given to my much-loved Buffet
Anne Harper Freelance clarinettist Belfast
New videos section added
We hope you will find this new section helpful, new items will be added as often as we can however, the workshop is very busy right now so it may take a while. Just click on the link in the menu bar to see the videos on the importance of the correct thumbrest/position and the recent concerts!
New Pre owned stock now available
We now have some additions to the pre owned stock of clarinets
Check the revised list on the for sale section for more exciting additions including ligatures!
Latest arrivals now awaiting preparation in the Andrew Roberts Clarinet Service workshop include a rare Buffet S1 in fantastic condition
A rare pair of Leblanc Concerto clarinets in great condition as well as several Leblanc Opus,B flats some in unused condition, and a lovely Concerto 11, which has now been sold!
