Andrew Roberts Clarinet Service Latest News
The Summer of 2015 is going to be a busy time for ARCS, Andrew has been invited to appear at the Texas Clarinet Colloquium in Dallas. This has been made possible by the generous support of Ton Kooiman and D’Addario Reserve reeds. Checkout the details on the Facebook link https://www.facebook.com/events/1400709943562863/?fref=ts
ARCS is finalising the plans for the 2015 Clarinet Academy, which will be held at Liverpool Hope University’s Creative Campus form 1st- 4th August . Keep checking for further update and application forms here.
We hope to make this a hugely enjoyable learning experience for clarinet players of Grade 7 and above standard, or anyone very keen to join in the fun!
At the end of August Andrew will also be on hand offer advice as part of the International Clarinet Course with its director Nicholas Foster, a regular ARCS Customer, at Cheltenham Ladies college for further details click on the link below.
CASS article
Following its recent publication in the CASS magazine (December2014) do please read this article Do we really need music?
Bass clarinet problems
Some players ask why the springing on the clarinet needs to be quite firm, in answer to this read on…..
We have received an interesting bass clarinet into the workshop in the last week which although only a few years old, it demonstrated some problems, which are currently being worked on. Before we started work we thought it would be interesting to show the effect of too weak springing on the bass, or indeed any clarinet! The video shows the energy within the body of the bass clarinet is strong enough to lift the closed pads on the lower joint producing a rattling buzz and a spectacular loss of air and energy, it is impossible for the player to actually fill what is effectively an open tube, with enough air to make this happen.
This loss of air tight seal will significantly affect the intonation as when the pad was pressed closed, the pitch of the note went down by 30 cents. It will also affect the upper register harmonics which may be less obvious but can still be felt.
Click on the link below to see the video of the low F sharp and G sharp pads buzzzzing away!
If you can’t view this here try the Youtube link below!
E flat clarinets
Some years ago I wrote an article on how to play the E flat clarinet, which emphasised the need for the instrument to seal perfectly.
As my own instrument had not had any attention for quite a number of years (actually a millennium has since passed) I realised it was in need of some TLC, as I had been asked to play in Till Eulenspiegel with the Ulster Orchestra. What drew my attention to this was the difficulty I had with the altissimo register and the problems with the tuning in that register. I can report that having got the instrument completely air tight, its normal excellent tuning and ease of production was restored, and the concert last night went well for it … and me!
As the highest register of the Eflat often remains uncharted territory, the difficulties we encounter could easily be attributed to our lack of skill/practise.This is caused by the lack of upper partials/harmonics which simply cannot work if there is a loss of seal. It is nothing short of a revelation to find that a top C on the Eflat is relatively easy to achieve, which although it may not appear in the repertoire very often, does make the notes below it feel much feel comfortable and easier to control. If you would like more information on this please contact me, you could find out just how much you are losing out to your instrument!
Read the latest testimonial from a recent customer below
Upon visiting Andys workshop/home, I realised straight away that this was a man who knew his business. A close inspection of my Selmer 10S clarinet which I’ve owned for over 30 years, using technology along side his own expertise and experience, soon established what was needed. You don’t often find a very accomplished clarinettist who is also top notch in the repair/ overhaul business. This is exactly what Andy is, making modifications to my instrument so the throat notes sing out much better, and a double top C which can now be played with relative ease. A true professional whose aim is to bring the very best out of each instrument he gets his eager hands on.
20.9.2014
Silverstein Ligatures
We are pleased to announce that from August 2014 ARCS will be one of the few distributors for the outstanding Silverstein Ligatures, check out their site here http://www.silversteinworks.com/ligature/
We have a full stock of clarinet and bass clarinet ligatures available to try but hurry as they are proving very popular!
A very high quality product, which carries a limited life-time guarantee, this innovative design is proving very popular amongst players in the UK already. Keep checking here for pricing and availability.
My good friend Les Craven wrote an interesting article on the Silverstein ligatures which you can read here CASS-article-copy
Reserve reeds
The New Reserve and Reserve Classic reeds are now available through this website. After a period of substantial trials with many players around the UK involved, Reserve reeds now have a new profile and are proving very popular. Why not try them for yourself? Check out the D’Addario website here
New ARCS instruments in stock
ARCS now has a larger range of pre-owned clarinets in stock, check them out in the for sale section of the site including a very rare pair of Leblanc Concerto clarinets!
Advertise your second hand instruments
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.
Testimonials
I first met Andrew, just after I joined the Ulster Orchestra three years ago, having tried his clarinets during a rehearsal I realised that my ageing Buffet clarinets were not performing as well as they could. This was mostly due to the wear over 15 years since I had never been brave enough to allow any repairer to work on my instruments as I was scared that they might change in the wrong way. Andrew worked on my clarinets in an emergency and it was clear to me that he understood my demands for the instruments. I eventually got the courage to take my instruments to the ARCS workshop in Liverpool and stayed with them to check that everything was done to my satisfaction. I was so happy with the work that was done to my instruments that meant I could play with so much more security and control, this is important to me as the clarinet sound should be flexible and easy to change colours and dynamics. I also found that legato was now much easier to achieve than I had thought possible. During our work together in the Ulster Orchestra I began to trust Andrew’s tuning ability, which is unusual as most repairers cannot play to the highest levels you need to change the tuning of an instrument for another player. I now feel I have the right tuning and setup with my clarinets for the first time in my life, I don’t know anyone else in the UK or in Europe that I trust in this way. My friends, many Principal clarinets around Europe, have been made to try my clarinets and they were all shocked as to how well they worked and how quiet the ARCS pads were. The ease of legato which no other pad has allowed before was a big surprise. I now send my friends and students to ARCS to find out for themselves what they have been missing in their clarinets! A huge thank you to a friend that has made my life easier Francesco Paolo Scola Principal Clarinet Ulster Orchestra