The Clarinet Web Site - Overhaul and Repair Service

The aim of The Clarinet Overhaul Service is to offer the discerning player an instrument that will truly play to its highest potential.

Showing how good, or bad, the airtight seal of any clarinet has been a problem, until now.

With the exciting news of the arrival of a Microhelic testing machine at the workshop of The Clarinet Overhaul Service, clarinettists can now see for themselves the results of their investment!

The arrival of this testing machine will allow any customer to see the state of their instrument on arrival, and to see the percentage improvement that will result from the service.

Unlike other testing devices, this machine produces a positive air pressure (which closely resembles the players air input) in the sealed clarinet, and will show the degree of leakage in each joint.

The acoustical and mechanical design of the clarinet has always fascinated Andrew and so it has been a great privilege for him to be able to work along side some of the world's experts in this field for more than 10 years.

Through his work in the clarinet production facilities in both France and the US, Andrew has tried and tested hundreds of clarinets and accessories, enabling him to acquire an up-to-date working knowledge of new developments and ideas. He has been able to assist hundreds of clarinet students and professional players through his clinic days and Summer schools.

He has learnt to maintain, improve and overhaul clarinets with the help and encouragement of master craftsmen like Tom Ridenour (USA), William Simmons (UK) and Wolfgang Lohff (Denmark).

The importance of the airtight seal in any woodwind instrument is critical, yet many clarinet players have never actually tried a clarinet that has a true seal. The symptoms that would indicate a problem with a clarinet include difficulties with high notes speaking freely, resistance (requiring more effort to blow) and squeaking. Often players attribute these difficulties to lack of control or even ability. However, a properly set-up instrument will allow the player to concentrate on the music and performance, leaving the player wondering why they waited so long for such an overhaul.

The advantages of a reliable key-work action and an airtight seal transform the instrument and thus producing greater enjoyment for all players.

Andrew’s ability to assess the problems with any clarinet, and test the finished instruments to the highest standard, makes this service unique.

This service will aim to deliver instruments that will out perform any factory standard instrument.

How to book the service

To access this service, and to ensure customer satisfaction, there is a quick Internet booking facility for overhauling and improving clarinets at a reasonable cost, with a commitment to the completion time.

If you are unsure whether your instrument needs an overhaul, a unique "testing service" is available for a minimal charge of just £20 or €30 (plus return shipping charges). This will provide the owner with a detailed report of the work required, and will involve some oiling and small adjustments.

To achieve this standard takes many hours of detailed and precise work. As an introductory offer (for a limited period depending on current workload) a full overhaul including the above detailed work will be available for £295 (€450) inclusive (plus return shipping). There is a waiting list so customers are advised to book early.

To discuss your needs further, contact Andrew Roberts via or via his UK personal telephone +44 7968 555 534

Endorsements

"Les Craven had told me about Andy's unique method of overhauling clarinets at a time when my E flat was in need of repair. When I got it back it was literally like a different instrument - far better than new. It is testimony to how pleased I was that within 2 weeks of this I had booked in my B flat and A clarinets for the same treatment. I now have them back and they are playing better than I knew clarinets could play. Now that Andy has attended to all the sealing and venting I feel that an obstacle between myself and the music has been removed. It is his attention to tiny detail that makes the huge difference. I would recommend this service to anyone who is serious about getting the best out of themselves and their instrument."
Jane Calderbank.
Glyndebourne Touring Opera

"I would like to recommend the clarinet overhaul to any professional clarinettist. Andy's service is excellent; it covers every single aspect with great detail and care to ensure that the instrument plays to its full potential. Now my clarinet is air-tight it allows me to persuade it to play in the way that I want it to. It responds instantly at all ranges and dynamics and is no longer stuffy and resistant The main difference is being able to perform without being distracted by the flaws of the clarinet-I no longer have noisy keys or poor intonation that I have to compensate for. Thework on the tone holes has improved the intonation vastly and it is such a nice change to play a clarinet that is actually in tune! Aside from the brilliant technical work, Andy sent my clarinet back beautifully polished and looking brand new!"
Emily Heathcote

"I almost didn’t believe they were my clarinets when I opened the box - they looked at least 10 years younger! Andrew has done a great job with my Selmer Recital clarinets. I am very fond of these instruments, but after 15 years of heavy professional use, they were getting to the stage where I thought they might be approaching retirement if something wasn’t done soon, and now they have been given a new lease of life. On an aesthetic level they look wonderful. I have had quite a few keys re-plated and the rest have been polished to a lovely shine. But the best improvement is in their feel when I play. Andrew has regulated the key-work and springing so that they feel even and responsive, without any slack. The pads seal perfectly so that the instruments respond immediately at every dynamic level.
Some excellent repairers have worked on my clarinets in the past, but I think that Andrew’s attention to detail and, (as a fine clarinettist himself) his knowledge of what sounds and feels right, makes his repair service special. I don’t think my clarinets have ever been this good."
Daniel Rye
Freelance clarinettist

'I instantly recognised a vast improvement when playing my clarinet after Andrew's overhaul. I could finally hear my true sound without the interference of the clicks of keywork that I previously had, and with this I am able to achieve a lot more variety to the colour of sound. The perfect seal that Andrew has achieved enables legato lines over large leaps very smoothly. I would recommend this service to any serious minded clarinettist completely.'
Tom Jackson
Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama

When I attended the Clarinet Summer School last year I was thinking about changing my clarinet. Many people, including Les Craven commented on the nice tone of my instrument, but it was a shame that it didn’t seal very well, amongst other things!
The key-work had too much play in, the tones holes were damaged, springs were too weak screws randomly loosened themselves. When it was tested by Wolfgang Lohff on his machine, my clarinet had the worst seal on the course, all this and my clarinet is less than four years old.
Deciding I loved my clarinet (and couldn’t afford a new one) I turned to Andy’s overhaul service and was astounded at the difference it made. Within a week Andy transformed my clarinet from a tired intermediate instrument with a nice tone, to a fully responsive, non wobbly and 100% airtight sealing top notch instrument.
It plays better now than when I first bought the instrument.
The overhaul has meant that I no longer have to worry if my clarinet will respond properly, and I can now concentrate on my performance with a confidence in my instrument I’ve never had before.
Elizabeth Prayle

" I certainly noticed the difference to my elderly 1010s after Andy's extensive overhaul. Not only did the clarinets look much better, but the tone seemed more mellow and focused. The intonation of a few notes which I had previously been unhappy with was improved, and the sound seemed freer, particularly in the altissimo register. This was definetely money well spent."
Neill Carroll

"Since having my clarinet overhauled by Andrew Roberts I have noticed a huge improvement in my instrument's performance and, as a result, my standard of performance. I hadn't realised that my ten year old Leblanc Opus had so many small imperfections that were making my life as a musician more difficult than it needed to be.
Before it's service the most noticeable problem was the noisiness of the keys, but the keywork is now virtually silent. The smooth keywork action has made my legato playing much more fluent, and playing really smoothly over the break and in other difficult areas now seems effortless. As there is much less movement in the keys I find that my fingers can relax more as they have to travel smaller distances.
Another huge difference has been the improved tuning in all registers, most noticeably on the throat notes and the altissimo notes. I used to have to compensate quite noticeably to make these notes reasonably in tune, but I now find that I can play with the same embouchure and set up on all notes without having to adjust in order to be in tune. When my friends and colleagues have tried the instrument they have immediately commented on the marked improvement that this service has made and I would highly recommend it to anyone... you will feel like you have a brand new instrument in perfect playing order! I think it's a small price to pay for such a thorough overhaul and I'm already saving to have my other clarinets done! "
Jude Hood

"I'd like to whole-heartedly recommend Andy's clarinet overhaul service. Like many, I was sceptical to begin with, as I've had my clarinet looked at several times at different places. With a fair amount of money spent so far, I didn't know if it was worth trying again. Nevertheless, as I am starting a short one-year postgraduate course, I felt it was worth a shot, and can honestly say I am really pleased.
My clarinet plays like a dream, the best it's ever sounded and I feel the most comfortable I've ever been with it. It's had such a thorough job done, I know I'll be good to go for several years. Plus, with the long guarantee ( 3years) I trust that he's done his best and that if anything were to go wrong, it will be put right at no extra cost.
I also really appreciated the time Andy took with me to explain what would need to be done, why it was necessary, and how it could help, and learnt a great deal. Some might say that the best players can play on any instrument and make it work beautifully, however, for the less super-human clarinettists among us...a kickstart from a real working instrument is priceless."
Natasha