Contrabass Digest
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1998-06-22

 
list                           Mon, 22 Jun 1998            Volume 1 : Number 9

In this issue:
 

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Date: Sun, 21 Jun 1998 22:57:09 -0400
From: Jim Lande <lande@erols.com>
To: list@contrabass.com
Subject: Charles Fail rebuild

You all may recall that I bought a very old Leblanc model 408
curved metal contrabass from Charles Fail, Inc.   The horn
came with a brand new case and cost less than $1800.  Fail
said that they would completely restore the horn and gave me a
3 day approval period.   It played poorly, but I kept it.  I finally
took it in for adjustments.  I sent the following message to Fail
a week ago.
 
>       You may recall that I purchased a LeBlanc curved model 408 last
>       January.  I finally took it to a shop that has a guy who
>       regularly works on large clarinets and saxes.
>
>       He was not much impressed with your restoration.  To start with,
>       he replaced two pads and said that a few others were >       questionable.
>       (Indeed, there is still one bad note, but I can't find any
>       obvious problem using feeler paper.)  There were several places
>       where one key presses another and you had corked both sides.
>       These cork against cork connections made the action very slow
>       and made the keys very hard to press.  One spring was in
>       backwards at the top if the horn.  One post had to be moved
>       a short distance so that the rod would work properly.
>       He thought that it was inappropriate to use hot glue to
>       seal' together the two main sections of the horn.  He removed
>       the glue and instead fabricated a piece so that there is now a
>       screw holding the two sections together.
>
>       Given the amount of work, the $150 charge seems very reasonable.
>       This, however, was more than I thought would be required since
>       I was expecting that the horn was fully restored.
 
Fail has not replied.   My question is, given the price of the horn
do I really have a reason to complain.    PS: It is a lot more fun to
play now that it has been fixed.
 
Jim Lande

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Date: Sun, 21 Jun 1998 23:46:46 EDT
From: <NINEWINDS@aol.com>
To: list@contrabass.com
Subject: Bass Clarinet for sale

I have a Yamaha bass clarinet for sale . Excellent condition plays to Low C.
$3000.00

Vinny

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Date: Mon, 22 Jun 1998 10:56:27 -0400
From: Edward Branham <ebb@modus.com>
To: lande@erols.com
Cc: list@contrabass.com, cfail@mindspring.com
Subject: Re: Charles Fail rebuild

This does not sound like typical Charles Fail quality.  Check the Deja News archives
and you'll find lots of comment about Fail.  After several years in sax, clarinet, &
woodwind news groups & list servs, this is the first negative comment I've heard about
his service.

I'm a happy customer of his, having purchased an alto sax & bass sax from him.  He has
also provided great repair service for my R-13 sop. clarinet.

Please post Fail's reply when you get it.
 

Edward Branham
Satisfied Customer

Jim Lande wrote:
> You all may recall that I bought a very old Leblanc model 408
> curved metal contrabass from Charles Fail, Inc.   The horn
> came with a brand new case and cost less than $1800.  Fail
> said that they would completely restore the horn and gave me a
> 3 day approval period.   It played poorly, but I kept it.  I finally
> took it in for adjustments.  I sent the following message to Fail
> a week ago.
------------------------------

Date: Mon, 22 Jun 1998 20:48:25 -0400
From: Jim Lande <lande@erols.com>
To: ebb@modus.com
Cc: list@contrabass.com, cfail@mindspring.com
Subject: Re: Charles Fail rebuild

Edward

        I have heard nothing but good things about Charles Fail.  I don't
dispute that the price was very low.  Still, it shouldn't have
had bad pads and it is clear (to me) that there were more than simple
adjustment problems.  I now have a response from Russel Fail and I will
post it to the list.  They make the point that I did not ask for
anything in my letter.  Maybe nothing was appropriate.
        It doesn't help that I have not enjoyed the contrabass nearly as much
as playing the contraalto.  I think the instrument is just too low for
me.  Well, nobody is going to solve that for me.

        regards
        jim

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 22 Jun 1998 21:41:55 -0400
From: Jim Lande <lande@erols.com>
To: list@contrabass.com
Subject: Charles Fail Replies

OK, Charles Fail has gotten back to me and I assume that they don't
mind me posting their reply.  I had briefly tried two contrabasses
before i bought the instrument and simply assumed that it would not be
much different from playing a contra alto.  I can't blame Fail Inc. for
me not being crazy about the horn.  Still, I don't think it was right
when it left their shop.  That's my opinion.  I think that there are
folks on this list who have a whole lot more experiance buying big horns
and getting same repaired.  Maybe there are some lessons here that will
benefit other beginners.

> Recently you sent us an email describing how unhappy you were with a
> purchase you made six months ago.  We have not replied because the
> tone of your letter indicated to me that you merely wished to complain
> since it asked nothing of us.  It has been brought
> to our attention that you have posted your letter on some newsgroups.
> First, there are many times in woodwind repair that cork must be
> against cork.  This is how many makers of woodwinds (including
> Leblanc) designed their instruments.  Second, the older
> Leblanc contra you purchased from us never had a locking mechanism
> between the two joints.
> Third, the fact that a post needed to be adjusted is not surprising.
> Transporting contra bass clarinets long distances is always difficult
> no matter how much care is taken.  Keys are easily knocked out of
> adjustment.

> We provided you an excellent instrument at a very good price.  An
> instrument that at the time, several others
> wanted as well.  We also gave you ample time to evaluate the
> instrument and return it for a full refund if you so desired.  We
> would have also been happy to perform any sevice needed on your
> contra to keep the instrument in good order had you come to us first
> with your problems.

> We  have literally hundreds of satisfied customers who have
> told us on many occassions how happy they were with both the quality
> of instruments they purchased and with the high level of service they
> recieved.  We find it difficult to understand why you have chosen
> to deal with this  in  the manner you have.

> Russell Fail

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End of list V1 #9
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