Hello! First time post.
My daughter plays clarinet in her junior high band. She two Bb clarinets: a Vito (not sure which model) which we bought used for about $150, and a backup Monoprice ($100).
Both of them are about 18 months old and are losing pads like crazy. I bought the repair kit from MusicMedic and have been doing my best to replace pads as necessary, but I'm not great at it and would like to get out of the woodwind repair business.
So I have a few questions:
1. Our local band instrument shop quoted us $300 for a full repad on the Vito. Does that sounds reasonable? If so, should I ask them to use a particular brand/model of pads? And how long a warranty would it be reasonable to insist on? (Or put another way, how long does a repad last? Is it normal for pads to fail after 12-18 months of one hour daily use?)
2. If it doesn't make sense to repad the Vito, I'm wiling to buy her a new intermediate clarinet, which she's probably ready for. I assume if I buy, say, a new Yamaha intermediate, I can assume it will have good quality pads, installed properly? Does these things come with a warranty that covers pads?
Thanks very much!
Matthew
Seattle
My daughter plays clarinet in her junior high band. She two Bb clarinets: a Vito (not sure which model) which we bought used for about $150, and a backup Monoprice ($100).
Both of them are about 18 months old and are losing pads like crazy. I bought the repair kit from MusicMedic and have been doing my best to replace pads as necessary, but I'm not great at it and would like to get out of the woodwind repair business.
So I have a few questions:
1. Our local band instrument shop quoted us $300 for a full repad on the Vito. Does that sounds reasonable? If so, should I ask them to use a particular brand/model of pads? And how long a warranty would it be reasonable to insist on? (Or put another way, how long does a repad last? Is it normal for pads to fail after 12-18 months of one hour daily use?)
2. If it doesn't make sense to repad the Vito, I'm wiling to buy her a new intermediate clarinet, which she's probably ready for. I assume if I buy, say, a new Yamaha intermediate, I can assume it will have good quality pads, installed properly? Does these things come with a warranty that covers pads?
Thanks very much!
Matthew
Seattle