Klarinet Archive - Posting 000640.txt from 1997/06

From: Gary Hopkins <ghopkins@-----.net>
Subj: Re: Humidity?
Date: Sat, 28 Jun 1997 08:47:57 -0400

Donna, some repairmen will put "seats" in the pads that are entirely too
deep. For some reason they think that it looks better, or that the customer
will think it looks better. After the clarinet is played for a few days, or
weeks, those pads will tend to swell. The seats come out of the pad. When
that happens it makes the pad touch the tonehole in the back before it
touches in the front. Take your clarinet to a repair shop, and have the pads
re-adjusted. Ask the repairman to make sure the pads are level, and to not
put deep seats in them. While it is there you may want to get the repairman
to check the fit of the middle tenon. The wood has changed enough, because
of the humidity or temperature, to cause the joint to stick. He can remove
just enough of the wood to make sure it won't happen. Do make sure he
doesn't remove too much. Once it has been scraped out it can't be replaced.
I'd suggest taking it to somebody that has a good reputation, and not just
any repairman.

Gary

At 08:20 AM 6/28/97 -0400, you wrote:
>I purchased a 1960's era Buffet R-13, had it overhauled, and have been
>playing it since April 97. We have had some humid weather recently and
>I'm having a few problems. The Lower E,F,and F# play OK, but the B,C,C#
>played with the register key are just about impossible to get the notes
>to play. In addition I have not been able to take apart the two sections
>of my clarinet been the barrel and the next section (I have been
>greasing the corks). I'm assuming it the humidity. Tanks in advance for
>your input.
>
>Donna
>
>