Klarinet Archive - Posting 001177.txt from 1998/12

From: Jack Kissinger <kissingerjn@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re: [kl] Care (Maintenance) and Feeding of Clarinets
Date: Wed, 30 Dec 1998 11:54:21 -0500

Since I haven't seen anyone else step forward, I will take a shot at this. Here
is a list of repair manuals from a quick scan of our Merlin library system. I
can't really recommend one because I haven't looked all that closely at any of
them.

The band director's guide to instrument repair [by] R. F. "Peg" Meyer. Edited by
Willard I. Musser. Published Port Washington, N.Y., Alfred Pub. Co. [c1973]

Complete guide to the maintenance and repair of band instruments / Kenneth A.
Mueller; illustrations by Patricia E. Nigl. Published West Nyack, N.Y. : Parker
Pub. Co., c1982.

Maintenance and repair of wind and percussion instruments : a handbook for
directors and instrumentalists / George H. Springer. Published Boston : Allyn
and Bacon, c1976.

Maintenance and repair of band instruments; for band directors and
instrumentalists, by George H. Springer. Published Boston, Allyn and Bacon
[1970]

Band instrument repairing manual / by Erick D. Brand. Published Elkhart, Ind. :
[s.n.], c1946. Edition 4th ed.

Practical band instrument repair manual / Clayton H. Tiede. Published Dubuque,
Iowa : W. C. Brown Co., c1976. Edition 3d ed.

Instrument repair for the music teacher / by Burton Stanley ; photos by Rick
Washik. Published Sherman Oaks, CA : Alfred Pub. Co., c1978.

I believe that most of these are out of print. Depending on your local library
system and interlibrary loan capabilities, you might be able to obtain some of
them. Some of them have also turned up on the eBay auction in the past. The
only one that is currently available, to the best of my knowledge, is the Erick
Brand repair manual. It is available (perhaps exclusively) from Ferree's Tools,
1477 E. Michigan Ave., Battle Creek, Michigan, 49014-8950. ($22.50 plus
shipping). The WATS line is (800) 253-2261.

They have a small web site at: http://www.backbone1.com/ferree/

Some of the list members are repair techs and have contributed (IMHO) very useful
articles on cleaning, oiling, pad replacement, tenon cork replacement and
regulation. You can find these on Sneezy at:

http://www.sneezy.org/clarinet/Equipment/Care/index.html

I don't recall seeing anywhere the order to remove and replace keys on a
clarinet. The process is sort of like pick-up sticks, though. Find the easiest
key to remove and take it off first, etc. Keep a list of things as you remove
them so you can put them back in reverse order. You will also save yourself alot
of grief if you don't get rods and pivot screws mixed up. Ferree's can sell you
a low-cost holder to keep things straight. I have generally used plastic
sandwich bags. I will give you the order that I tend to follow. Others on the
list may have some variations:

Upper Joint:

1. G# throat key
2. A throat key
3. Register key
4. 1st (bottom) right-hand trill key
5. 2nd trill key
6. 3rd and 4th trill keys
7. Bottom ring section/top ring section
8. C#/G# key
9 Thumb ring
10. Eb/Bb sliver key

Lower Joint:

1. Bottom screw for right-hand E/B key (and disconnect spring). (In
reassembly, I have found that leaving this screw and spring for last makes it
easier to reconnect the G#/Eb and F/C key springs.)

2. (Right-hand) F/C rod and F/C key (crowfoot)
3. G#/Eb key
4. (Right-hand) E/B key
5. Bottom screw for (right-hand) F#/C# key
6. (Right/hand) F#/C# key
7. (Left-hand) F/C key
8. (Left-hand) E/B and F#/C# keys
9. Rings
10. Sliver key
11. C# top screw (if what you are doing requires its removal)

There. It's done. At least this is a starting point that others more
knowledgeable than I can suggest additions/modifications. I need to stop this
message before Mark gets after me for using excessive bandwidth. ;^)

Best regards,
Jack Kissinger
St. Louis

Krug261@-----.com wrote:

> Can anyone suggest a book/manual on the maintenance of clarinets?? I'm a
> beginner and at the point where I want to care for it myself. But the
> prospect of removing keys (e.g., in what order?), repading, etc. is more than
> a little unnerving.
>
> Suggestions would be appreciated.
>
> Bob, NYC
> krug261@-----.com
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------

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