Klarinet Archive - Posting 000275.txt from 2005/05

From: "Karl Krelove" <karlkrelove@-----.net>
Subj: RE: [kl] Leaky clarinet?
Date: Mon, 16 May 2005 23:03:59 -0400

Any significant escape of air from any of the closed tone holes in the top
section can cause the problem you're describing. A repairman would most
likely use a feeler of some sort (a strip of foil or thin paper) to place
under each pad. A pad that isn't seating correctly will not grab the feeler
equally all around its circumference - may not grab at all if it's badly out
of level or a key is bent so the pad doesn't line up with the hole. He'll
also look closely for pads with torn skins if they're felt pads. You can do
some of this yourself with a strip of cigarette paper (ungummed, or cut the
glued edge off first) or hair-curling paper and a close inspection of the
pads. If you are comfortable about taking keys off you can get a better look
at the pads themselves. If you don't know how to level or replace a pad, a
repair tech can do it for you in a matter of minutes once he's located the
source of the leak.

Blowing through the sealed up section (as Wes suggested) can indicate
whether or not a leaky pad is involved. Reversing the approach and sucking
the air out of the sealed section to see how strong a vacuum you can produce
and how long it will hold can also work. But it's usually hard to pinpoint
the culprit pad. Many shops have vacuum machines with gauges to indicate how
strong a vacuum can be sustained by the section being tested, but you still
have to find the spot(s) where the air is venting.

A repairman I used when I was a teenager used to blow cigarette smoke
through the closed section to see where the smoke would come out. It was a
fairly effective way to locate a leak, but my clarinet smelled of the smoke
for days.

Consider, though, that other causes can cause the same squeaks. A badly
balanced reed, some new tension in your embouchure (could be from any of a
number of sources) or a combination. Try a variety of reeds first. If the
problem persists consistently, then check out the possibility of leaks.

Karl Krelove

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Mark Estano [mailto:rockin442@-----.com]
> Sent: Monday, May 16, 2005 8:37 PM
> To: klarinet@-----.org
> Subject: [kl] Leaky clarinet?
>
>
> Hello everyone!
> I'm hoping someone can give me some advice. I have a
> cheap resonite clarinet I bought on EBay for $50
> ("Concert" brand). It doesn't have great sound, but
> it's been fine for me to teach myself on. The problem
> is, recently when I play the bottom few notes in the
> chalumeau register (G and below), it responds as if
> the thumb key was pressed, and I get the higher note.
> This doesn't happen every time, but more often than
> not I get the 12th. I think the clarinet's leaking,
> but I can't tell from where - does anyone have a
> thought as to why this is happening?
>
>
> "We are the musicmakers, and we are the dreamers of the dreams."
>
>
>
> http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/resources/
>
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