Klarinet Archive - Posting 000417.txt from 2006/03

From: Tony Pay <tony.p@-----.org>
Subj: Re: [kl] Rossi quality flaw
Date: Tue, 21 Mar 2006 05:09:44 -0500

On 21 Mar, Bill Hausmann <bhausmann1@-----.net> wrote:

> At 03:11 AM 3/20/2006 +0000, Bruce M. wrote:
>
> > > You mean a key played with the right hand pinkie, right?
> >
> > No. Per my post, first finger right hand. Four keys in a row. On the
> > upper joint.
> >
> > Not the four keys on the lower joint played with the RH pinky, E/B,
> > F#/C#, F/C, G#/D#.
>
> Those are pretty much universally sprung with flat springs, held onto the
> keys by small screws. I have never seen one done with a needle spring.
> Your problem is most likely a loose or missing screw and/or spring.

The only explanation for your response here that I can think of, Bill, is
that you didn't read, or perhaps even receive the post in which Bruce said:

> Unlike what I've seen on other clarinets, the spring is a needle spring
> (not a leaf spring) set into the body of the clarinet (not on the key
> itself) perpendicular to the long axis of the key. The key has a boss (or
> "nib," or "protrubrance") on the underside that acts as the lever arm, tiny
> though it is.
>
> Think of a cross with one long arm. The long arm is the key, the short arm
> is the needle spring. Beneath the axis is this small boss which is grooved
> to hold the spring, and set in such a way that the spring provides tension
> to keep the key closed.
>
> What happened is that this little boss broke off. Whether it is soldered on
> to the key or part of the rest of the key when it was molded is unclear to
> me. My guess is that it was part of the key, not soldered on, because it's
> so small, because the area exposed when it came off is rough, and because
> it just plain doesn't look like a soldering job.

So, I, like you, originally thought (sorry, Bruce) that a lot of fuss was
being made about something that I would regard as trivial -- probably even
something that I could repair myself quite simply. Yet, clearly, this
problem ain't trivial to fix.

The way the thread has gone suggests to me that Luis will make sure that your
clarinet is put to rights. (Perhaps he'll need to send another key, if the
boss is really integral.)

Meanwhile, it's worth knowing that a rubber band can almost always be pressed
into service as a replacement for a spring. Just having a strand of rubber
stretched over the cup that holds the pad is usually enough, and it's worth
getting some practice in the sort of rubber-band geometry that will ensure
this for various keys. Many a concert has been salvaged with a humble rubber
band, and here you have an opportunity to imagine how.

Of course, I know that you don't want to sully your beautiful Rossi with
anything *humble* -- but, grit your teeth....:-)

Tony
--
_________ Tony Pay
|ony:-) 79 Southmoor Rd tony.p@-----.org
| |ay Oxford OX2 6RE http://classicalplus.gmn.com/artists
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... D'y'no know No-No-Nanette?

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