 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Brett
Date: 2003-01-18 02:30
Just a question/observation that I'd like to get some information about. Those of you who have seen any of my previous posts know, I recently purchased a Buffet Festival Model- Greenline. While I was playing it the 2nd day I had it, I set it down for a few moments, then picked it up again to play. When I put air through it, a fair amount of the notes wouldn't play through the whole range of the instrument. There was simply no way to get it to produce a sound other than a squeak. I don't exactly remember which ones, but whole sections of registers just wouldn't play. After a brief panic, I finally discovered that the little screw on the A key (the one that contacts the G# key at the top of the instrument) was screwed in too far. I loosened it a bit and the instrument played fine. Over the next day or two, it would sort of tighten itself, like most clarinets with "phantom screws" which seem to loosen or tighten themselves (I hope other people have had this same experience with a screw on their clarinets so you know what I'm talking about), but it seemed to settle down and not adjust much after playing the instrument for a week or so. My question is, why does that screw on the A key cause entire sections of register to just stop playing if it's tightened too much? It didn't seem to adversely effect it when it was loosened too much, only when tightened. Any info or comments would be appreciated. Thanks
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Author: Peter
Date: 2003-01-18 02:44
It opens the key and vents the instrument, creating a "leak."
Whenever I've had such problems, I put the TINIEST drop of nail polish over the head and around the edges of the head, so when it dries, it will hold the screw in place.
The idea is to fill the slot at the head of the screw and stick it to the sides of the screw casing, impeding any further movement of the screw.
If you need to move the screw at a later date, if you used little enough of it, it should readily crack off, if not, the TINIEST drop of acetone will loosen it.
Let me stress the point:
DON'T put the nail polish on the threads before you adjust the screw! Just the TINIEST drop over and around the head of the screw.
Do this carefully and you won't get any on the instrument itself. If it still moves after you do this, call Ghostbusters!
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Author: Bob
Date: 2003-01-18 15:06
Are we talking about a metal screw or a plastic one?
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Author: Peter
Date: 2003-01-18 20:08
Wow, Bob, it never occured to me to ask!
Probably because, although I've seen some, I've never had a clarinet with a plastic screw anywhere. You are absolutely on the right track.
Brett,
If the screw is plastic, don't use nail polish or glue on it.
Instead, back the screw all the way out. Take the thinnest sowing thread you can find and slip one single strand into the screw casing, then replace the screw with the thread in place.
When you finish doing that and have the screw properly adjusted, take a new razor blade and just touch the thread with it, right even with the top and bottom of the casing, while gently pulling the end of the thread to slice it off without damaging the nylon screw.
The volume added inside the screw casing by the thread will help to tighten the screw in the casing and keep the screw from turning.
If the screw is too tight and you have much difficulty putting it in with the thread in place, don't force it. Either find a thinner thread or take it to a tech to replace the plastic screw with a metal one. (Many of these clarinets have predecessors and the plastic threads will often be the same as the old metal ones.)
If, on the other hand, the screw is still too loose, add a strand of thread until you feel a very slight bit of resistance as you are putting the screw back in.
That should help.
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Author: Kat
Date: 2003-01-19 04:28
HAH! Phantom screws...I know the phenomenon all too well, but still am not sure whether it's the screws in my students' clarinets that decide to act up in a lesson. Then they go all normal-like when we walk down the hall to the repair guy!
Never happens when the mechanic's there...
GRR!!!
(LOL!)
Katrina
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Author: Brett
Date: 2003-01-19 04:33
Katrina:
I hear you. LOL.
Bob & Peter:
It is a plastic screw and I consulted my teacher on this. He concurred with your views. Thanks for all the input.
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Author: Bob
Date: 2003-01-19 17:08
There has been at least one prior thread on this "nylon" screw. Of all the thermoplastics nylon has the or about the worst tendency to swell with high humidity and then shrink with low.
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