 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: MarlboroughMan
Date: 2012-08-03 21:16
Hello everyone--
I just got in a Selmer BT, "Full" Boehm. The sound is incredible...just the sort of thing I'm looking for.
My one concern is that there seems a crack which runs between the articulated G# pads on the top of the lower joint. It doesn't effect the response, and as there is a metal sleeve inside the top joint, there seems no possibility that it would bother the horn, because it can't get to the bore....but I'm concerned simply because it's a crack.
I've heard this is a common problem with articulated G# mechanisms.
Is this enough of a concern to return it? It would be a shame....it might be the best sounding horn I've played.
(I'm particularly interested in the opinions of those who play or repair vintage Selmers.)
Thanks,
Eric
******************************
The Jazz Clarinet
http://thejazzclarinet.blogspot.com/
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Clarineteer
Date: 2012-08-04 01:12
You should repair it to keep the crack from spreading. Simply get some 400 grit 3X sandpaper at Home Depot and some extra thin Cyanoacrylate. As you sand the crack you will accumulate wood dust which you can scrape back over the crack. Then apply some Cyanoacrylate with a toothpick right along the crack and sand with fine sandpaper.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: SteveG_CT
Date: 2012-08-04 01:40
MarlboroughMan wrote:
> (I'm particularly interested in the opinions of those who play
> or repair vintage Selmers.)
I'd send a note to Chris Peyragh. He frequently posts about repairing older Selmers and plays a set of full boehm series 9's.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: clarnibass
Date: 2012-08-04 06:42
>> Is this enough of a concern to return it? <<
Maybe this depends on you even more than on the crack itself... but probably not. for example a while ago I repaired a bass clarinet upper joint which barely had an area that wasn't cracked...
>> It doesn't effect the response, and as there is a metal sleeve inside the top joint, there seems no possibility that it would bother the horn, because it can't get to the bore <<
Not to the bore, but if the crack reaches the tone holes themselves (and you might have to remove keys to see it clearly) it can leak, regardless of the sleeve. But this is also possible to repair.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2012-08-04 13:54
The thinnest wood in the clarinet is between the bottom of the socket in the lower joint and the top of the hole covered with a pad at the top of the right hand brille. On a clarinet with an articulated C#/G# mechanism and a metal socket liner, the area between the bottom of the liner and the brille hole is even thinner. A crack in that area, often visible only inside the bore, does bad things to notes at the bottom of each register and is one of the places to check first.
Ken Shaw
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: MarlboroughMan
Date: 2012-08-04 14:31
Thanks for the input guys. Clarnibass really got at my concern in particular--which was whether this crack would make the horn too useless--thanks for the reassurance.
As it is, I've decided to keep it, even though it means a little extra expense. The sound is so good, and it handles so well, that I took it to my tech this morning (I wouldn't attempt this sort of work myself--it's beyond my training). He looked at it and assured me there will be no problem.
Eric
******************************
The Jazz Clarinet
http://thejazzclarinet.blogspot.com/
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
