 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: runner
Date: 2013-07-08 16:25
Recently I had my Selmer Paris clarinet repadded. I paid $300 and was given a one-year guarantee. Soon after playing for about ten minutes I noticed response problems in the lower register. I've never had such a problem. Generally, when that happens it is an adjustment problem. Not having expertise in bending or sealing , I took it back. The clarinet teacher at the store told the salesman that there was nothing wrong, implying that I have bad technique. This mad me upset. In 49 years with that instrument I never had response problems. They refused to work on it.
I am going to have one of the area's top players (she's my community orchestra director) try it. If she cannot produce a low "e" after playing in the upper register, should I demand they fix it or just take it to a better repair place?
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2013-07-08 16:29
Whoever repadded it ought to honour their warranty and sort ot out for you at no extra cost (apart from your time and travel expenses).
Have them go through it while you're there so not only can you check it, but also see that they are putting it right.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2013-07-08 18:01
It may be an issue of the person who played it in front of you being the person for whom the clarinet was "set up." If that person has "heavy fingers" or some such tendencies, you may wind up going in circles.
One of the two most common problems down there is the crow's foot not being properly set up (too much or too little cork) causing the cup of the RH "C" key to not come down far enough (or less likely, come down too far). This is an incredibly easy fix. If you put down the RH "F" while playing the LH "E" and that fixes the problem, just place the tip of your thumb or some wedge like thing (that won't hurt the wood) such a pencil under the crow's foot, then just start in small EASY and SHORT spurts to bend the cup of the "C" key until it come down sooner. If the issue is that it is already coming down too soon, just do the EASY SHORT bending directly to the "Ab/Eb" key.
The other issue may be (less common but not UNCOMMON) that the 'Eb/Ab' key is not sprung tight enough (it should always be a bit more resistant than the RH "C" key otherwise there is a tendency for it to 'blow open' when your putting any real amount of air into the horn. This is trickier to fix because once you've gone through removing the appropriate keys and bending the needle spring to the 'Ab/Eb' key, getting the spring back onto that key can cause it to unspring again unless you do this quite gingerly (before the rod is reinserted and using a crochette hook or similar device).
................Paul Aviles
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Author: runner
Date: 2013-07-08 18:39
I'll have a good repair person try those adjustments. I presume they disassembled the clarinet and put on all new pads. However, if only one was not seated properly, a minor leak will occur creating the problem of low notes not responding. It may be possible the c -f key or the aflat /e flat key may be bent.
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Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2013-07-08 18:42
Demand that they fix the problem you paid them to fix. Insist they complete the job. You paid to get a working clarinet back from them.
Once they have fixed the issue, find a new place to get your instrument repaired next time. Also let your friends know about the "service" you got at the old place.
Jeff
“Everyone discovers their own way of destroying themselves, and some people choose the clarinet.” Kalman Opperman, 1919-2010
"A drummer is a musician's best friend."
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2013-07-08 19:19
Check they have put a tiny bit of free play when you press the throat A key slowly - you should be able to feel the point when it makes contact with the adjusting screw on the throat G# key. If there's no gap between the A and G# key, then the throat G# pad may not be closing fully causing response problems and squeaks.
You can do this adjustment yourself with a small flat blade screwdriver that fits well in the slot on the adjusting screw (neither too loose nor too big), turning it clockwise to decrease the gap and anticlockwise to increase it if there's no gap.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: runner
Date: 2013-07-08 19:27
I've lost my screw drivers years ago and have been too lazy to get new ones. I use ones at school.
And, I don't want to see those people again and not about to recommend them. They are only two miles from my house. I private teach 39 miles from home and 25 miles from home. I should have taken it to one of them. They usually don't charge me or give me a bargain rate so I didn't want to "impose."
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Author: rtmyth
Date: 2013-07-08 21:15
After many frustrations over many years, I finally learned how to maintain my clarinets, and I recommend it . Only a few tasks required the special equipment and service of local techs. Time and patience were the main requirements for me .
richard smith
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2013-07-09 01:08
Bottom line is that a good job will work correctly. You need to find a better place to take your horn. Though the really great techs (and there are only a handful I'd trust in the country) charge a bit more than $300 for a full overhaul/repadding, it's worth knowing that you've got a competent support.
................Paul Aviles
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2013-07-10 13:17
I totally agree with Paul.
Low E not responding really well after repadding is appalling. And the technician not doing anything about it is even worse.
I suggest it is almost certain that one or more pads is leaking, probably closing at the back before the front, or vice versa. If this technician cannot/will not get it right, he/she's not worth bothering with any more. Cut your losses and find a decent technician to correct it. You find a decent one by researching several local long-standing players and teachers. Several! To get past the personal blind loyalties syndrome.
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Author: runner
Date: 2013-07-11 03:01
I'm now embarrassed to admit that I turned the screw on the throat A counterclockwise (something I used to do on student clarinets) yesterday and it seemed I was able to jump to low notes with proper response results. After reading Chris' suggestion I checked it again. Meanwhile yesterday, the owner and repairman at the store called me and asked for me to return it to him and demonstrate the problem. I will tomorrow. I am mainly upset that the clarinet teacher at the store didn't catch the mistake. The guitar teacher yold me he was a Conservatory graduate. He seemed to imply that I must have bad technique.
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