 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Dave
Date: 2002-11-18 10:34
I've recently started playing clarinet again for the first time in years. It's a rattly old plastic Boosey and Hawkes Regent II that probably needs some attention by a repair tech. When it's warmed up I can get a very passable tone from it, but there are a couple of problems that need sorted...
Some of the lower notes in both registers (low E/B, F#/C#, particularly using the right hand pinky keys) can choke unless a lot of pressure is applied. I'm guessing that this is not entirely due to my own shortcomings and the pads are needing changed... they look quite worn. Does this sound likely?
As I already said, it's a bit rattly. This is due to the left hand F#/C# key having shed the cork/padding that stops it hitting the body of the clarinet and also the cork on the other side of the key where it connects with the part of the key that holds the pad
(Hopefully this diagram will come out correctly) The missing bits of cork are at the asterisks
____ *
|___ _________________________----
___________________________ |
----
*
The keys probably need oiling, I have no recollection of them having been done in the last 20 years or so.
I'd like to have the thumb rest repositioned as it seems too low for my hand size. I find my hand starts to ache after holding the clarinet for any extended period of time, and my hand position forces me to stop the holes for the Bb/F and A/E with the portion of my finger directly below the knuckle rather than with the pad. It works, but strikes me as inefficient. I feel that moving the thumb rest towards the upper bout by about a cm would help things a bit.
How much am I looking at for these repairs? I'm in the UK.
Also, about ten years ago I dropped the instrument, chipping out a large portion of the tip of the mouthpiece. I got a replacement mouthpiece, which did wonders for the clarinet. It's marked only F1A. Any idea what it is?
How much am I looking at
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Dave
Date: 2002-11-18 10:36
Well, the diagram didn't come out, but I hope the text description makes it clear what the problem was
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Don Berger
Date: 2002-11-18 14:11
Yes, your B & H needs attention from a good repairer. I dont know about repair costs in the UK, but in the US, you [might] get by for a playing-only repair for under $ 100. J B et al, Help. Don
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: clare
Date: 2002-11-18 23:06
UK prices are probably pretty comparable, depending where you go.
Howarth's price list for servicing is at this address (sorry, I'm not sure how to paste it as a link).
http://www.howarth.uk.com/clrep.htm
I've just had my Eb done there & they did a really good job of it. If you want to get prices for extra things (eg the thumbrest move) you'd be best to ring them. Their repair techs only work Mon-Fri so make sure you ring then.
But you may be able to get cheaper outside London (or even IN London if you know where to look!).
Good luck!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Dave
Date: 2002-11-19 09:41
I identified the leak by seeing how well the closed pads gripped a strip of cigarette paper. It's not as bad as I thought it might be, there only seems to be the one leak on the pad that is closed by the F# key (and therefore by every other key). The leak is so large that it will not grip the paper at all.
This is somewhat irritating. I gave up the clarinet when I was 16 as I wasn't enjoying it any more. This was particularly because of problems I had playing over the break. To find that this was due to a mechanical problem with the instrument and not with my own playing irks a bit. This really should have been spotted by my teacher at the time.
Oh well, I'll have a look at getting it serviced by Howarths. (thanks for the link)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
