 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: straykat
Date: 2015-03-18 06:32
I recently acquired a Patricola Cl.2 Bb that I'm testing out. It seems to get water stuck in the register key everytime I've played it, which I find extremely odd, since I thought that's what the tube is in there to prevent. It makes the same gurgling sound that water makes when stuck in the trill keys, but is really only evident when long B (and sometimes C, or C#) is played. Does anyone have any suggestions on what might be causing this issue, how to fix it, or any other suggestions as to what it might be, if not water? Thanks in advance for your thoughts and help! 
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Author: James S
Date: 2015-03-18 10:39
How you likin the Cl2? That is a funny issue to have. I would have a tech take a quick peek ms see if anything got jostled in transit.
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2015-03-18 12:53
>> which I find extremely odd, since I thought that's what the tube is in there to prevent. <<
It prevents water from running inside the bore and getting into the tube. In that way, it probably does that just the same on your clarinet, but I you could see if there's some issue with that anyway.
Most of the water inside register vents is just condensation. It's just the same as inside the clarinet body, but inside the small hole even a drop can fill it completely. There isn't really a way to prevent it, other than swabing more often. Not playing the clarinet while it's cold can help too, since that woudl cause more condensation.
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Author: WhitePlainsDave
Date: 2015-03-18 15:53
Cleaning out the [register] tube couldn't hurt either, but invariably involves removal of the register key first for proper access.
Unless you are familiar with the basics of clarinet repair, including possession of the right size screw driver, this is best handled by a tech.
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Author: Tony F
Date: 2015-03-18 16:39
Might be a torn pad. Sometimes they sound like water in a tone hole.
Tony F.
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Author: kdk
Date: 2015-03-18 16:52
WhitePlainsDave wrote:
>
> Unless you are familiar with the basics of clarinet repair,
> including possession of the right size screw driver, this is
> best handled by a tech.
I agree with Dave that cleaning the tube out may be necessary. But I have to part with him over the danger of doing this yourself, even if you aren't comfortable disassembling other hardware on the instrument. This is one of the easiest DIY chores to do.
Using a jeweler's screwdriver, you only need to take out the rod screw that holds the key in place between two posts and lift the key out from between the posts. I use an absorbent pipe cleaner to run through the tube. You'll also collect any dirt that has stuck inside the tube when it's wet. When you reassemble the key, just make sure the flat spring underneath the key sits in the track that's cut for it (you'll see clearly what I mean if you do this). If your Patricola has the extra little tab under the register key that links to the supplemental Bb hole (really a very nice mechanism), there's not anything you need to do - the RK will just sit on top of it when you place the RK between the posts. Put the screw back in place and tighten it.
There really isn't much that can go wrong. Every once in a while you may want to lubricate the screw with a light coating of oil (clean it first) and lubricate the tip of the spring with something a little heavier - Vaseline works.
You may want to have a tech demonstrate it for you once, but it's really a very low risk task. You can get the screwdriver online from any number of places that sell instruments and supplies, or go into any pharmacy or supermarket and look for an eyeglass repair kit. You don't want to have to run to a tech every time you get water in the tube - you'll waste lots of time travelling to and fro as well as the shop fee if the tech actually charges you.
Karl
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Author: kdk
Date: 2015-03-18 16:54
Always possible. My Patricola has a cork pad on the RK. But, of course, it's worth checking.
Karl
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Author: kdk
Date: 2015-03-18 16:57
As a matter of fact, now that I look, my Patricola came with a screwdriver supplied in the case. You may already have one, if you haven't noticed it.
Karl
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Author: straykat
Date: 2015-03-19 00:01
Thanks for your replies! I will get that tube cleaned out and report back...as well as check all the pads for any loose ones. The instrument is more or less new. Purchased off of e-bay, from a music store liquidation...supposedly only used as a demo instrument, but who really knows. 
kdk wrote:
> As a matter of fact, now that I look, my Patricola came with a
> screwdriver supplied in the case. You may already have one, if
> you haven't noticed it.
>
> Karl
Karl - I did notice the screwdriver and was so excited that it was included! I never seem to keep track of the ones I buy! And mine also has a cork register key, which I thought were supposed to help absorb water. Also, thank you for the in depth description of how to clean the tube - I definitely think that is something I can handle!
James S wrote:
> How you likin the Cl2? That is a funny issue to have. I would
> have a tech take a quick peek ms see if anything got jostled in
> transit.
James - I love it, other than this water issue! I got the Rosewood version and love the look, feel, and sound of it (when it's not gurgling)...I currently have an oldish Leblanc Concerto from 2001, but have never been a fan of the unusually large 3rd hole on the lower joint or the stiffness of the keys. The CL2 feels much more comfortable in my small hands in comparison. Plus, I love the convenience of the LH Eb key on the CL2.
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Author: straykat
Date: 2015-03-29 23:44
Well, I got the register key tube successfully "cleaned" but there was nothing visible that came out of it. Is the tube supposed to be glued in? Mine is not, and almost came out as I pulled the pipe cleaner out.
Also, checked all the pads, and there were no loose ones.
The good news is, the clarinet no longer gurgles when playing the Bb, however now I'm getting water trapped in the side keys instead (but that's about par for the course with all my clarinets I've had, hahaha). Does replacing the fish skin pads with cork ones help this?
Thanks for the advice!
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2015-03-29 23:55
You will get water collecting in low lying toneholes no matter what kind of pads are fitted. Porous leather or damaged skin pads will absorb it, but cork pads won't, so it may seem that cork pads are more prone to waterlogging, but they're just not absorbing and being destroyed by it.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: BartHx
Date: 2015-03-31 19:49
You would not necessarily see anything come out of the speaker tube (register tube) when you clean it. A small amount of lint or dirt could easily be pushed into the bore and taken out by your swab the next time you used it.
Neither the speaker tube nor the thumb tube should be loose. On some instruments they have a mechanical attachment but, traditionally, they are held in place with bees wax. Given how sticky it is, I am currently experimenting with orthodontic wax for the thumb tube of a 90 year old clarinet I am working on.
While the speaker tube extending into the bore of the instrument does tend to prevent water from running down the bore into the hole, that is not its main purpose. As noted above, it has its own problems with condensation. The diameter of the speaker tube and its length into the bore impact the instrument's tone and response. That is why some older Selmers (eg. Centered Tone and Series 9) have the speaker tube held in place by a threaded bushing. That allowed the user to customize the instrument a bit to his/her own liking by easily changing the speaker tube to one of slightly different dimensions.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2015-03-31 23:29
CTs and Series 9s have an integral speaker tube with a large hexagonal head on it - the early CTs had a much larger diameter thread but the speaker tube was integral with it and machined to a standard diameter where it protrudes into the bore, so a fair mass of metal is screwed into the top joints on the early CTs. The large thread on these is the same as that of the two part speaker tube that had an outer cup and a central push-fit speaker tube so condensation would collect in the cup as it ran down the sides of the speaker tube.
http://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/pages/US2226536-0.png
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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