The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2003-06-28 10:22
hi, about 5 years ago i bought a buffet prestige low C bass clarinet. in my country you can't buy a clarinet like this, they have to order. so i bought from a store in paris. i couldn't choose a clarinet, i got what they sent. after a month it had a little problem. i went to a (not do good but ok) repair man. he said it looked like the clarinet never had a setup after it got to the store, and was in pretty bad shape mechanically. he fixed everything he could and the clarinet was fine. a few months ago i notices a really small crack in the upper part of the bass clarinet, starting at the top, about 3 inches down. it was so small. but thenb i realized that it was small only because it was cold. when it gets hot, it's getting wider! the sound is fine and everything is fine. only this crack is getting pretty asty when it's hot. is there anything i (or a good repair man) can do or is it doomed??? is there a way to fix something like this?
also i shold probably get my clarinet back to the case every time i finish practicing, but that is a lot of work since i'l have to do it like 3-4 times a day.
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Author: krawfish3x
Date: 2003-06-28 13:24
since your clarinet has a crack in it, DONT PLAY IT, it will only make it worse. send it to a good repair man and see what he can do. does your clarinet have a warenty still? you may want to check into that.
As for putting your clarinet away, if you practice 3-4 times a day, and it's a lot of hastle to take it apart, try taking longer practice sessions, quality over quantity. also, put your clarinet somewhere away from the heater and maybe in a room that the climate doesnt changes, remember its a wood clarinet not plastic, you have to worry about these things.
best of luck.
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Author: BobD
Date: 2003-06-28 13:36
As a temporary measure you might be able to put a "hose clamp" in this area if there is room. Get a stainless steel one in a 1 1/4 or 1 1/2 inch size as used on sump pump hoses. Unscrew it all the way so you can pull the end out of the housing. Thread the free end under the key structure, reinsert it in the housing and tighten. If you are lucky and there are no keys in the way you wont even have to unscrew the clamp all the way. Then take it to a serviceman when you have time. I offer this unusual measure since you seem desperate.
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Author: hans
Date: 2003-06-28 14:03
If you plan to try the hose clamp, you may want to put something under it so that the clamp doesn't dig into the wood as it is tightened.
What country do you live in?
Hans
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Author: BobD
Date: 2003-06-28 15:35
Good advice,Hans, sorry I forgot to mention this....
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2003-06-28 16:43
i live in israel and i only know about 1 good repairman in the entire country. ibought it about 5 years ago so no warranty anymore. i've been playing on it with the crack for a few months now, and since i noticed the crack it's not getting worse. i wil just take to the repairman as soopn as possible.
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Author: Contrabasssax
Date: 2003-06-28 21:09
ok than. That would probably be the best idea. The guy im talking about lives in Grants Pass oregon. in the usa. good luck with your clarinet
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2003-06-29 12:59
As a temporary [possibly continuing] "leak-stopper", I have used a strategically cut piece of black electricians tape on the outside appearance of the crack, which seems to help. It does have the disadvantage of its adhesive absorbing a bit of the joint's "oil" , softening the tape and needing replacement. A skilled tech's pining and banding/gluing [if needed] is of course the better solution. Much luck, Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: BobD
Date: 2003-06-29 13:39
re patching with electricians tape: As a "leak stopper" yes; but the adhesive possibly left in the crack could make proper repair more of a hassle. If I were thinking of doing something like this I'd probably place a narrow strip of "saranwrap" over the crack first.
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Author: Laurie
Date: 2003-06-29 22:49
Yes ! There is help for this poor broken Clarinet !
Don't play, bring it in to a repairman
They can fill the crack, or pin it, or do whatever magic.
A few weeks ago I sent my Clarinet in for an overhaul. The repair tech. found a crack under the register key - He pinned it, and now it plays even better then ever.
Don't worry about sending international, I ended up sending my horn to Canada for a good repair guy.
Good Luck !
laur.
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Author: hans
Date: 2003-06-29 23:45
(....deleted my flippant comment)
Post Edited (2003-07-18 23:06)
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Author: Brenda
Date: 2003-06-30 11:18
Try a Band-Aid, a Bugs Bunny one works best. (Used by a member of our clarinet choir in an emergency.)
No, really there is a really good repairman in Toronto. You can e-mail me and I'll suggest two of them.
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Author: big fat lyre112
Date: 2003-07-01 17:27
try finding a giant plastic bag and putting the joint and orange peels in there ((thats what some dude said in the topic about orange peels)) yeah...dosen't look like an ample oportunity for you but hey...it might just work in a weird freaky way
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Author: diz
Date: 2003-07-02 04:36
Surely the clarinetists in the wonderful Israel Philharmonic could recommend who they see? Just a thought.
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