 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Jason C
Date: 1999-02-17 22:24
The bell ring on my clarinet is extremely loose and rattles when I play. I have All-State auditions next month and was wondering if anyone has any suggestions as to what I can do. Thanks
Jason
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Author: Gary Van Cott
Date: 1999-02-17 22:34
Have it repaired. In most places this kind of small job is very inexpensive ($5-20 if they charge you at all).
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Author: Paul Wusow
Date: 1999-02-18 01:19
I'm curious... I know it is rather easy to repair the rings on the joints and the top of the bell... but how do they tighten the ring at the bottom of the bell?
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Author: Nan
Date: 1999-02-18 14:10
By compression. A steel block which comes in two halves and has graduated ring sizes which are fitted to the bell ring in question is gently compressed around the ring. This was the old way. Perhaps a newer one exists.
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Author: Ken Shaw
Date: 1999-02-18 14:17
Paul Wusow wrote:
-------------------------------
I'm curious... I know it is rather easy to repair the rings on the joints and the top of the bell... but how do they tighten the ring at the bottom of the bell?
Paul -
It requires a special tool shaped like the outside of the bell. The bell goes into it and then a top piece with a screw handle goes on that touches only the ring. You screw down on the top piece as if it were a vise, and it squeezes the bell ring all the way around and shrinks it down to fit. Obviously, only a substantial repair shop will have one of these. Also, it's a specialized job. The ring was originally tight, and if you squeeze it down too much, the bell could crack when the wood expands again.
In Jason's case, where the ring is so loose that it buzzes, if he can't get to a repair shop with that tool before his audition, he can get a small can of rubber cement and dab it neatly around the ring and into the open area. Be sure to use the "two coat" variety, on which the directions tell you to paint the cement on both surfaces, let it dry and then put them together. This type is easy to remove -- much easier than the "one coat" type where the directions say to put it on one surface and put the joint together wet.
Best regards.
Ken Shaw
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