 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: jo.clarinet
Date: 2004-05-21 18:52
There may well be an answer to my query somewhere on the BBoard already, but I haven't been able to find it, so I hope someone can offer advice!
I've just taken delivery of another clarinet through ebay, a Yamaha Custom YCL82. To my dismay, when I tried it out, although most of the range seems fine, the B, C and C# just above the break don't come out at all (with neither LH nor RH fingerings)! The strange thing is that when I use the little-finger keys in the chalumeau, everything works OK - it's just when the register key is used for those fingerings........
I'm really hoping that this is just a small problem which can be easily fixed, preferably by me. Has anyone got any ideas as to what might be wrong? ![[huh]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie11.gif)
Joanna Brown
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Author: Wendy
Date: 2004-05-21 19:58
I don't know what the reason is, but about 2 years ago I tried out the same model and had the exact same problem. It worked sometimes, but not all the time. The chalumeau was ok, just like yours.
Other people tried it and didn't have any problem. No one could figure out what was wrong. Maybe it just didn't fit my small hands and a hole wasn't being covered exactly right. It was a shame because I really loved the tone and it was a great deal. I hated to give it up, but I just couldn't trust it to play those notes.
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2004-05-21 20:30
I had a somewhat similar experience on a student horn. It turned out that because of inadequate spring tension to close the Ab/Eb pad that the pressure of my breath was "blowing open" that pad enough to erase those low clarion "long notes". Of course if the pad is at all bad, it will do the same. Try blowing softly, or rubber-band the pad, or tape the tonehole shut!, but get repair help. The same might be true with the F#/C# pad, or the closing of the F/C pad not coordinated with that of the E/B pad, tho using both little fingers should show-up that repair being needed. Gordon/Dave/John HELP needed. Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: Joel Clifton
Date: 2004-05-21 21:09
Several years ago I had a clarinet that I got from eBay that had that exact same problem. I changed the Ab/Eb pad and then it worked fine. Have someone hold it down really hard and see if it works better.
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"You have to play just right to make dissonant music sound wrong in the right way"
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Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2004-05-21 21:19
I agree that the most likely culprit is a slight leak in the Ab/Eb key caused either by inadequate spring tension (common problem) or a pad that isn't seated quite right (problem could be with pad or the key a little out of alignment). But please do NOT use a rubber band to hold the key closed. Your YCL82 most likely has silver plated keys and you will not like what the sulphur in the rubber band will do to them.
Try the suck test and the blow test on your lower joint. If the instrument fails both, the problem is probably the pad rather than the spring. If it passes the the suck test but fails the blow test, the problem could be the spring (but it could still be the pad.)
By itself, a leak in the F#/C# key could cause a problem with B and C but should not cause a problem with C# (with C# the key is open). A very small leak in the Ab/Eb key might not affect the lower register. A leak in the Ab/Eb key should also cause at least a slight intonation problem when you play D.
A repair should be inexpensive and might be worth the cost given the quality of the instrument involved.
Best regards,
jnk
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Author: ron b
Date: 2004-05-22 02:49
Without a hands on look-see, it's hard to know. It could be any number of things... or something really simple. From past experience, a good tech could probably locate and fix your horn before you finish explaining the problem.
r b
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Author: jo.clarinet
Date: 2004-05-22 06:11
Thanks SO much, everyone - yes, it is a leak in the Ab/Eb key! The spring seems to be a bit weak and I can definitely see the key coming up slightly when I do the blow test.
I've got to go through central London this morning on the way to my London Recorder Orchestra rehearsal, so I'll pop in to Howarth's on the way. The ebay seller I got the clarinet from has said that he'll pay for the repair, so there's no problem with that aspect - it's just a bit of a nuisance!
Thanks again to everyone who gave their excellent advice - I'm very grateful!
:)
Joanna Brown
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