 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: 3dogmom
Date: 2004-07-29 14:49
Hi, can anyone help? I've got a 30 year old Evette-Shaeffer, Buffet wood clarinet. Says Model A next to the Buffet-Crampon name. Serial No. K29769. Am having a problem - have had it overhauled and rechecked for leaks. However, after playing for a couple of hours, heat, humidity really going, the clarinet starts to not play in the clarion register, especially between third line B and E and F or so. The longer I play, the worse it gets. All the keys, pads, etc. have been checked. I know it needs to go back to the repair shop, but any guesses on the problem? This does not happen on other clarinets so it isn't anything to do with reeds, mouthpiece, etc. Other question - is it actually called Model A?
Is it worth fixing?
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Author: jbutler ★2017
Date: 2004-07-29 14:55
This clarinet is comparable to today's E13. Generally, very good upper-intermediate clarinets. They have the same key structure as the R13s of the day. I really think they are good instruments. By the serial number it was made in 1973. I really like the late 60's early 70 Buffets. Try to get it fixed corretly. Your repairer shouldn't charge you for the work until they get it right.
jbutler
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2004-07-29 14:59
Could it be that your register key vent is blocking with condensation or saliva.
Open the key, put your mouth over the key and vent, and blow, to see if this corrects the problem.
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Author: John O'Janpa
Date: 2004-07-29 16:31
My suggestion is exactly the same as Gordon's with one addition. If you are handy with a small screwdriver (and have one), remove the register key and clean out the tube with a pipe cleaner, or Q-tip stick. You may want to lubricate the metal rod that goes through the key before reassembling.
If you do not feel competent to try removing the key, but blowing in the vent corrects the problem, but only for short time, take it to your technician and have him/her clean out the vent. Crud can tend to cause the water to accumulate faster.
John
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2004-07-29 18:00
The suggestions from JB, Gordon and John are very good and may fix/help your problem. A while back, I had troubles with those lower clarion notes, and by sealing-off the Ab/Eb tone hole [temp. only!] with masking tape, I found that the {closing] spring tension on that pad was too weak, and it was blowing open slightly, the more wind, the worse it would get. Try that, or IF NOT SILVER keys, a rubber band might show up that problem. What E-S's Ive seen are good cls! Is it an "A" clar? Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: 3dogmom
Date: 2004-07-29 18:16
Thanks, all of you, for your suggestions. I will address the register hole issue in each of the ways you suggested, as well as the tone hole suggested by Don. Why, after thirty years, though, do you think this problem has arisen? My sense is that something has shifted/cracked/bent, etc. It is a B flat clarinet. I will say that, after reading some of the archival stuff on this clarinet from your bulletin boards, I have always had a lousy sounding B, as some folks have reported. Maybe related?
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Author: Joel K.
Date: 2004-07-29 18:32
I had a similar problem recently. There is a screw on the top of the G sharp key which rests over the A key at the top of the instrument. This screw must be adjusted so that there is a bit of movement in the A key before it contacts the G sharp key above it. Otherwise, if the A pad gets waterlogged, it will force the G sharp pad open slightly and cause the problems you refer to.
Hope that helps.
Post Edited (2004-07-29 18:43)
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Author: Todd W.
Date: 2004-07-29 21:03
3dogmom --
If you're not already doing so, you might want to run your swab through the clarinet a couple of times every half hour or so during those long playing sessions. If it's a moisture problem, that should help.
Todd W.
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