 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: W_Wysocki
Date: 2005-10-25 17:26
I'm looking to get into repair for my own personal equipment. Does anyone have suggestions on books/tapes/cds of clarinet repair, or is this a trade that is by training only?
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2005-10-25 18:14
There are books (eg. Eric Brand, Yamaha etc.) on repairing, there are some specialist magazines and I've seen manuals on CD for sale on eBay, but I think the best method is hands-on experience, preferrably under guidance from a reputable repairer or a college course in your area if that's possible.
The best thing about working on your own instruments is that you can do the job to your own specification and standards, and not have to worry or get annoyed if someone else hasn't done their job as you like it.
But do ask for advice on this board - I'm sure there are plenty of us that will offer advice.
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2005-10-25 18:31
Among what "good books" [with cl in the title] which I have, I recall only one, by Williman I believe, which gave more than a few words of repair advice. Perhaps this oldie has been reprinted, I paid quite a bit for my "original". I'll look for it ! Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2005-10-25 20:32
W_Wysocki,
I'd recommend buying an old (but mechanically sound) plastic Bundy (or Vito, Buffet Evette/B12, Yamaha YCL-24, etc) to have a go at repairing yourself so you can get to grips with the basics before you apply any gained experience to your own instruments. Then start by taking it apart and putting it back together, then go onto replacing pads and regulating later on when you get to know where and how all the parts go.
And don't start on a metal clarinet or anything like an alto or bass just yet - get to know your way around a basic plastic 17/6 model - this will be more than ideal, all the principles learnt can then be applied to other models with this keywork as most clarinets will come apart and go together the same way.
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2005-10-25 20:49
With regards to Chris P's recommendations: why not work on a metal clarinet? Other than posts which are soldered onto the body rather than screwed (or bonded) in as on wood or plastic clarinets, there's no difference in the tasks and skills required to overhaul them, at least as far as repadding, corking, and regulation are concerned.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2005-10-25 21:29
Chances are most metal clarinets will have a one-piece body, and it's better to familliarise yourself with a standard type.
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2005-10-25 22:06
Chris P wrote:
> I'd recommend buying an old (but mechanically sound) plastic (...)
In that case, even a cheap clunker from ebay will do. Many "vintage" clarinets offer plenty repadding and recorking experience opportunities...
(Latest catch from ebay (a 20$ Chabot thingy) should be in my mail tomorrow...in case anyone's interested I'll make some pics)
--
Ben
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2005-10-26 00:14
There is a recently published book on repairs that is being touted by may technicians as by far the best book yet written - "THE COMPLETE WOODWIND REPAIR MANUAL" by Reg Thorp, for $73.
This is available from http://www.napbirt.org/
Click on "On-line Store"
More details of the book are there.
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Author: Bob Phillips
Date: 2005-10-26 03:50
Have a look on eBay. There is a guy who sells Video Tapes of a complete repair.
Bob Phillips
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2005-10-26 04:54
What on earth does "complete" mean in this context?
Each 'repair' is different. The unexpected is the norm. To cover all of this would take dozens of hours of video.
IMHO
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Author: ron b
Date: 2005-10-26 05:18
Ah, yes. Complete repair... as in a Perfect World 
Scenario:
Think "miniatruization", Gordon. Think - - - MODERN !!!
Compress all those years of your hard won "apprenticeship", expertise, in addition to all of your on-the-job surprises and aggravations, into a two hour (or less) video and you'll have encapsulated all the wisdom and knowledge necessary to completely overhaul stuff on our kitchen tables. We'll all buy your magic videos whilst you retire with a tidy fortune at your disposal.
Of course you'll have spend a goodly amount to hire several body guards and confine yourself to your fortress, as the rest of the repair populace will be after your hide since your videos have put them all out of business.
- ron b -
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2005-10-26 07:03
Not! I have integrity and self respect! I know you jest.
I don't try to kid people that what is often very complicated is not.
But a cheap buck, at the expense of others, is the way of the world. Hmm.
Kitchen table and cutlery indeed!
I reckon what I've written in woodwind forums would fill videos 1 - 10 at least. Silly me! ... Cursed with a little altruism.
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Author: sylvangale
Date: 2005-10-26 17:16
Watch out for those Ebay videos. I know the Flute instruction "Bird's Eye View of a Flute Repair" is not how you should "overhaul" a flute.
The guy uses a blow torch and literally burns pads off the flute for some keys, adjusts pad height by bending keys, and to compensate for bad pads; wets them, blowtorches the key surface, and clamps them shut.
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Author: ron b
Date: 2005-10-26 18:23
So? What's wrong the the "bird's eye method" ?
I've never watched the eBay videos. But, who needs 'em anyway? Everyone knows how easy flutes is to fix. You first suburge the ting in a pail o' water overnight. The next morning you clamp (or wire shut) the pads and pop it in the oven for a little while. When the pads are no longer squishy and look like they got a good dent in 'em again it's ready to play. I s'pose a blowtorch might help speed things up a bit. If it still don't seat too good, smack it with a rubber mallet!!!
Believe it or not I've seen and touched firsthand, with me own eyes and fingers, a "repair" that looked like it was pretty close to the foregoing spoof. Didn't know whether to laugh or cry. I pulled myself together and broke the news, as gently as possible, that it would cost way more than the instrument's worth to even try to fix it.
- r b -
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2005-10-26 18:26
Reminds me of that slogan on a plumber shop's lorry:
"We repair what your husband fixed"
;-)
--
Ben
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2005-10-26 19:02
I remember being asked ages ago by a sax player and DIY bodge-it 'repairer' that came in to buy some sheet cork and pads for his Conn X-bar 'How long do you leave the keys tied down for? (to seat the pads)' - I just looked at him with a blank expression, I hadn't a clue what to say as I have never tied sax keys down to seat pads, so I shrugged and replied 'I don't'.
That's a method I've never encountered, and not likely to try.
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2005-10-26 20:31
Of course you can save rust damage from the immersion in the pail of water in the above method, by using a hypodermic syringe to inject water into each pad!! I have never tried that either.
Edit, just to clarify: And I never will. A really crazy thing to do IMHO.
Post Edited (2005-10-26 23:58)
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Author: ron b
Date: 2005-10-26 21:16
Don't try that at home kids. Injecting pads with water may have seemingly worked okay for The Iceman (in the short run, anyway) but I don't think it's the end that story :|
Doing the "unconventional" on a Live Job is sticking your neck waaaaay out. Personally, I wouldn't take that risk.
Getting back to the original question, whether instrument repair is a trade learned by training only; apprenticeships are great if you can find one to suit your goal and desire.
Most repairers I know learned what they know so far by a combination of working with other craftspersons and doing 'independant studies'. I also believe, from the responses so far, it can be said that there can be a fair amount of independant trial and tribulation involved. It seems to one's personal advantage if you have a bent toward the innovative and are fearless of risk-taking -- uh, with your training projects that is....umm, [y e s ] .
- rb -
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Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2005-10-26 22:21
This is what I used to get started:
http://www.woodwind.org/clarinet/Equipment/index.html
http://www.woodwind.org/clarinet/Equipment/Care/index.html
The second address has basic information on cleaning the instrument, replacing pads and replacing tenon corks. I have the Brand book. For the dozen or so clarinets I've reconditioned, I've never had to use it.
Best regards,
jnk
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2005-10-26 22:49
There wasn't much in the Brand book that was of much use to me either.
I only have a copy because I nicked it from my last job, along with a Yamaha band instrument repair manual. At least the Yamaha book shows you how and where to bend keys.
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2005-10-27 00:04
"At least the Yamaha book shows you how and where to bend keys."
That is a refreshing approach, actually acknowledging that bending of keys is often the best, and often the only permanent solution to a problem.
It amazes me that some people, 'technicians' included, claim they never do it. This means they never correct all those misalignment problems that manufacturers incorporate.
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2005-10-27 07:02
Gordon wrote:
> That is a refreshing approach, actually acknowledging that bending of
> keys is often the best, and often the only permanent solution to a
> problem.
Rough or hurried treatment might sometimes bend keys. What's wrong with [carefully, of course] bending them back?
--
Ben
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2005-10-27 08:26
Most of the bending I do is to correct MANUFACTURERS' poor alignment.
A few decades ago, Buffet (and LeBlanc?) used pads with firm, thin felt.. This type of pad needs excellent alignment of key cup with tone hole, or the pads will look really crooked in the key cup when adjusted to seal.
I don't recall what other top manufacturers were using then, but IMHO most manufacturers have in recent years resorted to really accommodating pads, supposedly to avoid having to get good key cup alignment.
Post Edited (2005-10-27 08:30)
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