 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Tim
Date: 2000-08-09 17:13
Just wondered today if I ought to get my clarinet serviced. I got my E13 about 18 months ago and haven't had it serviced since. How often should I do it?
Tim Wade
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Author: Katherine Pincock
Date: 2000-08-09 17:27
It really depends on how heavily you use your instrument. I'm going into my fourth year of a performance program, and I find that I have to repair my horns at least once a year, preferably more often (although I don't usually manage it.) My teacher, who performs with lots of different groups, gets his done about every six months. However, there are people I know who don't use their instruments as heavily as I do, and they can go eighteen months to two years between checkups. For security's sake, I'd recommend you get a repair technician to check your horn once a year--not a full service, just a once-over--to avoid running into sudden problems at a busy time of year. I've been lucky; the only time my clarinet had real problems before a performance, a pad had fallen out a day before a concert, but there were free repairs available on-site (we were at a music festival). Even then, it's a sickening feeling, and one I'm sure none of us would like to experience. Hope this helps!
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Author: Hiroshi
Date: 2000-08-09 23:21
New instruments:Check them 6 months after starting to use them. This is to check the pads stabilized on the seats.
After that as written by Katherine.
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Author: Lelia
Date: 2000-08-09 23:32
IMHO it's also worthwhile to get into a routine of looking the instrument over yourself, whenever you put it away, just enough to stay aware of the general condition of corks (starting to chip?) pads (looking grubby, torn or packed down?), wood (cracks starting?). If you're familiar enough with the clarinet to know what everything is *supposed* to look like when the instrument plays well, you'll know right away when something is starting to go wrong. Pad leaks usually announce themselves rather forcefully -- squeeeeeek!
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Author: Hiroshi
Date: 2000-08-10 02:09
This is another matter to check. Register key elevation should be 0.65mm -1.2mm depending on pros' opinions.
You can search what experienced pros talk about this matter in Klarinet Archive. Almost all new clarinets' register key elevations are too big and they remain so until coming across with good repair persons or pros. I knew this in Tom Ridenour's fingering book many years after I started clarinet. It cancell that bizzar background tone 'uuuuuh' on the tones near middle break.
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Author: Willie
Date: 2000-08-10 02:38
I usually do a visual inspection of the pads and screws weekly (mines 40 years old). I oil the keys and bore a least once a year, sometimes twice, depending on conditions. However, I only use my good one for rehearsals and concert mostly, leaving most of my practice, teaching, and general "noodling" for one of my other sticks.
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Author: Tim
Date: 2000-08-10 19:10
Okay, thanks everybody. I think that I'll take it in soon. I recently discovered that one of my pads isn't looking too healthy, and I am also having problems taking my instrument apart, like some other people here, my instrument has the tendency to get stuck. Although it's nothing serious it's a real pain. I guess I should have taken it in a while ago, as it's a new instrument, but there's nothing I can do about that now. Thanks again.
Tim Wade
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Author: Willie
Date: 2000-08-11 23:38
If its getting stuck, I recommend taking it to a repairman that is a woodwind specialists if posible. Not all "general instrument repairmen" know how to fit a socket/tennon properly. I've seen more than a few that had the tennon mercilessly sanded down to nuthin' when there was plenty of meat in the socket.
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Author: Mike Irish
Date: 2000-08-12 04:33
thanks for reminding me.... school starts the 17th.... and have always taken horns in to get them peaked out before school starts for me boys.... I still have time....this is something I do every year...and then check their horns out personally on a monthly basis.... and have them inspected by the tech during off times.... school breaks and such...have been real satisfied with the results... also get my horns done at same time..... we have two clarinets, a flute, alto sax, and this summer aquired an oboe.. I feel it is well worth the cost to have them checked out about three times ayear, and the boys have had very little ( almost none ) down time..... again...thanks for reminding me....
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Author: Sara
Date: 2000-08-14 02:45
I haven't takin in my festival to the shop since i got it last July, except to get a pad reseated and he did that while I waited, I wouldn't dareleave it with him. I rarely let it leave my sight when its not at home. Is that a bad thing that I haven't akin it in for a tunup, i meant heres nothing wrong with it, it plays just as well if not better than, the day I got it.
Sara
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Author: Tiffu
Date: 2012-04-22 11:17
If the cork padding on the Eb key is chipped and the cloth bit on the lever below it is slipping, and it's been two and a bit years since I bought it, does it need to be serviced? Because I don't use it that often, and is still quite fine, and doesn't get stuck. I'm not sure because I've had it for a while but still sounds okay. Also, how much does servicing usually cost?
Tiffu
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2012-04-22 11:30
The cost of a service depends on who does it and exactly what they do.
But you should expect the instrument is taken apart (all the keys off) and any pads and key corks that are damaged or worn are replaced, bent keys straightened out, spring tensions balanced, defective springs replaced, the silver plating polished, the bore oiled, the joints and toneholes cleaned, the mechanism refitted, oiled and regulated so it plays as good as new again once it's been done.
I'm a bit concerned that the speaker pad venting mentioned earlier was suggested to be as low as that will cause a very stuffy throat Bb if it opens less than 1.5mm. I usually set the speaker key pad to open around 2.5mm to make the throat Bb clear, plus this also helps when th speaker tube gets blocked with water as it's much easier to clear it when it opens more.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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