 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: janlynn
Date: 2010-01-13 13:30
I have had my Lyrique Custom clarinet for about 2 years now. I have only needed 1 pad replaced. I have had no major problems with it. A few notes feel a bit stuffy (on the staff D,F,F# upper register) but not terrible.
How do I know when its time to send it in for a "tune up" and what do I say I want done if nothing is actually wrong?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: EEBaum
Date: 2010-01-13 16:05
Has it had any work done on it other than a pad replacement? If not, you could probably benefit from the work of a really good technician. Be sure to get recommendations as to who's really good in your area. If you take it to a tech and simply say that it's only ever had a pad replaced and has those stuffy notes, more likely than not the technician will find all sorts of things to improve on the clarinet... things you've always just assumed were that way, but could be tweaked. Hopefully the technician will take the instrument from you and start fiddling with the keys, testing for lost motion, excess play, and leaks. This is especially true if the instrument has never been overhauled, as most tend to come from the factory at, say, 80% of optimal adjustment.
I can't stress enough, though, to ask around and get recommendations. Some well-meaning technicians may actually do more harm than good, and I've known good technicians to cringe when you tell them you took it to certain other places.
In essence, an excellent technician will fix things you didn't realize were broken, but definitely notice once they're fixed. I've been known to say "Wow, I didn't know that could be fixed!" on multiple occasions.
-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2010-01-13 18:45
Really, for the first few years, you shouldn't need much service done, except for obvious things like a pad replacement or a broken spring, new cork....etc. In those cases, any competent technician can fix the problems for you locally.
Tom does a great job of setting up his instruments, so you shouldn't have to send it off to him very often at all. I would discuss with him directly how often you should send an instrument back to him for work. For genreal tuneup/overhaul work, summer is probably the best season, when he is the least busy. That way, you won't be without the instrument for very long.
Jeff
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2010-01-13 23:07
If you have a trusted repair person it's a good idea to have them give it a "Checking" over every year or so just to make sure there are not small leaks, lose corks, rusty springs etc. and make any adjustment to the tensions on the keys that you feel are needed. If they are experienced and honest they will do as little or as much as is necessary. It's a little like bringing in your car every 5 thousand miles to have the oil changed and have your belts, brakes, fluids etc. checked before you break down on the highway. Preventive maintenance is always the way to go. ESP http://eddiesclarinet.com
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Iceland clarinet
Date: 2010-01-14 00:27
I have a Buffet Festival that I bought about 5 years ago. I've had a nylon pin replaced and some minor adjustment on the lower joint. Now I will have the lower joint adjusted and the pad on the open Ab/G# replaced and it's the first pad that needs a replacement.
It's been quite awhile since I've played my backup clarinet and I think I will get me a lower joint pinky key holder and a anti tarnish paper to put over it. The keys were all a bit black and the grows foot was out of adjustment.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: RAB
Date: 2010-01-14 12:38
I think that you should get a "tune up" once a year. That way you can get all the screws & rods removed and cleaned, all the hinge tubes cleaned, The inside of the tone holes cleaned and any build up of lint or dirt in the undercutting can be cleaned. also of there is a lose felt or cork it can be found and replaced now instead of having it fall off at a performance. This should be like taking care of a fine car, change the oil and keep it in tiptop running condition.
Again as someone said earlier ask around for someone who works on pro instrument and pay the money to have him/her do the work.
remember that it easy to take the instrument apart if it has had regular service. If you let things go, screws and rods can rust and then it is a problem to have the instrument serviced and it will cost a lot more.
Just my observations.
RAB
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2010-01-14 13:30
One thing to consider is what Tom himself say on his early videos in his series, and thatis that the key mechanism should be cleaned and lubed at least once a year. If you don't feel confident doing this, by all meands take it to a shop.
Jeff
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2010-01-14 16:38
If you oil the keys at the joints with a light oil like 3 and 1 oil, one drop on each joint, once or twice a year AFTER cleaning the dust off of the keys and clean out the register tube once a year with a pipe cleaner and make sure you dry off any wet pad after you play each time there should be very little to have to "fix" each year. Because I do this on a regular basic I only have to get my clarinets "Overhauled" once every 7-10 years because I will bring it in about once a year for a "check" up. Except for some minor key adjustment, worn cork or possible pad replacement there is usually very little to be done. I don't believe the clarinet has to be taken apart every year, just preventive maintenance and I play my clarinets a lot. ESP
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: janlynn
Date: 2010-01-14 18:08
Thanks everyone
I hope some of you who have replied will come back to read this - - -
I'm wondering if having a buffet biased tech do the work will make any difference in what he thinks may need to be done.
For example, when he did the repad, I asked him to play it and tell me what he thinks - he said it was stuffy (not my opinion overall) and then added "eh - its not a buffet"
so i fear he might do extra work trying to make it feel like a buffet.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2010-01-14 21:16
Find a new tech. There must be someone else somewhere in Taxachusetts!
Jeff
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: EEBaum
Date: 2010-01-14 22:20
If you took it to a tech, and it needed a pad replaced, and that was the only thing they found wrong with the horn, get yourself a new tech. Unless you took to that pad very carefully with a knife, it's highly unlikely that that's the only thing that could be improved by the time general wear-and-tear killed a pad.
Especially shady is if the tech gives the horn BACK to you with a comment that it's stuffy without trying to remedy it. The only situations in which that should happen are if they recommended more work and you declined, or if they're a shoddy tech. That's equivalent to taking your car to the mechanic, who returns it to you and says "it'll run now, but the engine still makes a funny noise."
My technician does equally fine work on clarinets of all makes and key mechanisms. She may complain about the inferiority of one brand's designs, but she adjusts it just as well.
-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Iceland clarinet
Date: 2010-01-16 10:49
Oh Ed unfortunately you were right. I just came from the repair shop were the open Ab/G# pad was replaced and the B/E mechanism was adjusted. I bought it in easter time 2005 and the repair man said it was fine but obviously used a lot. He also said that the rod connecting the c key on the lower joint has worn off that much(it's loose) it would be hard to have the crows foot B/E mechanism in complete adjustment but if it would not stay good now then he would have to try something more drastic. He also said that oiling it would help to prevent this but once it's worn it really is worn. I oil my clarinet with doctor's key oil 1-2 times a year as the doctor advices but maybe I should have let the repair man check the clarinet more the 3 times or so it had some minor adjustment in the past.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2010-01-16 16:59
Here's a link to Tom Ridenour's video on lubing clarinet keys:
http://www.youtube.com/billyboy647#p/u/62/JTdWrRH2MGI
Jeff
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
