 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2010-08-30 16:32
A bad comparison, I know, but I like to do preventative maintenance and tuneups and most mechanical things of mine. My car, my central air, stuff like that.
I just was thinking this morning, I use my clarinet every day. And on most days, for 4+ hours a day. And I was just thinking, "Hmmm. Maybe it's time to have a tech at least CHECK it out." Maybe there's a little bit of looseness, or they'll be able to spot some pads that can be replaced now before they end up just falling out or tearing or maybe there's more slop in keywork due to compressed corks that I just have gotten used to or something.
Does anyone suggest a "yearly checkup"? Every two years? Something like that?
Alexi
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Author: William
Date: 2010-08-30 16:52
Never. The only reason I take my instrument to my favorite Ward Brodt repairperson, Mary Jones, is if there is something wrong that I cannot fix. I don't have any scheduled check-up routine. My motto could be, if it an't broken, don't fix it.
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Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2010-08-30 16:56
Preventative maintenence (ie disassembly of mechanism, cleaning and oiling of keys, inspecting pads, etc. should be a once a year practice, according to Tom Ridenour in his book, "The Educator's Guide to the Clarinet." Better to maintain it than to wait for it to break, IMO.
Jeff
“Everyone discovers their own way of destroying themselves, and some people choose the clarinet.” Kalman Opperman, 1919-2010
"A drummer is a musician's best friend."
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Author: EEBaum
Date: 2010-08-30 17:38
I have my tech look at things often, but we hang out socially a lot. "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" is NOT a motto I subscribe to on instrument maintenance, because there are so many things that I won't realize can be fixed and will just live with that could actually be greatly improved.
I'd say a minimum of once a year to at least get stuff checked out. If the tech is really good, you'll probably be surprised at how much better it plays than you thought it could.
Do note that this really only applies to awesome techs. There are plenty of well-meaning duds out there. If your instrument doesn't come back playing noticeably better than when you dropped it off, find a new tech. It should be an obvious "wow, that plays better!" not "hmm, that's slightly different, I think it's better now." Of course, this only applies if they claim to have fixed something.
If you don't think it needs checking up and you've been playing regularly for a year without seeing a tech, it probably needs checking up. If you think it might need checking up, it definitely needs it.
-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com
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Author: rtaylor
Date: 2010-08-30 20:53
You don't mention your clarinet or the level of it. I think it's safe to say that student models may need a little more TLC because they are not built to the same level as professional instruments. That being said, if your budget can handle it, once a year for a check up is the accepted method as Alex said earlier.
A good approach is to have good overhaul done by a well respected person. This was for me Bill Brannen. This is expensive at first but subsequent "check-ups' are less expensive and you know you have a quality job.
If you are playing 4+ hours a day then the clarinet is important to you. So why not have the best playing situation you can by having a well maintained instrument for your use.
Robert
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2010-08-30 22:56
Alright. Sounds good. A yearly checkup can certainly be worked into my budget.
Now to do some searching for a VERY good local tech.
Any suggestions would be helpful. I'm in Augusta, GA
Alexi
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Author: crnichols
Date: 2010-08-31 02:59
I think I'm fairly neurotic about this...but I tend to go about 3 to 4 times a year. It's mostly minor stuff/key noise and that type of thing. I also play a great deal, and I especially get neurotic about the instrument being in perfect working order when I have a major performance coming up.
I recommend my students go in to the tech about once every 6 months to ensure everything is sealing properly and the mechanism is working properly without excessive play or friction. As my tech says "When's the last time you had your oil changed?" This was in reply to one of my students instruments that hadn't been looked at in about 4 years!
Christopher Nichols, D.M.A.
Assistant Professor of Clarinet
University of Delaware
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Author: salzo
Date: 2010-08-31 10:10
Once a year. If there is a problem before my annual trip, Ill go see him-but there aren't often problems.
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Author: Drakiej
Date: 2010-08-31 16:51
Hey guys and dolls, In speaking of maintenance and or repairs, I would like to know what questions to ask of any person who claims to do repairs and such, although here in Atlanta there are hundreds of repair people how do you find a very good one and one who definitely knows clarinets. should I need a repair or look over done I would like to know if they know Full Boehm clarinets (20 key,7 ring) as thats what I have
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Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2010-08-31 17:46
"how do you find a very good one and one who definitely knows clarinets."
Find out who does the repair work for the clarinetists of the Atlanta Symphony.
Best regards,
jnk
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2010-09-01 00:25
JNK hit the nail on the head. You find out who the best clarinetist's in the area recommend.
Alexi
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Author: DougR
Date: 2010-09-01 13:28
I take my stuff to a tech once a season, OR when I actually notice the horn is playing a little "off." If I'm sure it's the horn rather than ME that's playing a little "off," I go instantly, on the theory that if it's bad enough for me to notice it, there's lots of other stuff that has already gone wrong that I've unconsciously learned to play around, or over.
I just took both clarinets to the tech last week for that reason. They both came back, $60 later, playing smooth as butter, and it occurred to me that sometimes you don't know how out-of-whack a horn has gotten until AFTER you get it back.
(I did have the somewhat embarrassing experience of dropping off a flute for some work, claiming the low register wasn't as solid as it should be. The tech gave it back to me a few days later, somewhat apologetically, saying "I couldn't find anything wrong with it." That was an unmistakeable sign to me to start taking flute lessons, so I did. Certainly not applicable in YOUR case, Alexi. It was also, perhaps, the sign of an honest tech, because he certainly could have fiddled with the instrument and given it back to me, saying "I fixed the left flummox key," charged me $20, and would I have known??)
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2010-09-01 14:58
Assuming there isn't a special problem that needs attention you should bring your clarinet in once a year for a check up unless everything looks perfect to you. That is all the pads look really good and sealing well, the springs all feel very good, the corks are in good condition and you've cleaned the register tube at least once and oil all the joints with key oil once or twice a year. Assuming all that then perhaps every other year. So the bottom line, no less then every other year otherwise every year. ESP http://eddiesclarinet.com
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Author: Ian White
Date: 2010-09-01 19:33
I always use the analogy of cars.
Modern woodwind instruments & cars are both complex mechanical devices.
Most drivers get their cars serviced fairly regularly. I don't know about any one else but I always notice how much better the car runs after a service even if I didn't think it was 'broken'.
I always recommend a check over (check for deteriorating pads, missing key corks, loose screws, binding keys, weak springs etc & rectify these only removing keys as needed, finally reseating pads as needed & regulating) every 12 - 18 months. Very few players fail to notice a marked improvement in performance.
The next time a full service is usually appropriate - which includes the above plus stripping down, feeing & tightening keys, cleaning body (especially the toneholes) & keys & renewing the oil on the pivot rods & screws.
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Author: Bob Bernardo
Date: 2010-09-02 02:32
Whenever something doesn't feel right. I fix my own horns, so I'd say I adjust something on the average of 4 to 6 months. Most of the issues are related to joint corks, spring tension, cork popping off the keys and hitting metal to metal contact.
The upper register of my horns are cork pads, so they hardly ever go bad, but every 5 years or so they begin to sound a bit clanky, load sounding when hitting some of the keys.
The lower part of the my horns often go out of adjustment with the lower keys.
Designer of - Vintage 1940 Cicero Mouthpieces and the La Vecchia mouthpieces
Yamaha Artist 2015
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Author: Lelia Loban ★2017
Date: 2010-09-02 12:11
Before I started learning to restore clarinets, I only took instruments to the technician when something seemed wrong. From the beginning, I did do basic everyday upkeep, such as swabbing the clarinet and rinsing the mouthpiece and reed(s) after every use. My elementary school band teacher taught our class to do those things. In junior high school, the same teacher taught the clarinet players some more elementary maintenance, such as oiling the keys and the wood once a year and checking to see if any key corks were loose. I think he also taught me how to adjust the screw where the A and A-flat keys cross each other, and how to re-set a spring that popped off its hook. I can't remember whether he taught me those things deliberately or whether I just observed carefully when he did them for me.
Lelia
http://www.scoreexchange.com/profiles/Lelia_Loban
To hear the audio, click on the "Scorch Plug-In" box above the score.
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