 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Trevor C
Date: 2011-03-23 17:04
Hi, I have a q. My old jupiter calrient was great but last year I got a step clarinet- FE Olds Semi-Pro, grenadilla wood yadda yadda yadda. The whole nine yards. I really love it but, I seem to have a problem. It almost appears that my keys are eroding or haveing some type of reaction with my fingers? On just about every key or part that my fingers are always one, the once shiny keys are now a very rough texture, and more goldish brown in color. It's worse on the lower joint. What is this from? This didnt happen AT ALL with the 4 or 5 years i had my jupiter. Why all of a sudden is this happening now, after not even having it for a year? any ideas?
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2011-03-23 17:10
Hmm. What do these nine yards consist of, plating-wise? Nickel? Silver?
--
Ben
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Author: Trevor C
Date: 2011-03-23 17:13
I'm not sure what the plating is. It never said just something about blue steel springs. the entire clarient is/// FE Olds Semi-Professional NA45
here is the link http://feolds.com/descriptions/descripClarinet.htm#NA45
just scroll down to NA45.
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2011-03-23 17:42
Well, as it says "10 yr warranty" (which I hope is not just for the case), I'd contact the manufacturer about this. Some pictures might help them identifying the root cause.
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Ben
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2011-03-23 17:52
You may be one of us with a particularly acidic sytem that expresses itself in your sweat. Depending on the wear to your present clarinet, there may not be anything you can do for these keys (if a silver polishing cloth does not take the oxidation away).
As you procede from here out, you should assume that this WILL occur to most silver or nickel keys and just ensure that you WIPE the keys off after EVERY use with a 100% cotton cloth (such as flannel).
DO NOT use a polishing cloth on a regular basis because each use removes a layer of the surface (so this MIGHT help your present problem).
I discovered my problem a year into the ownership of a silver plated Selmer 10G. The keys had deep grooves worn into them that looked like valleys after just one year!!!
..................Paul Aviles
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Author: Bb R13 greenline
Date: 2011-03-23 18:42
The same thing happens to my R13, a tech from buffet told me that if I was to gold plate my keys this would not happen
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2011-03-23 19:53
Well, gold is resistant to oxidation (see King Tut's Death Mask). I went with a set of Yamaha's CSGs with Hamilton plating for this reason (combination of nickel and gold). The plating thickness on these horns is rather thin, perhaps only two or three microns, so the physical action on the keys eventually leads to wear.
To respond directly to Bb R13 Greenline, YES, gold (of a decent thickness) will solve that problem. However....... there is the aesthetic consideration (some people just think it looks weird - Check out the photo of Chadash's Gold plated version on his website) and the plating itself is about $300 plus the cost of the complete overhaul (which this necessitates) which could run as much as $1000 for the whole job.
It's easiest on the wallet if you can get your horns gold to start, such as the Chadash clarinets.
..............Paul Aviles
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2011-03-23 20:40
Who makes these Olds clarinets?
I'd suspect they're most likely nickel plated as nickel can go yellowy through contact.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2011-03-23 21:17
> nickel can go yellowy through contact
Mine go black.
Maybe I should wash my hands between motorbike maintenance and rehearsal....
--
Ben
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Author: Trevor C
Date: 2011-03-23 22:27
"Who makes these Olds clarinets?
I'd suspect they're most likely nickel plated as nickel can go yellowy through contact.
Chris."
Not sure? FE Olds and Sons is the company.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2011-03-23 22:50
I thought Olds ceased production in the late '70s which makes me wonder who bought the Olds name and where they source their instruments from.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: jasperbay
Date: 2011-03-23 23:46
Since everyone else is being overly tactful, I've looked at the website in question and have drawn a few conclusions: (a) their alto and bass clarinet are made in Elkhart USA, probably by the Bundy/Leblanc Vito folks. (b) their 'semi-pro' Bb clarinets are not identified as 'USA', or anywhere else, for that matter. I would hazard a guess they are made in China, or Taiwan, from grenadilla. The key erosion sounds to me like fairly thin or poorly applied nickel plating over brass keys, which would not be typical of a 'semi-pro' clarinet.
Just because a seller says his clarinet is 'semi-pro' doesn't mean it is. I always research the maker and model in this website before assuming a clarinet is what the seller claims it to be.
Clark G. Sherwood
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Author: Trevor C
Date: 2011-03-23 23:51
Thank you for that information. I was told the clarinets were made in Ohio at the store.
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2011-03-24 00:49
I know several clarinetists whose sweat is so acidic it eats through thin areas, such as rings, within a couple of years. Al Gallodoro had to have his clarinet, bass clarinet and alto sax heavily gold plated to make them last for more than a few years.
Ken Shaw
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Author: BassClarinetBaby
Date: 2011-03-24 07:16
My friend has the same problem. She turns all silver rings, bracelets and necklaces a lovely greeny-black colour. Her keys have also worn away (nickel-plated) after 5 years. I've had the same model clarinet as her, but it's 7 years old and the keys are fine. It's just something in the oils in your body/sweat. I'm not sure of ways to fix this sorry. But perhaps regularly wiping your hands could slow the process? Although this is impractical when performing/even rehearsing. You could have your keys plated in gold if you had the money/a tech who would do it.
Never Bb, sometimes B#, and always B natural! ♫♪
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Author: cigleris
Date: 2011-03-24 10:53
You should see the state of my Bb, the A is slightly better. I don't have acidic sweat as the plating in my other instruments has never worn. I can only put it down to heavy use and thin plating. The pinky keys are all fine but the ring keys are worn down to the base.
I'm looking into getting them done within the next few months performance schedule permitting.
Peter Cigleris
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