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Re: How Hard Is It To Learn How To Overhaul Your Own Bb Clarinet?

Author: clarnibass
Date: 2011-09-12 09:52

It's nice to be able to learn from someone in person. It doesn't necessarily have to be someone great. Obviously that would be better, but if you have some mechanical talent and sense you can understand even from someone showing you how to do it badly...

IMO the most important thing for a repairer is the ability and trying to understand the logical and technical reasons for whatever it is that is done. Don't just "follow a recipe" because someone told you, or it was written in a book. Thank for yourself about WHY. It's a bit like music in that you can simply follow something and happen to get a good concert, or you can understand why you are choosing to do something with deeper reasons behind it. It's less abstract (not abstract at all really) but not entirely different.

My first overhaul was on my Vito Eb sopranino clarinet with almost no tools at all. Not even close to the list Tony F wrote above. I have some screwdrivers and a small pair of pliers to get the rod screws out. I didn't even have a spring hook. I used the stove for a flame and it took forever... but eventually turned out ok. A lot wasn't fixed but it played. It was mainly for parctice. I haven't used it much since then but a local player borrowed it for a pro orchestra concert as they had no other option for an Eb and it was fine. Point is if you take your (very long) time, even first time can be ok. Obviously with a lot more practice and tools it's possible to do better.

Klook/Mark is lucky to have repair schools in their area. There are none in my country. There is no one here who would take an apprentice either, though on a repairers' forum some in the USA mention they do have an apprentice, sometimes even more than one.
So I had to learn everything from the internet, books and practicing. You really don't need so many tools at the beginning. You can do a lot with very little. I mean, my dental micromotor is more important to me than any swedging pliers and I wouldn't recommend a beginner go buy one. Get more tools while you learn what you need.

I recommend getting a book and right now the best IMO is the Reg Thorp book The Complete Woodwind Repair Manual (if I remember correct). You can get it from NAPBIRT and a few other sources (don't be comfused by another book by him with a slightly different name). Even this very thick book is just the beginning.

>> Thankfully no keys need swedgeing. <<

How lucky! I don't think I've ever seen a clarinet needing a repad but no swedging. Even most clarinets in much better condition usually don't have completely tight keys.

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