 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Jerry
Date: 2014-05-06 06:11
The right side Eb/Bb lever (top of right hand) is extremely touchy, meaning if I just barely touch it with the knuckle of my pointer finger, it lifts that lever just enough to destroy clean playing. I know I could learn to keep my finger away from that key entirely. But compared to the spring resistance of other clarinets, mine seems to be exceedingly/excessively light. This seems to be a recent occurrence. It is a 7 year old R-13.
Is there a way to stiffen the existing spring tension? Or is there a stiffer spring I can install on it? Or since I am not into clarinet repair, is this something best left to a tech?
Thanks for your thoughts.
Jerry
Jerry
The Villages, FL
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2014-05-06 08:25
By Eb/Bb I assume you mean the lowest of the right side trill keys, right?
It's possible that the spring cracked, or started to break but stlil working (jut feels lighter), or got lighter for whatever other reason that would make it impossible to fix.
It is more likely that it can be fixed by making the spring "stronger" (more curved). You need to remove the key and curve the spring in the correct direction, place and shape.
This key can be pressed farther down when the clarinet joints are not assembled, curving the spring more than it usually needs to be. With most clarinets, this usually doesn't change itse strength at all, but it is still possible that it can happen.
If you do this yourself, you need to be careful not to curve it to a bad shape, which means it can be noisy, not feel comfortable (e.g. have significantly different resistant throughout its movement), etc.
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Author: Tony F
Date: 2014-05-06 11:40
This is a minor repair, but if you're not comfortable with removing keys it would be best left to a tech. It should only take a few minutes. The spring may have lost strength over time or it may have rotated in its hole.
Tony F.
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2014-05-06 12:41
Easy fix as stated above BUT, are you trying to mechanically fix a 'bad habit?' The spring tension on key that keep pads down should be strong enough to keep that pad from being literally "blown open." If you try to prevent it from opening because you occasionally rest your finger there, the odds are that your technique will suffer from the action being too logy. For me, I want all four of those trill keys to be equal in tension. How taught are the other three keys?
just sayin'
..............Paul Aviles
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Author: pewd
Date: 2014-05-06 18:36
> I could learn to keep my finger away from that key entirely.
Yes. You shouldn't be resting your finger on, or under, the trill keys. Support the the instrument with the right thumb. Twist your right wrist slightly to the right - make sure your fingers on the right hand are close to 90o to the instrument.
It is hard to diagnose stuff like this on the internet. Can you have a teacher or friend observe you play to see whats going on?
Also remove the key and check the tiny screw that holds it to the key - make sure the spring isn't starting to crack. This is a flat spring on a R13, not a round (needle) spring. If its not cracking, you can simply bend the spring out a bit to strengthen it.
- Paul Dods
Dallas, Texas
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2014-05-06 23:30
The tension on the side and trill key flat springs on Buffets are normally set fairly strong, so if this spring is weak and opens just by looking at it, then it either needs retensioning or replacing.
But if you are resting against any closed standing key, any slight movement will make them open. So don't rest any fingers against any closed standing keys.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Jerry
Date: 2014-05-07 05:26
Well, it turns out that the spring was not merely "too light" but it had a hairline fracture and was just barely hanging on. I gave that section of the instrument a closer look this evening and low and behold, that key was in an upright and ready position, i.e. "open and useless." I removed the key and saw the spring's break point. That would explain some of the difficulty I had with this instrument over the past few weeks.
I am surprised that a spring would give up after only 8 or 9 years. Is that typical? This gives me reason to suspect others may be failing soon as well.
Are clarinet springs like fluorescent light bulbs in a factory? There you replace them all at once to avoid the water torture-like experience of constant replacement. I hate playing problems creeping up where it might take days or weeks to determine the problem is the instrument and not me.
A more generic question: Was I living on borrowed time not giving my new Buffet a complete overhaul in 8 or 9 years? What is the typical period of time between major overhauls (complete stripping) for active players?
Jerry
The Villages, FL
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2014-05-07 17:03
Springs will go at any given time without warning and are usually replaced when they go. Needle springs that are rusty are very likely to break, so keep an eye on all your springs. All spring have been tempered or hardened in some way or other so they will keep their tension, but this is also what makes them liable to breaking.
That's why I remove all springs during a service - not only does it make polishing the pillars easier (and less risk of being stabbed when polishing the joints) but springs can be checked to see if they're still good or not and replaced where necessary.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2014-05-08 15:09
"Are clarinet springs like fluorescent light bulbs in a factory? There you replace them all at once to avoid the water torture-like experience of constant replacement...."
No, they are not, unless they have rust on them, that has significantly pitted the metal. The amount of rust will depend on the original quality of the sprig, and how much moisture you expose your clarinet to while in the case.
"...What is the typical period of time between major overhauls (complete stripping) for active players?"
8 or 9 years with no attention is quite a long time. But it depends on just how well it was adjusted before those 8/9 years. Never assume that the job the factory did is good. It seldom is.
And IMO complete stripping is not the issue. The issue is sealing of pads without undue finger pressure, and identifying problems (from astute vision and very astute "feel" that comes form experience as a technician) like you have experienced before they develop to a state that affects your playing.
I am sure your clarinet would play surprisingly better with some expert technician TLC. You have very likely just got used to it playing less than optimum.
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Author: Steven Ocone
Date: 2014-05-08 16:22
I have replaced this spring on a few recent Buffets recently due to breakage.
Steve Ocone
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Author: Jerry
Date: 2014-05-08 17:39
I've had three or four pads and several joint corks replaced over the years, and the last couple of years repairs/adjustments have been made by a very competent Buffet tech, Bruce Marking in Jacksonville. So the instrument has been maintained.
As the end user, however, my own preference is to start fresh with an overhaul. Why? So that I am not as likely to be haunted by the the spectre of the next component breaking down while I take too long to discover that deteriorating ease of playing and tone quality are not caused by my own inabilities which are bad enough without being made worse by failures of the instrument.
Jerry
The Villages, FL
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