 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: SpiritTalker
Date: 2014-09-30 22:58
Can anyone tell me if it's more difficult to disassemble/assemble a FB instrument than a regular Boehm? I have done so on my regular horn several times over the years but the new FB I'm getting next week (old instrument I'd like to clean & recondition) I'm a bit squeamish about. Aside from the obvious (more keys), are there any helpful tips/pointers/pitfalls anyone can share that may be specific to working upon this type of keywork? Thanks in advantage.
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Author: Caroline Smale
Date: 2014-09-30 23:20
I suggest you study the extra mechanisms carefully to be sure you know how they interact before dismantling.
The low Eb and LH Ab/Eb are pretty straight forward but notice the sequence needed when removing and reverse on assembly.
The fork Eb/Bb and articulated C#/G# are more tricky and need careful setup and regulation so study well and again note sequence of removal. Thicness of the pads is very important on the last 2 mechanisms to ensure they work well so look at what is there already (assuming they are correct!!) for a guide. Shims also need to be very thin but hard on these mechanisms.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2014-10-01 00:38
I'd suggest you use the much harder wearing rubberised cork (gasket cork or rubco) on the articulated C#/G# lever (the heavy sprung part with the touchpieces) and coat it with graphite to make it slippery. Use the thinnest you can get - around 0.2mm to 0.3mm thick will be ideal. Some clarinets have no silencing material there but that will only create noise.
Also use thin rubco under the adjusting screws on the C#/G# pad cup and the forked Eb/Bb mechanism (on the E/B vent/LH3 ring key pad cup arm) or fit nylon tips to the screws, but they will create some noise even though they will last a long time and keep in regulation well. Natural cork is pretty useless in these applications as it wears out far too quickly, so a much harder wearing material is needed. Leather could be used but it soon hardens.
I've stuck with using nylon tipped adjusting screws on my full Boehms for log term reliability even though they do make some mechanical noise, but at least keeping things in regulation is better than having to replace silencing materials once they wear out. I fit a nylon tip to adjusting screw on the throat G# key on clarinets in preference of having anything glued into the slot on the throat A key as that often wears out. Make the nylon tip domed instead of square so it runs smoothly.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: SpiritTalker
Date: 2014-10-01 20:21
Thank you for all the advice! I will definitely use it when I get brave enough to take on the endeavor.
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