 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: joseph o'kelly
Date: 2001-05-02 22:53
After a year of faithfull service, my Festival is conking out on me. Up 'till a week ago it played beutifully. Now it plays airy, sounds watery and the keys are sluggish. I take the upmost care of every instrument in my possession. I thought it was my playing that resulted in a lower quality of playing. It was horible to hear me play like that, although others thought I sounded fine. I almost felt if I continued on a downfall, I would quit playing. I hate sounding just fine, I want to go back to sounding my best. I got out my backup R-13 (Evette Master Model) and sounded alot better, although I am not yet used to this instrument.
I know there was a topic debating the possibility of a clarinet being blown-out. If I didn't know any better I would say this piece of s#%@(sorry) was blown out. After one year? Is there any way to get it playing like new? It would seem odd for a one year old clarinet to be worn out when my 1960s clarinet works like a charm.
Once again I take discriminating care of my instruments. I always rinse my mouth before playing, wash my hands and swab out the clarinet afterwards. I do play for long periods of time. I swabb it out thouroghly and yet still get a water sound. I think the repair place I recently sent it to has something to do with this.
I think I have to get a total overhall on it when I get the money. I will send it to a pro. who knows what he's doing.
I think I'll make the Festival my backup and leave the Evette as my main horn.
Any thoughts?
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Author: Mandy
Date: 2001-05-02 22:58
Maybe just repadding and regulating,one year sounds a little soon to be k8@$*''d.
Truthfully I'm stumped.
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Author: Bill
Date: 2001-05-02 23:20
I'd check if the A key & G# key/pads are sealing.
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Author: Anji
Date: 2001-05-03 00:16
What Bill said,
Those top two pads really 'Seal the deal' for everything that follows.
Get a second set of hands to test the waters, as you descend from C, have them apply additional pressure to the pad that has just closed... when the sound pops out clear and strong you will have located ze culprit.
Pads are soft and don't last forever. A trip to the shop can't hurt.
anji
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2001-05-03 01:22
I would recommend getting the cork pads on the top and the better quality lower pads through some kind of service like Brannen Woodwinds and other sponsors advertised here on Sneezy. The Brannen deal on Buffets is absolutely magnificent! And, the cork pads don't get "spongey" like it sounds like has happened to your Festival.
It's too good an instrument to be blown out yet. I would more tend to follow Anji and Bill's advice and think it's a pad problem. That can ruin everything. Perhaps your repairman put in a bad pad by accident, give him the benefit of the doubt and talk to him and ask him to re do whatever he did.
The wood should be fine unless it's cracked. The mechanical stuff should be good as well---that only leaves the pads or a problem with one of the tone holes or something hidden inside somewhere---like a clarinet grinch! Hmmm..
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Author: Joseph O'Kelly
Date: 2001-05-03 01:50
I forgot to mention that there are two cracks in the upper joint that I don't believe are through the tennon yet. I keep sending them in to get pinned but they keep shrinking back up and the repairman can't find them. Living in Michigan this happens.
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Author: Joseph O'Kelly
Date: 2001-05-03 02:00
I mean there not through the bore.
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Author: kenny
Date: 2001-05-03 03:10
How about trying another Mouthpiece and a new reed?
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Author: jbutler
Date: 2001-05-03 03:13
Your repairer should be able to find them! He should steam the joint until the crack opens up if it has closed up. You could also mark it with a pencil line so that he can detect it. It could be that the crack is through the bore and you just can't see it. It wouldn't take much of a leak to cause problems.
John
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Author: Terry Horlick
Date: 2001-05-03 03:29
My Evette Master used to do that about every 3 years. I found it was teh little adjusting screw on the g# key. It will vibrate in a little so there is a tiny leak. It makes the horn a bit stuffy. I usually just use a fingernail to turn it out about 1/4 turn and then it does fine for the next 3 years.
<IMG SRC="http://www.jps.net/horlick/buffet2.jpg" Align="center" WIDTH="200" HEIGHT="202" BORDER=2>
Check that, it will only take a minute and you may love your horn again. Then please report back to us on that!
Terry
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Author: Willie
Date: 2001-05-03 04:17
Goop up those corks too! A small leak at the tenon can give you fits also.
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Author: Pat
Date: 2001-05-03 23:22
I use to have a kindof watery sound. I talked to my teacher about it and he suggested to take off the keys one at a time, wet a q-tip, and clean out the inside of the tone holes. I would get lots of junk out those. I would get rid of the junk inside those. after that, i would dry out the tone holes with a dry q tip. I had a ton of junk in the holes especially in the top joints. I am very meticulous when putting away my clarinet too, swabing it while i am practicing, and before i put it away. It could be anything. I wouldn't worry so much that the horn is bad. this might help.
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