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Re: Yamaha YAC-20 rebuild questions

Author: Steven Ocone
Date: 2017-05-02 15:52

I have never seen a YAC-20 and I can't find it on the Yamaha web site.

The YCL-20 is a popular plastic student clarinet, now discontinued. I suppose you could have cork pads put on it. I wouldn't. A quick and inexpensive cork pad job could result in an instrument that plays poorly.

Springs. There are great stainless steel springs and there are ones that will never feel well. I'm guessing the Yamaha Springs would be fine.

Some keys will never feel as well as others due to key design. In general a slightly thinner spring bent more feels better than a thicker spring and a longer spring feels better than a shorter one. Unfortunately, some keys can only fit a short spring and to give adequate closing pressure it is thicker.

The more precisely a pad is installed, the more the spring tension can be reduced. Cork pads need to be very precise.

Then there is the question of leverage. The throat Ab and pinky Ab/Eb are operated close to the access of rotation. Getting these to feel good involves some time and there are some tricks as well. I hope I haven't put you to sleep.

The best approach is to back off the spring tension before the pad is installed and (hopefully) seals.

Steve Ocone

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