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Re-learning but stalled

Author: mygoldendoe
Date: 2018-04-28 06:57

Northeast Alabama,

history with clarinet:
I used to play clarinet in band (5th, 6th, &7th grade). The only thing I remember about that particular clarinet was that it was bought second hand from retired person. It was wood with a hard rubber mouth piece and inverted ligature (I only remember this bc my band teacher gave me grief over all of these qualities yet somehow she gave me the most [sound related] compliments. Which confused me bc even with all the praise and suppassing first chair, I never got to sit there, I was forced to sit last chair)..I left band over this particular teacher (final straw was her harrassing me for large amount of money with no reason or paperwork for my parents and apon asking fellow band members no one else had to pay as she had claimed to me). Mother rented the clarinet out through a shop over summer and when she went to pick it up they "lost" it and she was never compensated...despite all the bad luck, I love the clarinet and vowed to try again someday.

Current experience:
After quizing myself via a video I did indeed remember half the fingerings and can still read sheet music so figured it'd be good time to try to find a clarinet before I completely forget. Husband agreed it was ok only if it was equal cost to an instrument he wanted to learn.
Our small town still doesn't have a music related store, Google said there 5 stores that delt with clarinet 2hrs away. I drove to all of them but only one was still open and they only delt with the school band students, not walk in average Joe's. (Unless I wanted Reed's or song books but no pads or nothing instrument related unless was through the school)..so after searching the pawnshops and internet I finally was about to find one.. it is vintage wood. it's not a brand I can find information on (a.c. jeoffroy. Paris. But bell also says California under the logo) the only photos Google showed of that brand that was also wood didn't have all the keys options (sorry don't rmbr the term) but mine does. And there's no serial number to go off of...

It needs cleaning, keys polished, and 2 pads replaced. The corks look great, and after getting cork grease in feels and fits good. The mouth piece is a vintaged Geo. M. Bundy #3, has discoloring and what looks like a very slight bend on the inside. (Was hard but doable to make sound just mouth piece&barrel with a 1 1/2 reed. So I'm most likely way out of shape or The mouthpiece bend is issue?) I have photos but dunno how to load them.
All the keys are there and easy to use. But like I said I have no idea how to clean, polish, or change pads.
I can't find extremely detailed info on how to do all this and I can't find local ppl via my favorite social media groups to look it over so I'm not sure what to do. I live in booneys (driving 2hrs either direction for even a craft store let alone a music related store)
I'm frustrated.
This site is difficult to navigate and I'm wondering if there are a section to find ppl local (or semi local that's closer than a 2hr drive) who could at least look at it, teach me how to clean and change pads, and try their mouth piece to at least make sure my issues won't be with the clarinet once I get the mouth piece situation figured out? I've tried the search option but not much is coming up related to my key words, maybe I'm using wrong search words, I'll keep trying.
-mygoldendoe

Post Edited (2018-04-28 08:03)

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