 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: jgiddings
Date: 2021-06-11 10:53
I've just acquired a cheap bundy bass.
I think it's going to need a full repad and I've been able to find places on the internet where you can buy the pads, so that's not too much of a problem.
The left F#/C# lever is snapped and one of the long screws is missing, though. I don't know how to source those parts. I think part of the problem with trying to find them on the internet is that even though I've played the clarinet for 30 years I actually don't know what the repair techs call these bits!
Does anyone know of a good website with information about how these parts are named, and another website where you can then order what you need, once you know what you need?
I'm based in the UK, but happy to order internationally if necessary.
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2021-06-11 12:51
Unless the keys are made of zamak or something similar (and on the Bundy they are not) it should be possible to braze the F#/C# lever. Maybe it's possible to find a key, possibly the USA is filled with Bundies broken for parts. I only know of one place that might have it and they only sell only to registered repairers, music shops, etc. (I can check the catalogue if they have it later). I really prefer to braze instead of replace. Unless you mean the snapped part is missing, and then I'd still prefer to braze the part from a different key or make it when possible.
For the screw, if you mean a rod screw (sounds like you do), then they are usually made from drill rod. Some places might have them but I don't know of any (the same supplier mentioned above might).
If you mean a pivot screw, you can get it from here https://www.dawkes.co.uk/pivot-screw-selmer-usa-bass-clarinet-usa/11953
They don't seem to have rod screws.
I'm not sure if Selmer USA parts would fit older Bundies, I think they would, but maybe someone else would know for sure.
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Author: jgiddings
Date: 2021-06-11 20:25
Thanks for the response.
Yes, I looked at Dawkes and noticed they only had pivot screws. This is a screw to go into the post for the F/E/Eb keys, so I think it's a rod screw, as you say.
The snapped off lever is indeed missing the broken part. I could live without it, but knowing that it's not going to be easy to buy a replacement, I'll look into making a replacement section for the lever.
The one thing I absolutely will need is the screw, and I definitely don't have the tools to machine a thread on raw drill rod! I assumed things like these rod screws would be fairly standard across bass clarinets...!
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2021-06-11 23:33
Screws are usually make and model specific (mainly diameter and thread size as well as lengths) and not the same across the board.
There could be some screws that fit Bundy Bb clarinets that could work on Bundy basses provided they're the correct diameter and length as the thread sizes are most likely the same. I haven't had many Bundy basses in, even though they are largely popular entry level basses to compare the various rod screw lengths with their Bb counterparts.
Generally it's much better to have a longer rod screw as that can be shortened to the correct length and the slot recut whereas rod screws that are too short can be difficult to extract if you can't access the threaded pillar - especially where the LH lever rod screws go as there's no easy way to extract them if you can't successfully grip the heads to remove them.
I do have a Bundy Bb clarinet in at the moment, so if you can let me know the overall length of the rod screw you're missing (if it's the LH levers, both will be the same length) then I can see which rod screw on that is the same length or as near to it within around +/- 1mm.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2021-06-12 10:05
Dawkes does have some Bundy rod screws but I guess you'd have to somehow find out if they fit the bass (diameter, threads and long enough that at worse case you can shorten and re-slot them).
They seem to have the CL300 model parts, but there's also the 1400 model but the Allied catalogue implies the screws are the same for both.
Unlike some "clever" companies, Bundy put saving costs above most other things, so there's a decent chance the soprano and bass clarinets use the same diameters and threads for the rod screws.
The Allied catalogue doesn't list Bundy/Selmer USA bass F#/C# lever.
Depending on where it is broken, maybe possible to use a regular clarinet lever for this to transplant.
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