 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Micaela
Date: 2001-08-11 02:36
I was really bored tonight so I thought I'd see if I could take my clarinet apart because I've never done it before. Very stupid move, I know. Anyway, I took off the register key, cleaned out the hole and put it on again. No problem. Then I took off both the G# and A keys. I once again cleaned out the holes and put the keys back on. But I somehow messed up the G#. It is now stuck about halfway up and will not move at all. I thought I got the little spring in the right place but obviously I did something wrong. How can I fix it?
Many thanks,
Micaela
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Author: Mindy
Date: 2001-08-11 02:40
I would take it to a repair shop in your town. I can't tell you anything else but that. (sorry) I hope you get it fixed!!
Good Luck!
Mindy
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Author: Terry Horlick
Date: 2001-08-11 03:23
The G# spring should look like a little needle. It fits into a little hook on the key. If you put it on the wrong side of the hook it will weakly hold the key open. Just reach in there with the point of a pencil and push the spring gently around to the other side of the hook. That should fix it.
I congratulate your starting to explore. You will someday find that minor repair skills will save a gig, I have.
Terry
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Author: Charles Roop
Date: 2001-08-11 04:38
Run, do not walk, to your nearest music store. They should have a repair person to help you. :-)
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Author: ron b
Date: 2001-08-11 05:16
No, no, no... not stupid at all, Micaela.
Many musicians do their own maintenance. Now, so do you. If you can't get it to work right by the above suggestions, don't force it. Not knowing the *exact* nature of your problem G# I'm really reluctant to advise more than has already been pointed out.
I don't know any techs who wouldn't be happy to show you what the problem is and how to correct it and not charge you a cent. It's in their interest to help you. They have bigger jobs to do and would rather you take care of the little stuff yourself. They don't bite :]
Smile.
- ron b -
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Author: Sara
Date: 2001-08-11 06:27
Ron B-
Do you know of any like that in the Northern California area? I tried to purchace a pad for my flute at our repair shop and they said no, they would only sell it to me if they instaled it, and that was going to be atleast $20. I asked them for advice about something else and they would not help me either.
I think they charge to much anyways, so maybe if I can find someone that will give advice they will have better prices too.
I have found some very great ones in the San Francisco and Oakland areas that will help, but that is a 5 hour drive away.
Thanks.
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Author: ron b
Date: 2001-08-11 07:25
Sara -
Twenty bucks to install a flute pad? Where do you live? I wanna move there :])
I live in Sacramento (Fair Oaks, actually) and can name several 'techs' in this area who would be happy to help you. There are really two major repair shops in the Sacto area now and some practicing instrument mechanics who tinker here and there. They surface once in a while when the weather turns fair.
Contact me off the board about flute pads etc. if you like. They don't cost twenty bucks....
Advice and referrals are free.
For general information, you can purchase pads and other supplies from Ferree's (a Sneezy sponsor), and others I don't recall right off, for very reasonable prices.
- ron b -
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Author: Wes
Date: 2001-08-11 07:47
Sara, I'll give you some flute pads for free if you wish. They can be sent in an envelope to your mailing address. However, not all flutes are the same diameter or thickness and I'm not sure they would fit your flute. Also, open hole flutes have pads with holes in them. Installing a flute pad can be a very tricky process, not easy for beginners, which is why they suggest that you get them to do it. Pad adjustment for all but the small pads is done with paper rings, whole or partial, of various thicknesses. Good luck!
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Author: jbutler
Date: 2001-08-11 12:02
Sara,
What kind of clarinet do you have? Do you have a Vito that has two pivot screws, one at each post that holds the G# key? In this case you may have just merely tightened the pivot screws to tightly. Back them off a bit and see if it doesn't work corretly.
On other clarinets sometimes they (the manufacturer) make the A key rod a little too long and it actually works against the G# key. Try backing out the A key rod a little and see if the G# key begins to work correctly.
The third suggestion is that somehow the key or rod got bent in the process of your taking it apart. I suggest you take it to your repairer and get it fixed.
John
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Author: Anji
Date: 2001-08-11 12:57
The horn doesn't work now, right?
Perhaps this is an opportunity to learn about the mechanism.
Worst case, you bust the spring and have a small additional fee.
If you have a friend with a clarinet, use the working horn as a guide to reassemble
your clarinet. The mechanisms should be similar.
Get some safety goggles on, just in case.
Be aware that they call them "Needle" springs for a reason; they're VERY sharp.
(I have lotsa little 'leaks' in my fingertips from overhauls, and spring replacements.)
I like to use a Bamboo skewer (from the kitchen, yeah) and sand the flat end smooth. I use this to manipulate the spring into place (you'll see some little notch,
or post on the key for the spring to fit) with little twisting.
If you lever the spring around or apply lotsa torque if MAY BREAK.
When finished, count the extra pieces. If the horn still plays, you dinnit needem.
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Author: jbutler
Date: 2001-08-11 13:14
I forgot, the fourth problem might be that the key is sprung incorrectly. The spring must be tensioned toward the left hand side as you play. It is then hooked by pushing it back under the spring latch and positioning it so it will stay on the right side of the spring latch. It is easier to hook the spring on the G# key by positioning it before attaching it to the posts with the rod.
John
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Author: ~jerry
Date: 2001-08-11 14:52
It's odd that there are no reputable repair persons in a city the size of Sacramento............maybe Fresno? Or is that no nearer than Oakland.
Perhaps further research might turn up a repair shop you can "work" with. Perhaps another experienced clarinetist who does his/her own work.It would be handy to know such a person, and I would suspect that if the nearest repair shop is Oakland, there is bound to be a few knowledgable clarinetists around town who can help out.
GL
~ jerry
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Author: ron b
Date: 2001-08-11 16:28
Jerry -
Please look again at my post above. It's very subjective, of course. There ARE reputable repair persons in Sacramento. There are reputable repair persons in surrounding towns and villages too, as well as larger cities like Fresno, I just don't happen to be acquainted with them. I meant to clarify that (in Sacramento) not all repair people work at the major shops. They're 'independent contractors' :] who tend to specialize... only saxes or only brass etc. One guy does only alto saxes, is an expert at it. Like that :]
- ron b -
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2001-08-11 17:55
You mention that the key will not move, I believe. Particularly if it is wood, it may be that the post to which the spring is attached, is slightly twisted, which might bind the key. Just adding to John B's advice . Don
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Author: Micaela
Date: 2001-08-11 20:46
Thanks for all your help! It's really great to be able to have this resource.
I found my problem...now I feel REALLY dumb. Not knowing how to take the key off, I had unscrewed the screw on the top of the key. Once I figured out that it didn't hold the key on, I put it back in...all the way. I had put the G# on prefectly well, I just had screwed the screw on the top in too much when I put it back in and it was holding the key up. And I kept thinking that it was something wrong with the spring. That little screw isn't useless after all. If the G# key is this complicated, I better not touch the rest of the clarinet.
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Author: ClairGirl
Date: 2001-08-14 05:34
Gee Micaela! That sounds like something I would do! This is Kristin from Hartwick. Since you posted this a few days ago, I'm sure you fixed it already (or had someone fix it for you). I'm not brave enough to take apart my clarinet, but it's due for a tune up before college.
C-ya!
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2001-08-15 15:58
ron b: The low keys have adjusting screws on current Peter Eatons and Howarths. The Howarth even has one which effectively adjusts the bridge key linkage, although it is not actuallly on the linkage part.
In my experience clarinets which need these low keys adjusted also need a range of other adjustments to these low keys. The compromises made to establish the adjusting screws on Peter Eaton make these other adjustments more difficult, and also cause a great deal of friction in one of the linkages. Howarth has far better design. (And a great instrument to play!)
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