 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Gil Evans
Date: 2002-03-24 17:02
I would like to clean up my late father's clarinet but I'm a bit daunted by the prospect of reassembling the hardware correctly after disassembly and cleaning. I don't think the instrument would be of any value to anyone but me, and I'd like to do it myself anyway. I wonder if there are any materials available such as diagrams, tech info (such as what materials are used in it's construction), or instructions that would help. I don't play so my familiarity with the instrument is limited to enjoyment of it's wonderful sound.
Thanks in advance,
Gil Evans
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Author: chuck
Date: 2002-03-24 17:31
Gil: Disassembly is easy. Cleaning is a bit more demanding. But restoring it so that you may continue to enjoy the sound is not for amaateurs. If you wish to keep the clarinet in a playable condition, I would urge you to have your clarinet restored by a competent repairman. Ask for a name from your nearest music store. Chuck
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2002-03-24 18:07
Chuck says it well, pretty much my sentiments, however as an amateur repairer, I believe all players should have some familiarity with the cl's body and keywork if only for their own analysis of the problems which will and do occur. We have a number of pro repairers on our BBoard, perhaps they will speak out. I'm sure most can tell tales of {sheepish} cl'ists bringing in a stripped body and sack of parts, asking for HELP ! Don
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Author: Lawrence
Date: 2002-03-24 21:27
Gil,
I'll have to agree with Don, but it all depends on how comfortable you are with mechanical things. For me, it doesn't scare me, but I have clock repair experience, and that helps. I have searched for books and articles on woodwind repair with little luck. I did, however, find manual for sale on eBay. It's not great, but it's a starting point. Contact me off line and I'll give you the scoop.
Lawrence
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Author: Bob
Date: 2002-03-24 22:24
Gil: afraid I concur with other respondents. Since you are unfamiliar with the instrument and playing and since it has family memories.....best leave it to a qualified technician.
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Author: Jean Adler
Date: 2002-03-24 23:50
Gil,
Not sure where you live...my repair guy repaired my dad's fifty year old Noblet a few months ago. Cleaned the wood, the keys, new pads, everything. He had it for a some time because it needed to be oiled several times. It had gotten pretty dry.
When I showed it to my dad he thought I had bought (another) new clarinet. I don't know what anyone else pays to have this done, but it cost me $175. I think that cost for that much work was a good deal. If you would like to talk to my "guy" I can get you his info.
Jean
PS Seeing your clarinet "naked" is kind of pathetic. They just don't look right without their keys.
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Author: Lawrence
Date: 2002-03-24 23:58
Gil,
Sorry, I'm a little sloppy with my typing. I meant to say "I found a manual for sale on eBay". It covers repair of clarinet, flute and sax. I guess my main criticism is that, while it shows a lot of pictures of the instrument parts, it shows relatively few of the disassembly/assembly process. Surpisingly, there is a section on crack repair. The booklet is available from the author, who is a professional repairman. I will send his phone no. and e-mail address to any who want it.
Gil, all the others make good points. I'm not saying this is for you; ultimately, that's your decision. It's just the only reasource I know of.
Lawrence
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Author: JMcAulay
Date: 2002-03-25 05:48
Gil, if you are a person who is manually talented at all, maybe you can do at least a few things with your instrument. If all you want to do is clean it up thoroughly, that's not such a difficult task. As far as taking it apart is concerned, that's usually the easy part (unless there's a screw that doesn't want to budge). How to keep track of which is which can be a problem, especially for a first-time Clarinet dismantler. Fortunately, there is a "cheat sheet" available from Ferree's which shows where everything goes on a Boehm Clarinet, and you can even locate those little screws on this thing while you're polishing the keys. Be sure not to damage any of the springs. If you do, or if any need replacement (it's usually easy to tell), that's a job for a repair technician, partly because you don't have the special tools required.
Every serious clarinetist should know how to replace a pad. They have been known simply to fall off an instrument, and of course anything like that always happens at the worst possible time. Many repair techs are pleased to give you a few hints on replacing and reseating pads, and they are also likely your most practical source for replacement parts, such as pads. These people may charge more than a big supplier, but they are more convenient, and they are the ones who are helping you with suggestions. So give 'em some business. A few small parts won't cost that much anyway. "Doing" your Clarinet isn't a job to be tackled lightly, but with patience and persistence, the necessary skills can be learned.
Adjustment is a different thing entirely. This can be frustrating and time consuming, and if the Clarinet doesn't perform properly after you've reassembled it, check it over carefully to see if you can find any problems. You wouldn't have started to do this anyway if you didn't have plenty of time, but don't be reluctant to take it to your repair tech for adjustment. A good tech can almost surely do the job much faster than you.
Good luck and regards,
John
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Author: ron b
Date: 2002-03-25 06:38
To the best of my knowledge, gil, there are no clarinet specific manuals. Band instrument repair manuals are pretty good for general reference. If you're only going to do this once, save your money
If you want to tackle this yourself, that's fine. I would suggest that you do it one key at a time. Much better than having a bunch of parts spread all over, forgetting what goes where with which. One at a time gives you a far better chance of not getting over your head.
Spread a large towel on a clean work surface, like your kitchen table. With good lighting you should be okay. The towel is for catching dropped screws. You might find the ones that dodge the towel easier if you're working over a linoleum, or similar (smooth), floor.
You'll need a good small screwdriver, square nosed pliers and a crochet hook and some pipe cleaners. The crochet hook is for manipulating springs. They make special spring hooks but you can 'get by' with a regular crochet hook. A stiff bristle brush is handy for cleaning lint and dust from the body. The square nosed pliers make gripping the long screws and easing them out (and back in) easier. The tiny pivot (pointed) screws will try your patience, no matter what.
Take off each key, one at a time, polish it with a cloth. Don't rub the pad as you do this step - unless you're planning to re-pad the instrument. Clean the screw. Clean end hinge pivot points. Run a pipe cleaner through hollow tube hinges. Apply a couple of drops of key oil, recommend Dr. Syntek Aerospace Key Oil (Sneezy sponsor), to long screws. Reassemble. Put a drop of oil on pivot screws when reassembling those.
If any corks need replacing, now is the time to attend to that. But, if you only want to clean the instrument and are not keen about having it playable, you should have a nice looking cleaned up clarinet at this point. If you want it to be playable, I suggest that you take it to a tech at this point and ask for an estimate to get it in playable condition.
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2002-03-25 16:35
The only "clarinet" book I know of that has much re: repair and maintenance is by Robert Willaman, "The Clarinet and Clarinet Playing" [1959 and out of print I believe], Chap.IV. Its possible that a fair sized library might have [or could get a loan of] a copy, or it might be available via B&N and/or Amazon out-of-print services, prob. quite expensive, I paid some $30+ for mine. On back, LeBlanc produced a ?dozen-page? booklet re: repairing, a copy might still be available from an "older" music store. Or, pay for several lessons from a skilled [and willing] tech . Luck, Don
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Author: Jim S.
Date: 2002-03-25 19:45
There is a clarinet-specific repair manual. It is out of print now. It was A Clarinetist's Notebook Volume I, (Care and Repair) by Robert Schmidt and published by Shall-U-Mo Publications, Rochester N.Y. 1971 and 1978. It was based on the authors time spent at Hans Moennig's repair shop in Philadelphia and so is very authoritative.
You can probably find it online at one of the used book sites.
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Author: diz
Date: 2002-03-25 22:45
Damn - I'm a complete clutz - I'll just have to pay a professional!
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Author: Bob Arney
Date: 2002-03-26 17:52
I have a "Clarinet Repair Manual" written by Lawrence Frank, Frank Woodwind Repair. It states "This book is written for clarinet players from high school level to the professionsl musician. This manual is a must for band directors who need to do emergency repairs." It was copyright 2000 but is spiral-bound and may be a private publisher. No other clues given except that of a Tool company where Mr. Frank buys stuff from their catalogue. Very well illustrated and good descriptions of all actions to take. Even I can understand it. ;=) Bought it off e-Bay, have yet to use it. kinda like keeping my snowblower parked in front of my garage door.
Bob A
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