 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Micaela
Date: 2002-08-26 02:22
I have an R-13 B flat from the early 50s which I love dearly. When it's working it sounds terrific, better than any new R-13 I've played (which is admittedly only two or three). The problem is that a lot of the time it isn't working. I took it in for a checkup in June and got some minor things fixed but it sprung a leak a few weeks ago and now a spring isn't working also. It spends a lot of time getting fixed; I'm taking it in again tomorrow. Is this to be expected from a clarinet this age? I take it to the best repair-person in the area. I have trouble finding time to take it in to be repaired during the school year because I play it so much. I love its sound but living with it's problems is getting to be a bit much. (This almost sounds like I'm talking about a boyfriend. Our relationship is in a rocky spot, I think.)
I've thought about getting a new clarinet but I'm unconvinced that I can find anything as good as my current one and I don't happen to have $1700 lying around. I'm going to college next year as a music major (but not for performance). Would an overhaul or something like that benefit my clarinet or should I learn to live with its unreliability (or go shopping)?
Thanks,
Micaela
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2002-08-26 02:23
Micaela wrote:
>
> I have an R-13 B flat from the early 50s which I love
> dearly.
You mean mid-fifties, right?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2002-08-26 03:22
If you get a major overhaul by a good technician you can expect no problems for a few years, and even then, only minor adjustments. The overhaul for an instrumnet this age will probably be expensive.
If you get its dozens of woes attended to in piece-meal fashion the instrument will constantly be being serviced, and long term it will cost you far more.
It sounds as if you cannot at present afford a new instrument, nor to keep an old instrument reliable. A clarinet is a mechanical contraption - so think of your current one like a 50 year old vehicle - with a purring engine, but......!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: ron b
Date: 2002-08-26 05:47
What did the tech discern at the initial exam? I mean, how extensive an overhaul does it need? When it's behavin', sounds like you two make sweet music together :]
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Bob Arney
Date: 2002-08-26 13:23
Micaela wrote, in part: "I love its sound but living with it's problems is getting to be a bit much." She says she is going to be a music major but any English teacher would be pleased to have her as an English major. Notice the PROPER double usage of "it"
Good on Yah!
Bob A
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Terry Horlick
Date: 2002-08-26 14:57
I have read a few notes about chaving to send your clarinet out for periodic maintenance-repair. I have played for only about 35 years and have only had 4 Bb horns in that . The first one was a Carl Fischer which my mother played in elementary school, the second one an Evette Master I bought new, the third one a mid 50's R13 from e-Bay and the last one a 1925 Buffet full Boehm from a swap meet.
The Fischer has never been to a repair shop, my brother still plays it. The Evette finally needed some pads replaced two years ago... so after 30 years it got it's first visit to a repair shop, a full overhaul. The other two came to me in poor condition and they both went out to the professional repair tech for full restoration.
While a full overhaul is costy... $300-600 for a horn in reasonable shape, I feel it is money well spent since it seems to prevent the need of messing with the horn for years. With resonably careful treatment of my horns I have never needed any follow-up adjustment or repair... they just play nicely and continue to do so.
At overhaul time the springs are all changed (get the best ones you can). The pads are all changed (get the best ones you can), my tech uses cork pads on upper joints. The corks are all changed. Everything is adjusted, the wood is cleaned and properly oiled for at least a week.
I am confused at how folks are getting their horns out of adjustment so regularly... when I go camping I pound tent stakes with my hatchet and leave the clarinet home. When the horn is in the case don't bash it around... ride a bike to school? Put it in the backpack on you not on the bike rack. Ride to gigs in a car... keep it with you and out of the sun, don't lock it in the trunk. Fly to band camp... that is why you have a lap, put the case there. Play your clarinet... swab it out and dry the tennons. once or twice a year oil the wood with a soft cloth and be careful not to catch the cloth on the springs. When you assemble the horn do so correctly so you don't knock the cork off of the key which bridges between the joints.
Look at the instrument, then look at your saxophone. The clarinet is a simple machine... not much there to go wrong or get out of adjustment. Treat it with the love you have for it and it will last and probably need no adjustments.
IMHO, Terry
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Synonymous Botch
Date: 2002-08-26 18:02
The clearance of moving parts on a clarinet can be rather large, so that even when in adjustment the amount of 'play' may be noticeable.
Given the regular use of your instrument, I would say service once every 50 years is inexpensive. ($300/50=$6 per year... not bad).
When you consider the small likelihood of finding a replacement embodying the features of your current horn, it's a bargain.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Dee
Date: 2002-08-27 02:40
I regularly play a Leblanc from the early/mid 1950s. It gives me no problems. I would highly recommend that you send it out for a COMPLETE overhaul. This should include all pads, corks, and springs. Naturally all adjustments should be included.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Clairgirl
Date: 2002-08-27 03:36
I personally know a well known, competant repairman in Wilmington, DE who services the military bands in Washington and several major playing ensembles in the area like the Delaware symphony and the Philly orch. I can give you his website if you are interested; i don't want to appear to be "adverising" him. I volunteered to work there this summer so i could learn more about instrument repair, and i can assure you that he does a thorough job on each instrument. Since i brought my set to him, i've never had any problems. You would have to send your instruments through the mail though, i don't know how comfortable you'd be with that. Another idea is to maybe wait until you get to college, and then after ensemble auditions ask your teacher as to where he gets his clarinets repaired.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: graham
Date: 2002-08-27 08:26
I play regularly on a pair from around 1910 or earlier. They clatter because of the wear, but they don't have pad/spring problems. The bits that are letting you down are the replacement bits, not the old bits. Upgrade the springs and pads aspect and the old dog will bark again. A new clarinet will likely be no better.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: JMcAulay
Date: 2002-08-27 17:04
Clairgirl, good for you... a great way to learn instrument repair.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Micaela
Date: 2002-08-27 17:43
Thanks for your advice. I think I'll stick by it for now- the repair-person yesterday said that it shouldn't need anything else for a while. I will consider getting it overhauled, though (I would like to get it re-plated as well). It usually isn't this bad, really...just this year it seems to be having a lot of problems. Maybe since I have had a lot fixed now it won't break down again in the near future?
Bob A- I am occasionally a bit compulsive when it comes to grammar. Journalism is my back-up career choice in case music doesn't work out.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Dee
Date: 2002-08-27 20:51
Note that if you get it replated, all the pads and key corks will have to be replaced at that time so might as well time that re-plating job with a complete overhaul.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: TDC
Date: 2002-08-27 22:27
Re; use of the word "IT". Quote--"I love its sound but living with it's problems is getting to a bit much."
The second "it's" is incorrect. "It's" is a contraction for "it is", nothing else. If one were to eliminate the second contraction, the sentence would read, "I love its sound but living with it is problems is getting to be a bit much."
Sorry!
TDC
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: GBK
Date: 2002-08-27 23:32
TDC is correct.
I will add that "it's" is also contraction for "it has".
Example: "It's been raining." (It has been raining)
The best rule to remember: Do not use <b>any</b> contractions in formal writing...GBK
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
