The Clarinet BBoard

The Clarinet BBoard The C4 standard

New Topic | Go to Top | Go to Topic | Search | Help/Rules | Smileys/Notes | Log In

Newer Topic | Older Topic

Vertigo and broken springs

Author: Bob the Composer
Date: 2000-08-11 03:08

Earlier today, I was playing in my marching band, and noticed that some of the notes sounded really out of tune. I displayed my Clarinet to the directors, and they both said it was due to a broken spring on the middle keyhole on the section just below the barrel. As a result, E turns to E flat and the Corresponding B to B flat, and the C above that is somewhat flat too, but the rest of the notes are OK. How long would this take to fix and what should I do to fix it? Any other suggestions?

Also, I was just watching Alfred Hitchcock's Vertigo, and I noticed that in Bernard Hermann's score, the Bass Clarinet is very prominent. What are your opinions of the Bass Clarinet part?

Bob

Reply To Message

RE: Vertigo and broken springs

Author: ron b.
Date: 2000-08-11 04:21

Hi, Bob -

I've always found plain ol' rubber bands, like the newspaper kind, the best temporary remedy for a broken spring. Just stretch it around the key a couple of times (somewhere that won't interfere with the key's movement/seating) then find a friendly nearby post to sorta loop it over; in your case, probably one of the register key posts. It'll get you by 'til you get to the repair shop.

Doesn't take a repair person, with the right tool(s)/knowhow but a few minutes to replace a spring. It's not a major job.

ron b.

Reply To Message

RE: Vertigo and broken springs

Author: Lelia
Date: 2000-08-12 21:25

Repair shops buy springs in quantity and can change them in quickly -- often a while-you-wait job if the shop isn't crowded. It's not an expensive or complicated repair.

I love those Hitchcock movies and am very fond of "Vertigo"! IMHO the music sounds much better in the recently restored version. Bass clarinets have such a personality in movies -- the bass winds almost always mean that something sinister is about to happen. It's fun to listen for bass and contrabass clarinet in old "Dr. Who" episodes, too.

Reply To Message

Avail. Forums | Threaded View

Newer Topic | Older Topic

The Clarinet Pages

For Sale
Put your ads for items you'd like to sell here. Free! Please, no more than two at a time - ads removed after two weeks.