 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: ashna99
Date: 2015-02-10 04:36
I have a contest on the 28th. Today when practicing, I noticed some of my pads aren't sealing properly. I was anyways going to take my clarinet in for repairs on the 21st. Should I just wait until then to get my clarinet fixed or should I get it fixed this weekend? How close to auditions do you guys typically take your clarinets to your techs?
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Author: kdk
Date: 2015-02-10 05:25
I never wait for a performance (I haven't auditioned in over 40 years) - I get it fixed when it breaks. If your repair person can take it sooner, I'd bring it in as soon as he or she will take it. There's no point in trying to practice on a handicapped clarinet.
Karl
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2015-02-10 06:03
You should've had it repaired a month ago at the latest - you're leaving it until the very last minute which is a bad idea. Do you honestly believe any repairer will have it ready within a week if you take it to them and they're already busy?
You really ought to know when you've got an audition and should get your clarinet serviced well before that so you've got time to get used to how it plays afterwards so there won't be any surprises for you.
If your clarinet isn't ready in time for the audition or lets you down before or during the audition, then you've only got yourself to blame for not getting it seen to much earlier.
I always advise anyone to have their instruments serviced at least a month in advance of an exam, audition, concert, recital, etc. to be sure it is playing at its best.
Plan ahead next time.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2015-02-10 06:57
As soon as you realize there's a problem so it doesn't become unplayable.
ESP eddiesclarinet.com
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Author: nellsonic
Date: 2015-02-10 11:45
Ed and Karl have given you good answers. Nobody plans to have clarinet issues, and it's not necessary to have your clarinet serviced each and every time a big event is coming up. Some of us would never have an instrument in hand if that was the case!
It should be said, however, that a good way to cut down the likelihood of such a situation in the future is to have your instrument gone over by a qualified tech once or twice a year for preventive maintenance, and, if possible, to have a back-up instrument available for use when your main horn is in the shop. This can be your A clarinet or, if you've stepped up from the horn you started on, your beginner/marching instrument.
Good luck on your contest on the 28th! Many of my clarinet students have a big evaluation event here in California that same day.
Anders
Post Edited (2015-02-10 11:49)
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Author: TomS
Date: 2015-02-10 23:53
Learn to fix minor problems, like pads issues, yourself, but let a really good technician go over your instrument every 1-2 years. They will spot and correct stuff that you might miss.
IMHO, pads, corks and adjustments should be fixed by YOU as they occur. Lot's of good video's on this out there ... buy a yard sale clarinet to practice on, overhaul it and try to get it working as perfectly as possible ...
Tom
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Author: BartHx
Date: 2015-02-11 06:51
I realize that it doesn't help you in the current situation, but I have to agree with those who suggest learning to deal with minor repairs yourself. I was fortunate to have a band director in high school who required us to write papers on the care, maintenance, and repair of our own instruments. I got hooked and now do essentially all the repairs for my instruments and for the other clarinetists in the community bands in which I play. In a pinch, I also work on school instruments for the schools who host us. With some experience, you can learn to spot problems and correct them well before they stop you from playing. I have not yet had to use my back up instrument myself but, a few weeks ago, I loaned it to the owner of an R13 that got dropped on a tile floor during rehearsal (yes, we were in a make do location at the time). After the rehearsal, I brought the R13 home and straightened and readjusted the problem keys. Last evening's rehearsal started with someone else using my clarinet while I repaired a problem that had disabled her own instrument. The repair took only about ten minutes and we traded back to continue the rehearsal.
Since it doesn't require a large number of tools to get started, I would suggest that you not try to make do without quality tools designed for the job. For example, a high quality, professional type screwdriver is worth every penny in how much easier it makes your job and reduces the risk of damage. Your tool collection will grow as you learn new skills. There are a number of very good how to books available and the experience available on this site is tremendous.
For now, I would suggest you get your clarinet worked on asap so you don't have that worry hanging over your head along with the audition. I hope your audition goes well. Once you are past that pressure, start working on learning to do your own basic repairs. Not only can you learn to save time and money, it will add another dimension to being a clarinetist and another connection between you and your instrument. I still have a great tech who is happy to help with the infrequent problem for which I am not equipped and it is very helpful that we now speak the same language.
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Author: TomS
Date: 2015-02-11 21:54
Fifty bucks of supplies with screw drivers, a spring hook, pliers and alcohol lamp would get you started. Less than the cost of a minor repair at the shop ...
Unless you are a total fumble-fingered mechanical KLUTZ, you can do this all yourself ...
Tom
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2015-02-12 10:37
>> Fifty bucks of supplies with screw drivers, a spring hook, pliers and alcohol lamp would get you started. Less than the cost of a minor repair at the shop ... <<
Depends on the shop I guess. It's far more than some minor repairs would cost, depending also on what exactly needs to be repaired.
>> Should I just wait until then to get my clarinet fixed or should I get it fixed this weekend? <<
It would be better to get it repaired now so you don't have to play a leaky instrument for a week.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2015-02-12 12:14
I'd only ever suggest anyone to have a go at basic repairs to their own clarinet if they knew one end of a screwdriver from the other. Until then, leave it to someone who knows what they're doing, considering how close to an audition this is. You don't want to make a bad situation even worse if you don't know what the problem is, nor how to put it right if you don't have the skills to do so.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: kdk
Date: 2015-02-12 18:06
Chris P wrote:
> I'd only ever suggest anyone to have a go at basic repairs to
> their own clarinet if they knew one end of a screwdriver from
> the other.
I would add that the person should also know the clarinet quite well - this is really an area in which even a mechanically adept person can do a lot of damage and make things worse out of an inability to correctly diagnose the problem to begin with. You can't fix it if you don't know what's broken.
Karl
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2015-02-12 21:06
The only things I suggest any player to do themselves is to care for their clarinet within their own means:
1 - Use cork grease on all tenon corks to keep them supple and to ease assembly/disassembly.
2 - Use a good quality and appropriately sized pullthrough to dry the bore after playing, but don't use it to dry out the sockets - use a piece of paper kitchen towel for this so you don't get grease on the pullthrogh which can end up occluding the top joint toneholes making the instrument stuffy and out of tune.
3 - Wipe the keywork down with a soft dry cotton cloth or an old t-shirt after playing to remove perspiration and use a silver cloth from time to time (once a month will do) taking care not to catch the pads while polishing the keys.
4 - Use a small paintbrush (1/2" will do) to remove dust and fluff from under keywork, taking care not to dislodge any springs or key corks.
5 - Add a single drop of key oil to the friction points on the mechanism where the ends of the key barrels meet the pillars - only do this every month or two months depending on how much playing you do. Don't overdo it as you'll end up with oil everywhere, so only one drop at each end of the key barrels.
6 - Always put your clarinet in its case after playing and never leave it assembled and lying around or on a stand for long periods as this can cause the tenon corks to harden, plus the instrument is at far less risk of being damaged by a knock or fall or something landing on it and doing damage if it's left out. This will also help to keep the levels of dust collecting on the mechanism down.
7 - Make sure the rod screws are all in place - any that are backing out can be tightened with the appropriately sized screwdriver (a 2mm one will do) but be careful with point screws as some are adjustable, so over tightening them can cause their respective keys to bind. The throat A key should have a small amount of play between it and the throat G# key, so if there's too much play or none at all, then adjust the screw so there's a small amount of play between both keys - this will ensure the G# pad closes fully and is not held slightly open which will cause the whole instrument to stop working.
8 - Check all the springs are in their cradles - any that aren't will cause the keys not to return to their position (open or closed) or if they have slipped out but not disengaged, they can cause the action of the key to become too light or to stop working.
9 - Check all key corks and felts are in good order and all are in place - any that are worn or missing should be replaced as this can cause mechanical noise or poor adjustment and venting if they're compressed or missing. Also check the pads to be sure they're all in good shape and aren't split, torn, loose or missing. Any that are damage should be replaced as soon as possible by your repairer as while it may be straightforward for some to replace a pad, there's still the question of regulating the keywork or adjusting the thickness of the key corks when a new pad is fitted as the new pad may be a different thickness to the original.
10 - Hold your clarinet properly and securely during assembly/disassembly - this will make sure you don't put any excessive force on the mechanism or bend any keys the wrong way or damage any key corks. When holding the lower joint, hold it in your right hand with your thumb holding the E/B and F/C key pad cups closed and the top joint in your left hand with your palm upwards so your fingers wrap around the joint and hold the ring keys down - this will prevent the bridge key getting mashed up during assembly/disassembly.
11 - Keep your clarinet at a comfortable temperature - if it's too hot or cold for you, then it is for your clarinet. So never leave them in a cold room, outside, in a car, near a heater, anywhere excessively damp, etc. to reduce the risk of them cracking of the pads coming loose. While we can't control the weather or temperature when playing outdoors, in churches or other large halls, if you have got a plastic clarinet, then use that in adverse conditions where it would be risky to play a wooden clarinet.
I purposely don't recommend anyone oil the bore on their own clarinet unless they know what they're doing so the whole instrument doesn't end up resembling an oil tanker disaster.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: BartHx
Date: 2015-02-12 22:54
Good list, Chris. I would add that the pullthrough should be occasionally laundered to avoid accumulation of gunk on it.
Some people may want to learn to deal with pads. For them, I would suggest a repair library, a good quality pad slick, and lots of patience. I would also suggest acquiring several inexpensive instruments in need of repair to practice on before trying to do anything on an instrument that actually counts. Just like playing, it takes constant practice. I keep my eye on the auction site for something I can get for $20 to $40 US. When I get one, I work it over and donate it to a public school music program (also get a tax write-off). I got one awhile back that looked like someone had rolled it under their feet on concrete. Every key and pivot rod was bent or otherwise damaged. It was a challenge and took some time but, by the time I donated it, it played quite nicely. It was more than I would normally attempt, but it was a really good learning experience.
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Author: Bennett ★2017
Date: 2015-02-13 04:06
Why not call your repair person and see whether he or she can fit you in?
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Author: BartHx
Date: 2015-02-13 06:38
Bennett: I think that suggestion has been pretty clearly made by the posters to this thread. The discussion (pro and con) relative to learning to do simple repairs one's self applies to only after she has gotten past the upcoming audition. The consensus here seems clearly to be that she get her clarinet professionally repaired asap in preparation for her audition.
I do most of my own repairs because it is a minimum two hour drive from where I live in the mountains to the nearest decent repair shop. Yes, there is one shop closer that claims to do repairs. However, I have (truthfully) never seen an instrument come out of their shop that was usable after being repaired. I have seen them attack a "repair" on an electric guitar with two vice grips. I frequently end up repairing their repairs for other clarinetists. The tech who is two hours away is very good, knows the situation in my area, and is more than happy to work with me on repairs for which I am not equipped or skilled at doing. On the other hand, I have been known to do a quick repair during a concert intermission or, on one occasion, recork a bass clarinet tenon between concerts on a day that turned out to have two concerts in one day. It was a very hot day and the cork had completely peeled off and disintegrated. It was the only bass clarinet and bass clarinetist we had at the time. Without someone with basic skills and supplies, we would have been missing an important part in the second concert.
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