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 The Neck on my Alto Clarinet is making the instrument airy and hard to play
Author: orichic 
Date:   2014-04-02 20:39
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The other day, I went to Stetson University to have my clarinet lessons and they let me play on their alto clarinet and I felt and sounded amazing. Even tho the neck didn't fit, I placed it on my Alto Clarinet and held it while playing some notes and it felt so much more easier to play than ever showing me that the neck is the issue. The neck is pretty dirty and the alto is a LeBlanc Paris. Should I clean the inside of the neck with bleach and see if that makes it better or could I buy another neck of the same size? Any suggestions would help.

Decade long Clarinet Player currently in college studying Music Education

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 Re: The Neck on my Alto Clarinet is making the instrument airy and hard to play
Author: Chris P 
Date:   2014-04-02 21:50

Don't use bleach on silver or silver plate and don't use anything abrasive (Scothbrite, Brillo pads, pan scourers, wire wool, etc.) to clean it with.

Clean it in warm water and washing up liquid and use some kitchen towel to get into the corners of the socket. Try your best to keep the tenon cork out of the water as much as you can.

If the crook (neck) rocks when in the socket (which is the most likely cause of it leaking), then wrap a strip of paper around the tenon cork and check it fits better in the socket. If the crook is too loose, then the crook tenon cork needs replacing.

Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010

The opinions I express are my own.

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 Re: The Neck on my Alto Clarinet is making the instrument airy and hard to play
Author: Gandalfe 
Date:   2014-04-02 23:22

If it's not the cork or neck fit and there are no dents in the neck, you might want to replace the neck. Looking at the pictures, I don't see enough dirt in the neck to make a difference. What did your teacher think about the instrument and neck differences?

Jim and Suzy

Pacifica Big Band
Seattle, Washington

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 Re: The Neck on my Alto Clarinet is making the instrument airy and hard to play
Author: Ken Shaw 2017
Date:   2014-04-02 22:19

Wrap your mouthpiece cork in paper too, to stop leaks there.

If wrapping the corks doesn't work, your next place to look for problems is pinholes through the tube and deterioration in soldered connections.

Also, check for looseness and leaks in the lining in the socket at the top of the upper joint

Your second photo shows corrosion at the soldered joint. This is a probable source of leakage.

A repair shop will plug one end of the neck with a cork, immerse it in water and blow air at high pressure into the other end. A stream of bubbles will locate the leak(s).

Ken Shaw

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 Re: The Neck on my Alto Clarinet is making the instrument airy and hard to play
Author: Chris P 
Date:   2014-04-02 22:39

"Your second photo shows corrosion at the soldered joint. This is a probable source of leakage."

Ken, that's the base of the socket you're looking at - the solder joint isn't in this area but is on the underside where the tube slots into it like a tenon and socket.

Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010

The opinions I express are my own.

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