The Clarinet BBoard  
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Author: MarchingBandMomofTwins  
Date:   2016-09-14 16:45 
 Hi there, 
 
I am new to this forum.  My daughter's Bb clarinet's G# key came off.  It looks like the rod that held it in place is broken... maybe?  I am having a hard time finding any information online re: rods and springs, in order to know what exactly needs replaced.  If I can fix it myself I would rather do so, as the only repair shop near us takes FOREVER to do repairs and, well, it's marching season. 
 
Can anyone help?  Thank you.
  
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Author: Mojo  
Date:   2016-09-14 16:54 
 It does not sound like this would be a do-it-yourself job. The pad needs to seal well when closed and the mechanism needs to work smoothly when your are done.   Band directors sometimes have skills to make basic repairs but this may be too much for them.  Worth asking around. 
 
You can put some type of tape over the open G# hole so that other notes could be played.  No G# but better than nothing. 
 
MojoMP.com 
Mojo Mouthpiece Work LLC 
MojoMouthpieceWork@yahoo.com
  
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Author: Hank Lehrer  
Date:   2016-09-14 16:57 
 I'd recommend taking the instrument to Meridian Winds in Okemos, MI; Eric Satterlee does all my repairs as well as those for several area universities. Call him ahead of time and you may be able to have it fixed while you wait. Tell him I told you to call. 
 
Here is the website https://www.meridianwinds.com/ 
 
HRL 
 
PS What make clarinet is it? 
 
  
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Author: MarchingBandMomofTwins  
Date:   2016-09-14 17:03 
 Thank you so much for the quick responses.  I'm unsure of the make and I left it in my car.  It's an older model, which I'm sure we will need to replace in the next year or so if she continues w/ marching band.  She is currently marching with the high school as an 8th grader.  Okay, now I'm bragging   I just think it's cool to give the 8th graders the experience.. wasn't the case when I was in marching band!
  
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Author: Chris P  
Date:   2016-09-14 17:21 
 Which G# key do you mean - the throat G# key, LH pinky C#/G# key or the RH pinky G#/Ab/D#/Eb key? 
 
Former oboe finisher  
Howarth of London 
1998 - 2010 
 
Independent Woodwind Repairer  
Single and Double Reed Specialist 
Oboes, Clarinets and Saxes 
 
NOT A MEMBER OF N.A.M.I.R. 
 
The opinions I express are my own.
  
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Author: kdk  
Date:   2016-09-14 19:08 
 MarchingBandMomofTwins wrote: 
 
> I am new to this forum.  My daughter's Bb clarinet's G# key 
> came off.  It looks like the rod that held it in place is 
> broken... maybe?  I am having a hard time finding any 
> information online re: rods and springs, in order to know what 
> exactly needs replaced.  
 
I'll join the chorus recommending that you have an experienced repair person fix this. It *might* be a DIY job (depending on what's actually happened) for someone who understands the instrument well enough to recognize the problem. The "rod that held it in place" may be a rod screw that's just backed out of its thread and only needs to be screwed back in. Or something could actually be broken that needs to be soldered back together or replaced, probably with a part from a cadaver instrument that a shop may have on hand.  
 
Besides, the various pieces you mention, even if needed, will cost you as much to buy as the repair will cost at a decent shop. And you can't really buy pads, springs or screws one at a time, so you'd be left with several plastic bags of things you may never use. A shop has all of that on hand and all you'll pay for is labor, which may well be minimal. 
 
Karl
  
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Author: tictactux ★2017 
Date:   2016-09-14 19:20 
 If it's the throat G# key that has come off, it might just be that its rod unscrew itself. If the screw is still in one piece, chances are it's not so bad as it seems and requires only minimal intervention. 
Your best bet so far is to show it the band director/teacher- maybe she/he has someone at hand who does minor repairs locally. Else try to upload a picture of the damage. 
 
--  
Ben
  
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Author: Wes  
Date:   2016-09-14 22:35 
 Nephew Carl Palka on Court Street in Burton, formerly part of Flint, plays woodwinds and has repairs done locally.  He would probably know a good local repair person.  Email me if you need help in contacting Carl.  His father, Joe Palka, had the staff band at WFDF, naturally called the Palka Dots, and also played the clarinet.
  
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Author: tucker ★2017 
Date:   2016-09-15 00:20 
 It would also be a good idea to get out of the habit of leaving any clarinet in a car.  Not withstanding the theft issues, heat/cold/temperature changes are baaaaad for any horn.
  
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