Author: Philip Caron
Date: 2016-10-27 18:18
I called my technician and described my symptoms. He said that I could try pliers, but never having manipulated a post before I'd likely go too far ("If you feel it, it's too much.") He repeated Chris's gentle tap advice.
Later I tried the gentle tap thing, but gave it up without making any noticeable change. My hands can find their way around clarinet keys ok, but they don't have much craftsman I.Q.
This week I got together with the tech again. He made a tiny adjustment to the post - he uses a little pair of toothless flat-jaw pliers. No looseness in the post. The problem got better. Then he made several other small adjustments, to the rings, the pad, and the linkage. After that, things worked beautifully, probably better than they did before the spring broke.
I've probably been compensating for a little closure problem forever, by pressing a little harder with my rh fingers. My tech said my instruments could probably use an overhaul by a good tech - he meant someone better than himself.
I've learned why key oil, which I've never used, is good. Even for keys that "seem to work", it will reduce wear and avoid looseness. Which does seem obvious when viewed as a complete thought.
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The Clarinet BBoard
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