 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: mygoldendoe
Date: 2018-04-28 06:57
Northeast Alabama,
history with clarinet:
I used to play clarinet in band (5th, 6th, &7th grade). The only thing I remember about that particular clarinet was that it was bought second hand from retired person. It was wood with a hard rubber mouth piece and inverted ligature (I only remember this bc my band teacher gave me grief over all of these qualities yet somehow she gave me the most [sound related] compliments. Which confused me bc even with all the praise and suppassing first chair, I never got to sit there, I was forced to sit last chair)..I left band over this particular teacher (final straw was her harrassing me for large amount of money with no reason or paperwork for my parents and apon asking fellow band members no one else had to pay as she had claimed to me). Mother rented the clarinet out through a shop over summer and when she went to pick it up they "lost" it and she was never compensated...despite all the bad luck, I love the clarinet and vowed to try again someday.
Current experience:
After quizing myself via a video I did indeed remember half the fingerings and can still read sheet music so figured it'd be good time to try to find a clarinet before I completely forget. Husband agreed it was ok only if it was equal cost to an instrument he wanted to learn.
Our small town still doesn't have a music related store, Google said there 5 stores that delt with clarinet 2hrs away. I drove to all of them but only one was still open and they only delt with the school band students, not walk in average Joe's. (Unless I wanted Reed's or song books but no pads or nothing instrument related unless was through the school)..so after searching the pawnshops and internet I finally was about to find one.. it is vintage wood. it's not a brand I can find information on (a.c. jeoffroy. Paris. But bell also says California under the logo) the only photos Google showed of that brand that was also wood didn't have all the keys options (sorry don't rmbr the term) but mine does. And there's no serial number to go off of...
It needs cleaning, keys polished, and 2 pads replaced. The corks look great, and after getting cork grease in feels and fits good. The mouth piece is a vintaged Geo. M. Bundy #3, has discoloring and what looks like a very slight bend on the inside. (Was hard but doable to make sound just mouth piece&barrel with a 1 1/2 reed. So I'm most likely way out of shape or The mouthpiece bend is issue?) I have photos but dunno how to load them.
All the keys are there and easy to use. But like I said I have no idea how to clean, polish, or change pads.
I can't find extremely detailed info on how to do all this and I can't find local ppl via my favorite social media groups to look it over so I'm not sure what to do. I live in booneys (driving 2hrs either direction for even a craft store let alone a music related store)
I'm frustrated.
This site is difficult to navigate and I'm wondering if there are a section to find ppl local (or semi local that's closer than a 2hr drive) who could at least look at it, teach me how to clean and change pads, and try their mouth piece to at least make sure my issues won't be with the clarinet once I get the mouth piece situation figured out? I've tried the search option but not much is coming up related to my key words, maybe I'm using wrong search words, I'll keep trying.
-mygoldendoe
Post Edited (2018-04-28 08:03)
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Author: Fuzzy
Date: 2018-04-28 08:53
Welcome back to the clarinet!
Given the information you've provided...
The first thing I'd do is (as you've already determined) find someone to take a look at your clarinet to make sure it is in playing condition. This might require the 2 hour drive. However, you might be able to check with a local high school to have someone look over the clarinet as a preliminary, or to provide a recommendation as to where they send their instruments.
Replacing one pad might not seem like much, but it takes a lot of patience and skill to do a good job. It really should be done by someone that has experience. (For videos on the topic, I've enjoyed: https://www.youtube.com/user/USArmyFieldBand/search?query=repair ) However, it really should be performed by someone with experience.
A few weeks ago, Steve Ocone (here on the bboard) recommended the following site to me. Click SEARCH and then just enter the state you want to search for repairers in.
By entering Alabama, it shows two shops - one of them is in Gadsden.
http://www.napbirt.org/4DCGI/cms/review.html?Action=CMS_Document&DocID=77&MenuKey=123
Hopefully, someone else on the board can provide you a more informed direction...but if not, perhaps this will at least give you a start?
Best of luck in your search, and again, welcome back to the clarinet!
Fuzzy
Post Edited (2018-04-28 08:54)
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Author: seabreeze
Date: 2018-04-28 10:22
You would get expert help from a professional clarinetist who teaches at a local college and has experience assisting students with their instruments. One such person in Alabama (and I'm sure there are others) is Dr. Lori Ardovino, professor at the University of Montevallo in Montevallo, Alabama. I suggest you try to contact her and tell her what you are looking for. Her email in the music dept. of the university is ardovinl@montevallo.edu.
Post Edited (2018-04-29 03:05)
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Author: Ken Lagace
Date: 2018-04-28 16:16
Next time you go on vacation?
Wouldn't be great to vacation in a larger city with a symphony, tons of repair shops and music stores, community bands etc. You would be able to get all your answers and contacts to pursue your growing clarinet passion.
Good luck!
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Author: TrueTone
Date: 2018-04-28 22:41
If you're close to Huntsville, I'd recommend asking Dr. Balch at UAH; and if you're closer to Birmingham, I'd reccomend asking Dr. Gainey at UAB, in addition to Seabreeze's recommendation of asking Dr. Ardovino.
And as I'm from Huntsville, my opinion is that if you're going to someone in that area of AL, I would reccomend going to Paul Glotzbach at Southeastern Musical Services, who repairs my clarinets when I'm back at home, and I'd also reccomend Art's and Capitol (both in Montgomery) from what I've heard of them.
As for the pictures, there's a button at the bottom of the post box that says add attatchments, and use that. If that doesn't work I would say to upload them elsewhere and link to them here.
(edit: whoops, accidentally clicked post then apparently. I added what I was typing to this though.)
Post Edited (2018-04-28 22:44)
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Author: mygoldendoe
Date: 2018-04-29 22:01
Thank you all for posting so quickly. Even more so for all the suggestions! It is defiantly helpful!! Its good to know I have email/phone resources as well as ones that are a bit of a drive. Makes me hopeful. Which is great to have when you want to seriously get back into the swing of it. Again thank you all!
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