 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Anonymoose
Date: 2022-02-11 05:51
I have noticed a trend in my own clarinetting that I need to service my instrument regularly for it to function the way I need it to. Usually three months after servicing, my instruments begin to become less "functional". Tone, Intonation, Even-Ness between the registers, and resistance get all over the place. It becomes difficult to find a working reed. Granted, I travel a lot and perform in a wide variety of conditions and styles, so that probably contributes to the clarinet changing over time.
One issue in particular, the lower joint gets sharper and sharper, while the upper joint (besides the throat notes) get flatter and more spread.
A visit to my clarinet repair person fixes the issues mentioned above. But my question is, is it really unusual to service your instrument every three to four months?
Fun fact, my repair person told me that a quite well-known performer insists that his pads be changed every single month, on top of a full service.
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Author: Tom H
Date: 2022-02-11 06:27
I think it is unusual. I only play a summer series of 7 concerts with rehearsals, otherwise I practice on my R13 once monthly. I haven't had it serviced. Back 10 years ago I did a little more playing. It was new in 1999. Like a car without a lot of mileage on it. So far, 2 pads replaced (by me). Sounds good as new.
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2022-02-11 06:50
Played professionally for 20 years......that sounds a little odd.
BUT
If the issue is just the pads I'd suggest going with the Valentino Masters series. They should not have ANY problems for years (probably at least 10). They are flat and stay flat (except for the slight crease from seating). They are just like cork but will last even longer. You can use them on every pad cup (even the four big ones).
I had recently used the Quartz Resonance Pads which are also amazingly durable. You need to find someone good enough and curious enough to install them correctly. They ARE totally flat (they do NOT develop a seating crease), so if they are not leveled correctly they won't seat right. The beauty of these is that the body of the pad is silicone so they are completely silent !!!!!
..............Paul Aviles
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Author: seabreeze
Date: 2022-02-11 07:25
Servicing every three months does seem extreme even for instruments that are played every single day. Liam Burke, a repair tech in New York City, recommends a "clean, oil, adjust (COA) every six months to maintain your instrument's ease of playing." Except for musicians on very heavy playing schedules, even that seems like more than most players would need.
Post Edited (2022-02-11 07:27)
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Author: Anonymoose
Date: 2022-02-11 07:48
The issue is not pad leakage, but how the instrument responds and feels. It just feels so alive and responsive after a service and four months in, it feels "blown out".
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Author: paulyb
Date: 2022-02-11 11:47
Anonymoose wrote:
> The issue is not pad leakage, but how the instrument responds
> and feels. It just feels so alive and responsive after a
> service and four months in, it feels "blown out".
Do you know what it is that your repair tech is doing that fixes the problem?
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Author: m1964
Date: 2022-02-12 02:09
Anonymoose wrote:
>"The issue is not pad leakage, but how the instrument responds and feels. It just feels so alive and responsive after a service and four months in, it feels blown out".
It is possible that there is no major leakage but just one (or more) pad develop very slight leakage and then the instrument just is not responsive.
I recently had an issue with my relatively new (less than 6 months old) Buffet - the throat G# and A pads would start leaking but only when they got wet.
No leakage when dry, and the joint kept vacuum/suction just fine even when those two pads would get wet, however they would leak air easily when applied air pressure.
I was lazy and just tightened up the springs on both keys which fixed the problem (for now).
It is also possible (hopefully not the case) that there is a small crack somewhere that gets wider as you play a lot, and it closes when you stop playing to have the instrument serviced.
Another cause could be a leak around the register tube...
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Author: Steven Ocone
Date: 2022-02-12 23:30
You shouldn't need to get it serviced that often. I also wonder what the tech is doing to improve the playing condition. Pads can last for years if the clarinet is properly prepared,
Steve Ocone
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2022-02-13 10:06
It would be interesting if you can post, or ask your repairer, if there are no leaks, what is the actual cause for the problems you described and how they are fixing them? Both the actual issues and needing to have it repaired so often are very unusual.
I've only seen something like what you described a few times, but this was always caused by something that once solved, the problem didn't come back, certainly not in a few months (maybe very little after some years).
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Author: Matt74
Date: 2022-02-13 15:43
Ask your tech what's wrong, and what he does to fix it.
- Matthew Simington
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Author: Anonymoose
Date: 2022-02-14 07:13
Yes, I will be heading to my technician soon and I will try to follow up. Thanks for the posts!
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