 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: David Eichler
Date: 2026-07-21 02:26
I have had this clarinet for a little over a year, and I just noticed that the springs appear to be exhibiting rust. I do not see any such corrosion on my Buffet R13 clarinet or an early 1950s Buffet. I am assuming this is due to cheaper materials on a student instrument. Does this affect the longevity or performance of the springs? Has anyone else seen this on this model?
On a different matter pertaining to this instrument, the spring for the low e key has started slipping out of its position regularly, and on its own. I can see nothing to account for this and have never had this happen on any other clarinet before now.
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Author: David H. Kinder
Date: 2026-07-21 06:54
While rust is never good, it could just be surface rust that needs a bit of silver polish to remove.
You're past the warranty period for plating issues (1 year) but if the spring is coming loose on that low E rod/key, it may have to do with that 'latch' for the spring. If it is defective, the Backun warranty of workmanship defects is 5 years. (They'd just need to swap out the key - or just send it to you / your tech to swap it out.)
However without pics, the official answer is: show it to a local tech.
Even with pics, the official answer would be: show it to a local tech.
There could be something else in the case that may be causing the issue? Or if you're in a more humid environment that may do it? (Do you have a new hard rubber mouthpiece? That can be the source of tarnish, but not sure about rust.)
The Backun Alpha is available in both nickel and silver plating. While silver is more prone to tarnish, nickel wears quicker - especially without wiping the keys off after playing.
If it were me, I'd use a metal polish (such as Flitz or MusicNomad's silver polish) to clean it up and keep an eye out on it. If it happens again, you may want a boveda pack in the case.
Just my novice thoughts.
Ridenour AureA Bb clarinet
Ridenour Artist MT36 mouthpiece
Vandoren Optimum black ligature (plate 1)
Vandoren Traditional #3.5 reeds
Brad Behn HR adjustable barrel
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2026-07-21 14:54
Rusty blued needle springs are more prone to breaking without any warning. For clarinets used in adverse conditions (eg. outdoors in all weather), I usually respring them with stainless steel spring wire and grind the tips down to a point similar to needle springs if I'm respringing a Buffet Greenline with stainless.
If the spring cradles on the keys are nicely and widely radiused, then I just leave them parallel sided but grind the tips so they're rounded off instead of leaving them all jagged after being cut to length.
If you are experiencing your blued steel springs rusting and breaking, then consider having them all replaced with high quality stainless steel springs. This will have to be done at your own expense.
The general quality of blued steel needle springs isn't what it once was as I've seen loads of clarinets and oboes from the '50s through to the '80s with far better quality needle springs (and with much sharper points) than the needle springs being supplied today. They were also much harder and more tensile than the current ones. I've even cleaned up and reused needle springs when overhauling '50s Selmer Centered Tones when the rest of the clarinet was in a less favourable condition, but the lot still scrubbed up well.
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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