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Question: URGENT! alto clarinet BROKEN!!?
I recently had my alto clarinet go into the shop to replace ONE pad!. it had fallen off!. before that it was working perfectly fine!. after i got it back from the repair place (a low quality one, but it had to be done fast, and it was only ONE PAD that needed to be glued on) it stopped working fine!.
When i play low E and low F with out octave key, it comes out as a high B and high C!. when i try to play a G it plays both high D and low G at the same time as if i was repeatedly pressing the octave key!. When i reach low A it starts playing normal again!. also, when i try to play High B and C, they sound flat!.
It is also much harder to push air through the clarinet!.
If played with it, looked at it throughly, and as far as i can tell, no other pads are missing and the keys work like they should, as far as i know!.
please! i have a graduation concert where i have numerous solos at 6:30!!!
PLEASE HELP!Www@QuestionHome@Com
Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
First, check all the springs, make sure they are properly connected!. Check the pad that was replaced to make sure it is sealing!. They may have given you a wrong size pad or they have misseated it!. Start on open G and walk your way down chromatically!. The note that doesn't speak as well is the note that is one below the bad pad!. If the entire instrument is playing stuffy, check not only the 8ve key, but also the left hand side trill keys (the alternate B & C)!. The pad may have been popped off!. Check the linkage going up to the 8ve key, a connection rod may be slightly bent!. Finally, find a good repair shop and see if you can get it fixed or at least be able to get a loaner!.Www@QuestionHome@Com
oh my gosh!.
try going to a good music store and ask if you can borrow an alto clarinet for the afternoon!
it might or might not work
just tell them your situation!
good luck!Www@QuestionHome@Com
"Many pads, including new ones, can fail for a variety of reasons!. Each pad must touch the tone hole at every point of the compass, with a first light touch!. Pads are traditionally floated in with glues that become liquid with heat and most factories now use some sort of hot melt adhesive!.
If a pad comes loose, it may be easy to reinstall the pad as a temporary measure!. Simply heat up the key cup with a heat source such as a cigarette lighter, then slip the pad back under the key cup using a pin or needle pressed into the side between the felt and the cardboard backing and close and open the key repeatedly with a light touch!. This action will force the pad to find its home!."
Quoting from http://www!.childrensmusicworkshop!.com/in!.!.!.
Hope it helps, I have never had to repair my clarinet on my own!.!.!. Have you ever played on a Bb clarinet!?!?!? You could transpose your solos, and finding a Bb to borrow is certainly easier than searching for a Eb!. Anyway, good luck!Www@QuestionHome@Com