Today I bought a clarinet

Subject: Today I bought a clarinet
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 27 Oct 05 - 06:58 PM

I haunt Thrift Stores and today I bought a Boosey and Hawkes clarinet for $45. It will need fettling and it doesn't have a reed or a reed holder [?] but I figure it must be worth more than I paid for it, the pads all seem intact but the thread/taping between the sections needs replacing to make the joint airtight, but who knows it may be an investment, it could also end up hanging on my wall!
Giok

Subject: RE: Today I bought a clarinet
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 27 Oct 05 - 07:18 PM

Great Firestarter too!

Subject: RE: Today I bought a clarinet
From: Bill D
Date: 27 Oct 05 - 07:26 PM

reeds are perishable anyway...(if you try to play it, don't use more than #2 to start!) One of my friends plays with reed tied on (kinda wrapped with string) it works fine, although I never used anything except metal clamp.

It's a bit of work to get used to, but makes a nice instrument for tootling tunes!

Subject: RE: Today I bought a clarinet
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 27 Oct 05 - 08:19 PM

If you haven't played single reed instruments before, even a #2 reed may seem pretty stiff. A #1-1/2 is about as "limp" as they come though.

The reed "clamp" is called a "ligature" and should be available fairly cheaply from any dealer that handles wind instruments. An option would be to find one of the $5 clarinets that hangs in a pawn shop, salvage the ligature, and throw the rest of the clarinet away.

"Corking" a clarinet isn't all that complicated, but can be a bit messy. While hide glue requiring hot application or rather toxic/flammable "shellac" used to be the norm, a liquid "cork cement" or "cork glue" now is mostly used and common brands are pretty clean to use. As with most instrument repairs, there are "tricks of the trade" that may make it simpler to have a local repairer do it for you. On typical clarinets, there are several keys that should have cork pads attached to cut down on the "clitter-clatter" when you play. On an old clarinet it may not be really obvious where all of those should go.

John

Subject: RE: Today I bought a clarinet
From: Leadfingers
Date: 27 Oct 05 - 08:39 PM

Giok - Contact me when you back to UK - If I can help i will ! I have 'done up' clarinets in the past and have a bit of info on what is required !