How to Repair a Bundy Clarinet
A Bundy clarinet, just like any clarinet, requires a certain amount of maintenance to remain in good working order. There are a number of repairs that you can do at home, avoiding the need to take your instrument to a specialist.
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Things You'll Need
- Clarinet
- Small flathead screwdriver
- Tooth picks
- Key oil
- Dollar bill
- Cigarette lighter
- Extra clarinet pads
- Micro cement
- Rubber bands
- Valentino synthetic clarinet joint corks (pre-cut and self adhesive)
- Sharp knife/straight razor blade
Instructions
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Caring for the Keys
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1
Check your clarinet for loose screws, starting with one end and working toward the other.
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If you find a loose screw, use a small flathead screwdriver to tighten the screw. Do not over-tighten.
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3
Dip the end of the toothpick into the key oil.
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Carefully dab a small amount of oil into each key joint (typically right under or above the screws you just located). Be careful not to get key oil on your clarinet.
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Move the keys affected by the oiled joint by pressing and releasing them. This helps the oil spread.
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If any of the keys appear to be bent or shifted out of place, you can try to gently push them back to the correct position. If you cannot reposition the keys, take the instrument to a professional repairman.
Caring for the Pads
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One at a time, press down each key that uses a pad to cover a tone hole. Make sure the key does not stick and springs back to its original position.
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If the key does stick, take a dollar bill and place it between the pad and the tone hole. Press the key down and pull the dollar bill out from under the key. This will remove stickiness from the pad.
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If the key does not spring back properly, the spring may be bent or broken. Take the instrument to a repair technician to fix this problem.
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Check each pad for rips or tears. If a pad is torn, it must be replaced.
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Use the cigarette lighter to heat the cup holding the affected pad. This melts the adhesive and releases the pad. Make sure to get all of the adhesive out of the cup.
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Apply a small amount of micro cement to the replacement pad and place it in the cup. You may need to use a toothpick to help guide the pad into the cup.
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If the key rests in the closed position, it will hold the new pad in on its own. If the key rests up, you will need to use a rubber band to hold it closed.
Caring for Cork
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If the joint cork has dried out or begun flaking or peeling off, repair it. If you put this off, your instrument could fall apart and hit the floor, potentially causing severe damage to the instrument.
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Remove the cork completely, if it has not fallen off on its own.
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For a quick repair, use synthetic, pre-cut cork. Select the closest size and cut off any extra with a sharp knife or razor blade.
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Apply the cork to the joint/tenon that needs to be recorked.
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Synthetic corks should be a temporary solution only. Take the instrument to a repair technician to have the joint properly recorked as soon as possible.
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Tips & Warnings
Daily maintenance and cleaning will help to prevent many problems with your clarinet. You should always swab the instrument after playing to prevent moisture build up and bloated pads. Use cork grease to keep the corks from drying out and cracking. Pads and corks will wear out and need replacement every few years, depending on the amount of playing you do.
Never lay the instrument face down on the keys, as this could bend them. Always lay the clarinet on the thumb rest side.
Never stand your clarinet on its bell, as it may fall and break.
Even if you prefer to replace pads and corks yourself, you should still take your clarinet to a repair technician to look over for any problems you might have missed. This will keep your instrument in the best working order.
If your clarinet has cracked it must go to a professional repair technician to be pinned. Do not try to fix this yourself!
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Clarinette image by Franco DI MEO from Fotolia.com
