https://youtube.com/watch?v=NyUAtmc3vLw
Hello, so today I’m going to repair my clarinet. I never do that alone. I always bring my clarinet to the professionals to make it repair, because this is the right way to do, especially if you’re not experienced. Like me, I repaired my older clarinets before, but I have to admit that I never ever repaired. My Selmer Privilege, clarinets and today is going to be my first time.
I will ever touch my clarinets and repair them, so you’re probably going to ask why I’m doing it alone at home. Yes, as you might know that we are in a covid, 19 station, the whole world, and it’s been almost two months that I never go out, especially if you live in a crowded city. Like me, you know, I live in Istanbul and we have almost 15 million citizens. I find it a little bit too risky to go out, so my problem is with my B flat clarinet and I’m going to explain what the problem is exactly so, when I put these two parts together and I play F B flat, there is always some little Blank I mean, I guess you understand it, just doesn’t close, so I have to repair this part, and the second thing I have to do is clean. The chalumeau notes holes because the intonation is terrible and I am sure that all the dirt you know when you swab the clarinet like first goes into those holes.
The sound is incredibly disgusting. I need to end this today and now that I have a closer look. I see that also. I have to clean it silver, it’s really black and there is dirt. Also on the keys.
I also see that there is some dirt between the keys yeah, I’m going to clean all of those things. So, first of all, I will use the lighter and also a little screw with those two I’m going to repair this correspondence. I put those two parts together. I would check you know with a paper like which is not closing, but here it’s too obvious on the key: it’s all black, but when you clean it with a kind of cloth, it’s going to go off so I will use some towel for it and it’s All also on the pad, I think it’s not fine. Actually yeah, I don’t know if it’s any better.
I will first check if it’s fixed or not so, let’s play so. I got the other parts of my clarinet, oh my god, I’m so afraid. Still not okay. Yeah now it’s out, I think now it will be fine -too much I’m a little bit skeptical about how good it is to play those notes now, so I will try to heat it once more. I hope I am doing something right really hope that yes, finally, it’s been such a long time that I didn’t do this, because I was really afraid to do something on my clarinet, but I think this was the best idea.
I’M going to hold it like this. Just in case for a while that it sits, it seems fine. I couldn’t do this at all. It was like you know it was so annoying. I had to put it like kind of to the side you know like.
I had to slide it kind of like this. I could play like this, but the sound was much weaker, but now it’s much better for each note I think, but you hear the chalumeau notes: sound stillso bad, not happy with it. So I’m going to clean those holes, I mean I wish I had this courage to put all the keys out and clean the whole cloud clarinet. So let’s go for the second round, cleaning the holes. So now I need these two parts.
Let’S go so here, as you can see, I have many many stuff to clean, different things and I will explain:
So I don’t need this lighter anymore. I have a tiny bit drop of oil just in case because I’m going to take those keys out – and before I put maybe I might need just a little drop of oil. As you can see, I have two screwdrivers. There are different sizes, actually one is a little bit smaller and one is actually perfect for all the keys and all the screws on the clarinet, but somehow sometimes I need also this little one to reach some places. I think today, I’m gon na use and go for this bigger one and to clean the inside of the holes.
I have this kind of little brush and on the other side, I have this kind of little brush it’s to clean between the keys, and I also have a soft toothbrush. You can clean clarinet’s surface with that and I’ll also to clean between the keys and later on. I am also going to clean the clarinet’s silver keys because they really got darker and they’re, not shiny anymore, so I’m going to use this special silver key cleaning. It’S made for flute actually, so it’s just a really good quality. One
I bought this in Switzerland and I use this for many years now and I have to do it only once in a year, so I’m like okay, I’m gon na clean everything anyway.
So why not to do this too? So, let’s clean those chalumeau notes. Okay, first of all, I remember with my older clarinet that I was doing something with the screw, and I remember that I scratched my clarinet’s wood. I once scratched the silver too, so I’m going to put something around it. I’M gon na cover around the key under the key.
So now I cannot scratch the wood anymore, I’m covering around the screw. Oh, I should open the string first. Yes, now it’s easier perfect, so I put it on the paper, so it doesn’t get any dust on it. The pad looks fine. I mean I show you, it looks okay, I don’t know if you see it here, but I’m going to clean inside now.
I’M sure it will be super difficult to put them back, I’m so afraid I will not be able to do it yeah. I will play with my A clarinet. Then
Yes, it is out yeah, the pad looks also fine. I mean there is no damage on it. It’S just the color.
So let’s clean those holes not going to further inside because tip of the brush is a metal thing, and I don’t want to scratch. Inside of my clarinet, that’s why I’m being like? Really gentle and like really cleaning only the hole? Okay? Yes, I see that there is something there around the key.
There is like some dust I can see, but I have to swab and then it’s gone. I also brush the surface. Okay. Now the G sharp key. I thought if those keys have another name in English.
I never paid attention to that oops. I mean you guys, probably know that I studied in Europe for like almost 10 years in many different countries. So I speak many languages, I’m not saying it to show off, but you know English is not my native language and I still make some mistakes. I’M also doing it, like you know, on this angle, and not like straight also like this and like this, because not this side of the hole, but the other side like inside part, gets more dirt when you swab it, you can’t imagine how dirty it’s actually and You know even a little dirt is so so bad for the intonation and the sound. I mean you feel the difference like wow
I think it’s fine, oh no!
It’S not fine! Actually, I see some stuff. Okay, I will try to swab the clarinet. First of all, I have to show you. I see the dirt I’m going to swab woop, it’s not going out.
I have a better idea. I will use a q-tip, actually I don’t suggest it because after you using q-tip, it also leaves some dust, but first I’m going to clean with that, because it’s a big piece inside and then I will use the brush for the little dust again so okay, here We go, I got it but uh, but there is a second one. You see the second one. This is what I call a victory and then once more, for the last time, let’s clean the surface, once more, so now, I’m going to clean, also the silver keys. As I already put all of these keys out, I think it’s time now to clean their silver parts, because you see yeah, it’s really not the silver color anymore.
So, just in case you want to know its brand. It’S called “ Nap, Paris”
You see now it’s so shiny. Now, I’m going to clean, also the A key I’m doing it. Like still soft. You know there are some corks and everything shouldn’t touch them too much because you never know what’s gon na happen.
I just cannot handle that. One cork falls or something please don’t I don’t know why it’s really really black. Maybe I should really separate my mouthpiece from my clarinet because I always keep them in the same place, but you know what they say. If you put your mouthpiece next to your clarinet, it’s not good for the silver keys. So now I’m going to brush the surface, you see up there.
It is now between the keys inside the holes. Okay, I think the upper part is ready now, so I have to put those keys in their places. Now, let’s start with the a key, alright, not so difficult, It’s sliding. You know, that’s why you shouldn’t push it really hard. Otherwise, you’re like scratched and the damage is done.
It seems fine, it’s not to lose it’s not too tight either. I think it’s fine. Let’S put the G sharp key. If you put the screw first and then the string, it’s really difficult, I don’t know, I can’t do it. I remember I did it with my former class and just didn’t work put the string first and yes done.
We got it in its place. I think you look perfect my darling, I’m so happy. Now I’m going to do the same thing for the other part of the clarinet and I’m going to clean the silver part. So I show you the result and of course, inside of the holes again, it’s really important that you should take care of your instrument. You know we have only one
Okay, I’m done with the silver cleaning and done with the holes and between the keys so now to end the video I’m going to play.
I feel the difference like a lot. I don’t know if you hear it, but for me it’s like. Finally, I’m so happy so so so happy so guys. I am done with my quarantine repair and you see that it went well if I need to clean inside the holes again. This chalumeau notes, especially and if I have just like little problems with the keys and if I don’t need to change any pads or corks.
I have more guts to do that, so to finish the video. Thank you so much for watching it. If you liked it, please hit the like button. If you want to see more, this kind of videos subscribe to my channel and if you have any suggestions, because we all need that – please write in the comment. Nowadays, it’s really important to share all the knowledge with each other, because you know we are all going through tough times and we are all home and have to deal with these kind of problems alone.
So I hope that this video was helpful, for you hope to see you next time.
Bye )
Read More: Leaky Pads: Clarinet Instrument Repair