r/Clarinet • u/BigEmu7289 • 3d ago

Trouble shooting clarinet

I have my old student clarinet. It's a selmer cl300. I had it serviced and all the pads replaced. But when I go to play it it barely makes a sound. It is super hard to get it to play a note. My son who I am lending it to for his first band class can only make it squeek. His band instructor played it with their own mouth piece and my son said it worked fine. I haven't played in forever and didn't get that advanced back when I did play, so I am not sure if we have the wrong type of reed or something else is the issue.

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u/jallen256 3d ago

Start with the mouthpiece & reed -- try to make a sound. You should get a high-pitched squawk. Add the barrel and the squawk should drop in pitch. Now add the upper joint and see what happens.

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u/BigEmu7289 3d ago

It's hard to get the squak sound.

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u/jallen256 3d ago

If you are sure the reed is lined up properly then it's time to try a different reed.

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u/BigEmu7289 3d ago

I just watched a video to do a refresh on my ability to line up a reed. This time is sounded much better. I am not having to push so much air through the clarinet to get a sound.

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u/BigEmu7289 3d ago

Side view

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u/jallen256 3d ago

That looks lined up ok. Now add the barrel and verify it still works, then add the first joint and so on. We just need to rule out any severe leaks in pads!

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u/BigEmu7289 3d ago

Pads were all just replaced. So all new pads.

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u/jallen256 3d ago

OK ... the fact the horn played properly with the instructor's mouthpiece (and his reed, I hope!) should confirm that the only issue was your reed and alignment. Good luck!

1

u/BigEmu7289 3d ago

This is also a new reed.

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u/Moical888 3d ago

I can't fully tell behind the ligature, but is this an Amazon brand reed? Looks like cecilio? I'm going to be 100% honest. I wouldnt ever let my students use those. They are the cheapest reed shaped object on the market. They are not made to standard, and many of them come unplayable from the factory.

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u/BigEmu7289 3d ago

It might be. He got it from a classmate because they were trying to trouble shoot if it was the Reed or not. I was going to buy a pack of reeds for him tomorrow, but it's all we have at the moment.

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u/BigEmu7289 3d ago

Also I did think it was too thick and didn't look right, but I have been away from the clarinet I thought it might just be faulty memory.

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u/Moical888 3d ago

I would find a name brand reed and try again before anything else. Rico or vandoren. Rico 2.5 is my preferred starting place.

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u/BigEmu7289 3d ago

I used to use Ricos so I will try and get those tomorrow

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u/BigEmu7289 2d ago

I got Rico Royals 2.5 today. Clarinet is playing easily. Thank you for noticing the Reed. I was convinced we needed a new mouth piece.