How much does it cost to get a clarinet cleaned?

If you take your clarinet to an instrument service professional, the average cost to deep clean a clarinet is $49 – $65 and the average cost for a minor overhaul is $160 – $230..

How do you deep clean a clarinet at home?

DO NOT WASH the rest of the clarinet using water — this can damage the pads that cover the tone holes. Instead, take off the mouthpiece, drop a cleaning swab down the bell and pull it through the instrument a couple of times. This should be done after each and every use.

Do clarinets need to be serviced?

You should have your clarinet serviced every 12 to 18 months.

Do clarinets wear out?

Clarinets seem like relatively simple and solid instruments, and many people would believe that with proper maintenance, a clarinet can last forever. This is not true, although quality instruments may last for decades. Like many instruments, clarinets wear out over time.

What happens if you don’t clean your clarinet?

If they don’t clean out their instruments on a regular basis, black mold can build up inside and cause a condition called “Saxophone Lung.” At the conference, researchers described a case of a clarinetist who neglected to clean his instrument for some 30 years and suffered the consequences.

Can I use Vaseline instead of cork grease?

Typically petroleum jelly (like Vaseline), lip balm, and lanolin are used as cork grease alternatives. You can also make your own cork grease with bee’s wax and a plant-based oil like coconut oil, or from tallow and lanolin. A good cork grease will both preserve and lubricate the cork but not harm your instrument.

How often should you put cork grease on a clarinet?

When a clarinet is new you should use cork grease every time you put the instrument together for the first week or two. After that, the corks will soak up some of the grease and you only need to use it once or twice a week.

Why do clarinets crack?

Cracking happens most often when there is a rapid change in temperature or humidity. The rule of thumb is any time the outside of the clarinet is suddenly colder or drier than the inside. For example, going from a dry, heated environment like most houses during the winter, to being blown into by warm, moist air.

How do I know if my clarinet reed is bad? It may sound gross, but if you notice black mold growing on your clarinet reeds it’s time to toss them straight in the trash. Over time, the bacteria in your mouth will cause mold to grow and, if you continue to play with moldy reeds it’s like sucking on an old piece of bubblegum day in and day out.

How often should you clean a clarinet?

How often should you clean your clarinet? You should clean your instrument after you play, and cork grease it at least once a week. However, you can clean the keys one to two times a week to get oil build-up off.

What is the lifespan of a clarinet?

Harold Wright said in an interview that clarinets of the symphony player typically last 10 years.

Do clarinets get better with age?

No, the wood does not degrade with time. A good clarinet, if well maintained, can remain a good clarinet. For example, Buffet R13 clarinets from the 1950-1960s are highly prized (although much more affordable than similarly vintage, quality saxophones).

How long will a clarinet last?

For professionals that may be true, but for us poor amateurs a good clarinet, well maintained can last for many decades. I’m sure that Harold Wright played as much in 10 years as I have in 50. Swab, clean, lubricate, replace pads, replace key corks, replace tenon corks, adjust keys, swedge, replace springs, etc.

How can you tell if a clarinet reed is good?

A reed that is too soft will sound excessively bright. The tone center will also be very unfocused. A reed that is too hard will sound airy and muffled. In some cases, certain notes won’t be able to speak.

How do you deep clean an old clarinet?

How do you clean and polish a clarinet? Dab a cotton swab into the water, and clean one tone hole with it. Sometimes a tone hole will be dirty enough to use several cotton swabs, but never put a dirty cotton swab back into the tone hole. Just change sides or swabs. Let the holes air-dry or dry them with a cotton swab before re-assembling the keys.

Can you clean a clarinet with alcohol? Use a Q-Tip damp with isopropyl alcohol to thoroughly wipe down the keys. Be careful to avoid getting any on pads or corks, since this can damage them. Use a clean Q-Tip damp with water to gently wipe down pads and corks.

How do you clean an old wooden clarinet?

Drop the clarinet swab string through each section and pull it through to remove moisture and keep the bore clean. Wash the mouthpiece with a solution of liquid soap and cold water. Run the mouthpiece brush back and forth to remove any built up residue. Rinse with cold water.

Is it OK to leave clarinet assembled?

While you can leave a clarinet assembled after a session, you still have to take it apart to dry its parts thoroughly after practice, and store away the reed. Once re-assembled, you can put the clarinet on a stand although it might collect dust and dirt in the tone holes and between the keys.

How often should you change a reed on a clarinet?

A good rule of thumb is you should replace your reed every 2-4 weeks, no matter how often you’re playing your instrument. You may want to replace your reeds more frequently if you’re practicing several hours each day. Some reeds also may not last as long as others, every reed plays slightly differently.

Can you soak a clarinet in water?

You should clean your clarinet mouthpiece weekly. First remove the ligature and reed. Place the mouthpiece in a small bowl of vinegar and water and allow to soak for 5-10 minutes.

Do clarinets lose their value?

Clarinets are a dime a dozen, and like cars they lose half their value once purchased, no matter if you drove it or not. After that it’s mainly downhill. Of course over time you may recover value such as a Buffet R13 from say 1960 was bought for $180 is now worth $800 in undamaged and playable condition.

How can you tell if a reed is bad?

A “bad” reed is too soft or too hard for you, or dead sounding. This can often only be obvious after a while, maybe 30 minutes, maybe an hour of playing. Sometimes a good reed turns bad suddenly, sometimes bad reeds get better.

How much does it cost to refurbish a clarinet?

How often should you replace a clarinet mouthpiece? In general, mouthpieces DO wear down over time due to the normal wear and tear that it is subject to during performance, as well as breakdown from saliva. Even the reed vibration alone is enough to, over time, physically change a mouthpiece. On average, regular players seem to notice these changes after 2-3 years.

How much is an old clarinet worth?

It will be highly dependent on the factors mentioned above, but an old or used clarinet with little damage might be valued between $200 and $600. One which is in a not-so-good condition could be priced at no more than $150 to $200, with some having higher prices just due to its brand or the specific model.

How much should I pay for a used clarinet? Used student clarinet prices can range greatly from around $25 to $700, depending mostly on its condition, material, and brand. For comparison, the price of a new student clarinet can vary from $250 to $1000, depending on the brand, the model, and its material.

How do you tell if you need a new reed?

If you’re noticing that the tip of your saxophone reed is chipped, it may be time for a replacement. In some cases, chipped tips won’t affect playing, while in other instances chipped reed tips will make the reed completely unplayable. To verify the extent of the damage, observe where the tip is chipped.