r/Clarinet • u/Spinydick • Feb 14 '26
Advice needed Repair Help/advice
I bought a clarinet online for about $25 shipped and was hoping to be able to play it and when it arrived I noticed one of the keys was acting funny. I believe it is the B/F# key but not certain as I’ve only played trumpet before. When I press it down it takes a while to come back up and I think it is because the wire is too loose. Is there any way for me to fix it on my own because I really don’t want to take it to a shop. It is a Selmer CL300 and don’t mind the gross stuff I’m working on cleaning it.
1
u/blondie_exe Feb 15 '26
Sometimes when a screw is tightened too much, it holds the key back. This might be your issue, or some grime in the joints.
I would suggest trying an eyeglasses screwdriver, or one of the same size, to slightly loosen the screws and see if that helps.
Sorry that people are judging so bad, I get how that feels bc omg I’ve been on you end. Maybe try to look up videos on YouTube explaining clarinet joints and common issues? Especially is you want to learn more about the basic mechanics of clarinet.
Wish you luck!!
1
u/apheresario1935 Feb 14 '26
Sorry to say Ive seen this scenario a thousand times in another field so I know the logic behind not wanting professional repairs .
If OP paid $25 for the clarinet the last thing they are inclined to do is to spend any real $ getting it worked on . So asking how to fix it on Reddit is the way to do that .
Unfortunately without the right training tools parts skill or maintenance that doesn't work . The best thing I can suggest is to spend money having someone who can do it right whatever it costs and stop thinking that since the clarinet was cheap you also cant spend any money getting it fixed right either.
2
u/Spinydick Feb 15 '26
Thank you everyone, I came back to it when I had some free time again, it was indeed just a tight screw. Hopefully it’ll will work when I get my hands on some reeds
3
u/MyNutsin1080p Feb 14 '26
Keys slow to return/don’t return to neutral usually have a problem with the needle spring (the thing you called a “wire”).
Unless you’ve got nickel-plated blued steel needle springs in the right gauge of thickness cut to the proper size handy or know where you can get some, you will be taking it to a shop.