Hard to put on Clarinetpads?

Question

I have a Bb Clarinet. I got it really cheap and it is VERY nice. All it needs is pads.. are they hard to put on?

Answer 1

HI Trevor,

They are hard to put on....  more than that, the old ones are harder to get off.   Clarinet pads are normally put on with a resin that dries hard in a minute or two.   The pad is set into the resin and is glued as the hot resin dries.  

This is not a job you should or could do.   The entire clarinet has to be disassembled... the pads and old resin dug out of each cup... new resin put into the cups and heated and then the pads replaced.....  

More complicated than there is room to describe here...  but take my word, it is not a job for someone who has no experience in clarinet repair.

You say you got the clarinet really cheap and it is a nice one...  that is really a bargain,  but a repad will cost an additional $200.00.   Now, you can try to get in there and do it yourself,  but when you mess it up????   Then the repair fee will be upgraded another $50.00 to $100.00.

I have done a number of clarinet repads myself... and take my word for it.... NOT EASY.

Answer 2

Well you don't put them on yourself.  Take your clarinet to a instrument shop like ntune, or caldwell music, and they will fix it.