FULL in depth setup of new contra alto clarinet. This is tech video. Thanks for watching. We are not taking on any work. Check NAPBIRT.org and check under resources tab for the tech locator in your area for a person to interview.
As a coppersmith, among other things, I repair pressed copper/brass/tin artefacts and so I love to hear you chat away. It's great to hear your thought process... what you're doing and why you're doing it. I've emmulated (i.e. stolen) some of your techniques for my work. Thanks Wes - your work is brilliant, your skills are remarkable and your commentary is instructive (as well as entertaining).
I used to play saxophone, and I wish I would have seen these videos back then. You've made me realize how much of a difference adjusting tension can make. I would have attempted my own adjustments on my instrument based on what you show here. I was unsatisfied with some of the action not feeling light enough, and I always thought it was just the inherent nature of the way it was manufactured.
Yeah, since the rise of the internet, I have learned so much on my sax was set up wrong. Before (70’s and 80’s) I just had to put up with problems because I didn’t know any better. I resumed playing (just for fun) several years ago and realized that my sax needed work and had it overhauled. The man found so many fundamental problems that it had since new, and now it plays brilliantly. I wish I had an internet back when I first got it in 1978. Wes, don’t stop talking. It does the world good to learn from you. I don’t repair instruments, I will never have your skill, but you don’t just teach repairmen, you also teach players how to realize they have problems with their horns. Thank you.
Wes Lee don’t worry about what those knuckleheads say. When you’re talking, you continue to talk all you like us people that come to your channel to watch what you’re doing enjoy the mechanics of the things doesn’t mind you speaking at all. Want you to speak all you like like when others will say how you learn is by listening and you can listen to someone if they’re not talking, so brush them off sweep the crumbs up and keep on working man and we’ll see you on the next video
Exactly! This is HIS channel. If he wants to turn on the camera and just talk for an hour, guess what? I'll show up and watch it. Wes Lee is one of my favorite channels, and I absolutely love hearing him talk. He is crazy smart about any subject he brings up, and I've learned a massive amount just listening to his videos. Don't change Wes! We who love you will watch!
I'm not a band repair tech, but I've been playing brass instruments for 55+ years. Wes, you offer a master class with every video. You can't do a master class without explanation. If people are bitching about your talking, talk more. Most of the rest of us appreciate it, I'm sure. BTW, I know nothing at all about low clarinets except I love to hear them in association with an ensemble. They provide a richness and color that can't be matched anywhere. Keep on keepin' on, sir.
"If you don't wanna hear me talk, skip this video" friend I mashed the like button right then and there. I'm not even in the business and your videos are so interesting and informative it feels like I'm sitting in on classroom instruction for free.
I ran across your page when I came into possession of a Bugle. i had no idea how balanced the setup on these style of instruments are. . Thank you for the education and entertainment. Talk all you like.
You talk all you want, Wes. I appreciate your explanations and expertise. Complainers always have the option to go somewhere else or start their own channel.
Dear Wes, your videos are so inspiring not just for professional technicians but also for hobbyists like me. As an early subscriber I'm far from surprised by the success of this channel, which provides an invaluable knowledge base for everyone involved in music instrument repair. Thanks for sharing your passion and for your detailed and informative explanations. I'm Italian and I love your accent, so please try to talk a little bit more, not less!
I use YT to learn how to do all sorts of stuff--replace washing machine pumps, install range hood vents, etc...--but I've found that some things are just best left to professionals.... like this! Glad we have your services locally, Wes!
Your explanations of what you are doing are much more helpful than any music backed timelapse video. I'm watching to learn. Thank you so very much for your videos. They are very inspiring.
Wes, I played clarinet through high school, university marching band, and symphonic band. I am fascinated by this video of how to set up a wind instrument! Had no idea. The player of this instrument will NOT care for it in the manner that it should be. Not being tough on the player, it's just a fact of immaturity. I wish the player could be in the shop and watch, help with this instrument regulation. It's not a great instrument, but in your good hands, I'll bet it now sounds just fine!!!
I had a bad dream of the good dream about a red headed stranger this morning. so I got out of bed to clear my mind and this vid popped up at the 35:00 mark. It is just one of those things, thanks for the videos.
Talking too much? Really? Talking is the whole point. Sheesh. Thank you for your channel. People watch a RU-vid channel because they like the people on the video. The content is important, but the content with a person you like will win every time.
Wes you talk and teach all you want. There are plenty of us that learn from each word you speak. Know that many of us who are not as physically able as we used to be, sure enjoy being in the shop again with you!
And to add to my comment that your video was inspirational; new stands made, plug for my leak light and some hours later my bass clarinet is much better for the time invested. A huge thank you for leading the way!
"You take it one key at a time it is not an overwhelming machine." You, my friend, please keep talking. I work on some pretty wild (non-wind) things and that beast on your bench is scary. I love the vids and am fascinated by your working world. I also pick up some tips. Thanks for the great videos.
Please, keep talking and explaining what you’re doing and why. I am a band director and only had 1 semester of “care and repair” class in college. Thanks.
I love to hear how you walk through the smallest of changes to improve the instrument. I play trombone, but I get a lot out of when you work on woodwinds. They look so complex, yet you break it down to each small part that is the culprit. Very nice.
Are you kidding......you DO NOT talk to much......i just can not wait To Hear what you have to say‼️‼️and you have a very soothing voice......keep on our master,,,, 😋
As somebody who played contra alto back in high school, I wish I knew all these setup systems! I didn't struggle too much like the opening clip, but I was always looking to play faster and easier.
Tbh, i think you are an excellent teacher and explain things very well. I dont even play or repair instruments but i like learning the concepts you outline in your videos. Your comment/ sidenote not to watch the video made me chuckle.
What a fantastic unique instrument! I've yet to see one of these before, thanks for the video! I really appreciate your narration and knowledge, keep talking away my friend! Also the general key/pad adjustment information will be greatly beneficial in the alignment of my vintage alto sax
12:03 Wes!!! Please tell us if you eventually fix that crooked, remounted, through-hole drill job and straightened up. I don't know enough about these instruments to know whether or not it is "designed" with such low tolerance that it can twist off axis to the rod which it supports. It is like watching the teacher erase a blackboard but she (intentionally) missed a few pieces of numbers or letters just to drive those of us that pay attention CRAZY!!! 😂😅 I know you know what I'm talking about! 😊 I can't even finish the video until I make this comment. So if you do twist it back into alignment I will edit this comment with a thumbs up emoji. 🤣
Well I don't think you talk too much. I enjoy the video more when you talk through the process. It gives the viewer a good understanding of what you are doing.
Great tech teaching Mr. Lee. Oh you sure play very well too, going low register to High takes great playing skills.! Oh yes the keys all in sync. I have had tat issue with B Foot flutes taking way to muh pressure on the roller key to get all three seated YIKES!
31 inches = 78.74 centimeters.....in case one was wondering....🤔 And I don't care about talking....it explains what is going on, and/or what you are doing to correct an issue.👍
the whole point of watching you work is to hear you talk. I wish you would play a little more music with the repaired instrument at the end though. Perhaps compare sound shots and the like.
As a brass player, I must say that I am reminded of the difference in complexity between ICE cars and BEVs. I am happy that I have graduated to trumpet and Tesla. So many parts. So many adjustments. tensions. oil pumps. camshafts. corks. Hmm.
Excellent presentation and servicing, sir! What irritates me is that an instrument manufacturer would consider this acceptable to send to a school in the first place. If a director is spending precious budget dollars on a needed addition to the ensemble and then has to spend more for your expertise to make it playable is incredible. Shame on the manufacturer for sending out such poor quality. Thanks for your caring and informative video!
If you don't talk, how do we know what you are doing, and why? Never played a woodwind instrument, yet I watch you work on them every time you put out a video on them.
Curious what the brand of the instrument is? Seems like the manufacturer did not do much of a QA or even setup on the Clarinet before selling it. i know Wes has no reason to shame the company but potential buyers in a very limited market like this one should be made aware of a manufacturer like this.
Looks like a LeBlanc USA (formerly Vito), based on the mouthpiece receiver angle, lack of trill keys on the top joint, and the pedal Eb vent and pad being on the body and not the bell (which should theoretically can be lipped down to D), and I think I saw the 1 and 3 throat Eb fingering mechanism, which I believe is unique to the Vitos and metal LeBlanc contras.
Do you think factory set-ups are getting worse than they used to be? These seem like common issues I see on new instruments from almost all manufacturers. Well, minus the holes drilled through the body.
I don't get it. People come to a band instrument repair channel but don't want to hear the tech to talk about band instrument repair? I could understand it if all Wes talked about was family, vacation, politics or some other non-repair related chit chat. Ignore the naysayers and press on.
16:38 Ok, again please understand. I have no idea how these art projects that create joyful noise operate. However it seems as though I just saw you still holding down the pad and then declared it to have "no bounce". That doesn't appear to be repaired and you just said to go out of your way to not lie to yourself. Am I missing something? Because it looks to me that your finger from your right hand still holds the key down as you use your left finger to try and prove the equation. 🤔 Actually it happens again at 24:47 . Wes please believe I'm not trying to be overly critical or create a "gotcha". I'm a viewer only. I'm simply trying to understand this process better because you make it enjoyable to learn about these "things" that make the 🎶 music 🎵 that I love dearly. Instruments have always interested me. My parents could not afford my ukulele in 3rd grade so I missed my opportunity at a young age. And after high school I went straight into work-marriage-kids so I never took the time to learn. I saw a documentary in the 80s that claimed that the last instrument that was invented was the tin barrel drum and that no symphony orchestra has added a new instrument in generations. Which baffled me as well. Thanks for these videos and your patience in setting up the shots and editing them for our consumption. -✌🏻
I'm not entirely sure what you're asking about, but I think the point is that "bounce" is a very small motion that you can feel if you tap one of two keys that are supposed to be closing at the same time. If one of them isn't quite closed, but it's very close, you would tap on it and be able to feel that it's not fully closed -- just a few thousands, or a couple thousandths, of an inch, or hundredths of a millimeter. So he felt some bounce, then adjusted the relative motion so that the "early" key closed just a little later. Then the two would close at the same time, and voila -- no bounce. Does that make sense?
