YAMAHA YCL-631 Professional Eb Alto Clarinet Owner’s Manual

YAMAHA YCL-631 Professional Eb Alto Clarinet

You are now the owner of a high quality musical instrument. Th ank you for choosing Yamaha.
For instructions on the proper assembly of the instrument, and how to keep the instrument in optimum condition for as long as possible, we urge you to read this Owner’s Manual thoroughly

Precautions

Please read before using

The precautions given below concern the proper and safe use of the instrument, and are to protect you and others from any damage or injuries. Please follow and obey these precautions.
If children are using the instrument, a guardian should clearly explain these precautions to the child and make sure they are fully understood and obeyed. After reading this manual, please keep it in a safe place for future reference.

About the Icons

: This icon indicates points which should be paid attention to.
: This icon indicates actions that are prohibited.

Caution
Disobeying the points indicated with this mark may lead to damage or injury.

| Do not throw or swing the instrument when others are close by.
The mouthpiece or other parts may fall off hitting other people. Always treat the instrument gently.
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| Keep the oil, polish, etc., out of children’s mouths.
Keep the oil, polish, etc., out of children’s reach and do maintenance when children are not present.
| Be careful not to touch the pin springs during maintenance, etc.
The end of the pin springs found on high-end models is sharpened to provide greater key action.
| Be aware of climatic conditions such as temperature, humidity, etc.
Keep the instrument away from heat sources such as heaters, etc. Also, do not use or store the instrument in any extreme conditions of temperature or humidity. Doing so may result in damage to key balance, linkage, or pads, resulting in problems during performance.
| Never use benzene or thinner for maintenance on instruments.
Doing so can cause damage to the instrument.
| Take care not to dis gure the instrument.
Placing the instrument where it is unstable may cause the instrument to fall or drop resulting in dis gurement. Take care as to where and how you place the instrument.
| Do not modify the instrument.
Besides voiding the warranty, modi cation of the instrument may make repairs impossible.
| Keep small parts out of the reach of infants.
Your children may accidentally swallow them.
In regards to brass instruments with a plate nish, the color of the nish may change over time however, it should be of no concern in regards to the instrument’s performance. Discoloration in its early stage can easily be removed with maintenance. (As discoloration progresses, it may be dif cult to remove.)

• Please use the accessories that are specified for use with the particular type of nish found on the instrument. Also, metal polishes remove a thin layer of the nish’s top coat which will make the nish thinner. Please be aware of this before using polish.

Caution—Movable Thumb Rest

• Adjusting the Thumb Rest

1. Loosen the stopper screw and adjust the thumb rest to the desired position.

• Removing the stopper screw can result in losing the screw so only loosen the screw enough to adjust the thumb rest. 2. Secure the thumb rest in place by tightening the stopper screw with a screwdriver or a coin.
  

Caution—When Using the Strap Ring

(Only for instruments equipped with a strap ring on the thumb rest.)

• Use with the strap around your neck and the strap’s hook inserted through the strap ring.
• When inserting the strap hook into the instrument’s strap ring, or while playing, always hold onto the instrument with your hands. Letting the instrument hang from the hook without any support places excessive weight on the ring, which can cause damage. Moreover, if the strap ring were to come off of the hook, the instrument could drop. Please use caution.

Precautions

The wooden clarinet’s body is made of natural Grenadilla (other models are made of ABS resin which is extremely weather resistant). For this reason, sudden changes in temperature or humidity may result in cracking of the body or diffi culty when connecting the body sections together at the joint. Please take into consideration, the place that the instrument will be used and the manner in which it is used.

• During the winter season before using it. wait until the entire instrument has adjusted to room temperature.
• When the instrument is new, do not use it for long periods of time. Play it for only about 20 to 30 minutes a day for the fi rst two weeks.
• Whenever possible, use a cleaning swab to remove moisture or dirt from the instrument.

Th e wooden clarinet is a very delicate instrument. Do not use it under the following conditions. Doing so may result in damage to the body.

• Do not expose it to direct sunlight for any extended period of time.
• Do not expose it to rain or excessive humidity.
• Do not expose it to heat sources such as a stove, heater.
• Do not expose it to cool air such as that from an air-conditioner.

NOTICE

About plastic (ABS resin) models:

• Keep away from hot objects as there is a risk of deformation.
• Avoid contact with a plant-based oil (bore oil, etc. used for the inside of wooden instruments) as there is a risk of deterioration.
• Use the same Yamaha cork grease as the accessories for the joints.

To keep your instrument in optimum condition, please observe the following precautions.

• After playing it, use a cleaning swab to remove moisture or dirt. (See the “Instrument Maintenance” section on page 9.)
• When setting the instrument down for a short period of time, use a cleaning swab to remove moisture and dirt from it, then place it on a stable surface with the keys facing up.
• After use, always store the instrument in its case. Do not store it in places of high temperature or humidity.
• Never leave a damp gauze or cloth in the case.
• When transporting the instrument, make sure that the mouthpiece cap is attached.

Nomenclature

❶ Mouthpiece
❷ Ligature
❸ Barrel
❹ Upper Joint
❺ Key
❻ Main Body
❼ Lower Joint
❽ Bell
❾ Register Key
❿ Neck
⓫ Upper Neck
⓬ Lower Neck
⓭ Fastening Screw
⓮ Peg

Accessories

• Mouthpiece Cap

• Cork Grease

• Polishing Cloth

• Improvements may change the design and specifi cations without notice.

Assembly

Before assembling the instrument, please observe the following.
The clarinet is made of natural wood and precision metal parts. When holding and assembling the instrument, take care not to place any excessive force on the keys. Also, if you have diffi culty attaching the joints together when assembling the instrument, apply a thin coat of cork grease to the joints and try to put the joints together again. When applying cork grease, be careful not to apply too much. If the joints still do not go together smoothly, apply a thin coat of cork grease to the receiver side as well.

• Assembly

**Bb/A Clarinet**

1. Attach the barrel to the upper joint and the bell to the lower joint.
   

2. To link the upper and lower joint bridge keys together, hold the upper joint in your left hand as shown in the illustration and press the upper keys to raise the bridge key.

3. Hold the lower joint in your right hand and check the position of the bridge key. Slide the lower joint onto the upper joint by rotating the lower joint.
   

* Make sure the upper and lower bridge keys do not come into contact with each other.

4. After connecting the upper and lower joints together, attach the mouthpiece.

**Eb Clarinet**

1. Attach the barrel and bell to the main body.
   

2. Attach the mouthpiece to the barrel.

**Alto Clarinet / Bass Clarinet**

Caution When Assembling

As bridge keys protrude from the neck, upper joint, lower joint, and bell on the alto and bass clarinets, be careful not to damage or bend these parts when assembling the instrument. Th e bell section and tone hole on the alto clarinet is thin so please use extra caution when assembling these parts.

1. Attaching the bell to the lower joint.
   Holding the bottom of the bell in your right hand, slide the bell section partially onto the joint.

2. Hold down the pad plate on the bell with your right thumb then slide the bell all the way onto the joint.
   
   When assembling, insert the peg at this point to provide stability when standing the instrument on the fl oor.

3. Assemble the upper and lower joints.
   While checking the position of the bridge keys, align the upper and lower bridge keys and slide the upper and lower joints together without twisting.
   
   * Make sure the upper and lower bridge keys do not come into contact with each other.

4. Attach the neck to the upper joint.
   ● On the alto clarinet
   After attaching the mouthpiece to the neck, insert the neck into the upper joint.

● On the bass clarinet
Attach the lower and upper neck sections and secure them with the fastening screw.

Next, attach the mouthpiece onto the upper neck and then the mouthpiece/neck assembly into the upper joint.

5. Adjust the length of the peg according to your posture.
   

• Attaching the Reed

1. Soak the reed in your mouth or in some water.
   From the tip end of the mouthpiece, slide on the ligature as shown in the illustration.
   

2. Attach the reed to the mouthpiece.
   First, place the reed so that the tip of the mouthpiece is seen over the end of the reed then tighten the ligature screws to secure the reed.

* After playing, use a piece of gauze to dry the reed, then store the reed in a reed case.
As the reed and mouthpiece are easily damaged, always keep the mouthpiece covered with its cap when the instrument is not being played.

• Tuning

Since the temperature of the instrument effects its pitch, the instrument should first be warmed up before tuning by blowing air through it.

• A, Bb, & Eb Clarinets
  Push in or pull out on the barrel to tune the clarinet.
  

• Alto Clarinet
  Push in or pull out the neck to tune the alto clarinet.
  

• Bass Clarinet
  After loosening the fastening screw, push in or pull out the neck to tune the bass clarinet. After tuning is complete, retighten the fastening screw to secure the neck.
  

Instrument Maintenance

• Instrument Maintenance After Playing

After playing your clarinet, use the following procedures to remove moisture and dirt from the inside of the instrument.

• After playing, remove the reed from the mouthpiece and use a piece of gauze, to dry the reed, then store the reed in a reed case.

• After removing the reed, use the supplied cleaning swab to clean the inside of the mouthpiece.
  Also, use the swab to clean the inside of the main body and neck.
  
  * To prevent damage to the end of the mouthpiece, do not pull the swab all the way through.
  * Always keep the cleaning swab clean and dry.
  ** The joint sections especially collect moisture, which can cause cracking, so dry the joints carefully with gauze.

* Even during playing sessions, remove moisture from the body interior as often as possible.

• When the pads are wet, place a cleaning paper (sold separately) between the pad and the tone hole and press the pads lightly to completely remove the moisture.

• Use a soft cloth to remove dirt and oil from the body surface, taking care not to damage parts such as the keys.

Once or Twice a Month Maintenance

• Use a tone hole cleaner (sold separately) to remove any dirt from inside the tone holes or the spaces between the keys.
  
  * Be careful not to bend any parts.*
  Be careful not to damage the pads.**

• Apply a small amount of key oil (sold separately) to the mechanism then move the keys to allow the oil to spread evenly.
  
  * Do not apply too much oil.*
  Completely remove any oil on key surfaces.**

Troubleshooting

**The tone is not clear, or the instrument plays out of tune.**

• If pads are deformed and air is leaking from the instrument, take the instrument to your dealer for repair.
  → Never apply excessive pressure to the keys.
  Also, when placing the instrument in the case, make sure that nothing is placed on top of the instrument.

• If the body cracks, take the instrument to your dealer for repair.
  → Sudden changes in temperature or humidity can cause cracking. Do not directly expose the instrument to hot or cold air.

**The keys are stiff. The keys do not move.**

• If a spring has become dislodged, returning it to its proper position may correct the problem.
  →When hooking the spring in position, be careful not to bend the spring. Springs may become dislodged when performing maintenance on the instrument or when wiping the instrument with a cloth. Please use caution.

• If keys are bent, take the instrument to your dealer for repair.
  → Do not apply excessive force to the instrument such as dropping the instrument, closing the case when an object is placed on top of the instrument, etc. Also, when you are fi nished playing, place the instrument in the case. At this time, make sure that there is nothing in the case that will apply pressure on the keys. When assembling the instrument, be careful not to apply unnecessary pressure to the keys. Hold on to the instrument in the intervals between performance and during breaks between practice.

**The joint is too tight or loose.**

• If the joint is tight, apply a small amount of cork grease to the joints. If the joint is stilltight, apply some cork grease to the receiver side as well.
  → Changes in temperature and/or humidity can cause the joints to shrink or expand. After you are fi nished playing, make sure you store the instrument in its case, rather than leave it out.

• If the joints are torn, take the instrument to your dealer for repair.
  → Proper application of cork grease offers some protection against tearing of the cork. However, if the cork becomes torn, take the instrument to your dealer for repair.

**The keys are noisy.**

• Apply key oil if the keys lack oil and are dry, and tighten screws that have become loose.
  → Apply key oil once a month (1-2 drops per location) to prevent abrasion. Also, since woodwind instruments have many small screws, check for loose screws and tighten if necessary.

• The cork or felt on the keys has fallen off or torn. The instrument may have received a shock causing the keys to come in contact with the body or other keys. In this case, take the instrument to your dealer for repair.
  → Take proper care of the instrument to prevent the corks or felts from falling off . After playing the instrument keep the instrument in its case. Also, hold on to the instrument in the intervals between performance and during breaks between practice to prevent excessive pressure being placed on the instrument or keys.

Fingering Chart

• This is chart uses the Boehm fingering system. Alternate fingerings are shown on the shaded illustrations.

1. Register Key
2. Alto Clarinet/Bass Clarinet:
   Slide the left fore nger down and hold the key so that the center hole is open.

Manual Development Group
© 2013 Yamaha Corporation
Published 01/2022
2022年1月发行
POCP-B0
**VDE1620**

Documents / Resources

| YAMAHA YCL-631 Professional Eb Alto Clarinet [pdf] Owner's Manual
YCL-631, Professional Eb Alto Clarinet, YCL-631 Professional Eb Alto Clarinet
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