Clavietta

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  • #1399
    Daren
    Keymaster

    I thought I’d start a new topic for this…

    In a recent post, Melodica-Me wrote:

    Hello Alan, I took Troys advice and picked up a couple of clavietta’s for parts primarily for the reeds. These were not pretty melodicas nor were they playable but I purchased them cheap. Look for one that is in good playing condition and one for parts. I spent a few days during the holidays replacing the gasket and hard washers with new rubber washers and for most parts it plays pretty good but volume is a little low as a norm. Next to my Vibrandoneon the Clavietta is one of my favorite sounding melodica as well as my oldest one. You will appreciate the quality of this melodica.

    Melodica-Me

    #1402
    Daren
    Keymaster

    It’s true, the build quality is very high. It has a unique tone, unlike any other melodica, much more like a chromatic harmonica. The big drawback is the low volume, but it sounds great for recordings.

    Click here for a recording I made a few years ago.

    Do you have any photos Melodica-Me? And what material did you use for the gasket? Did you manage to get it completely airtight?

    #1411
    Alan Brinton
    Participant

    Thanks for the recommendation, Melodica-Me. I’ll keep an eye out for Claviettas. My guess is that low volume would not be an issue for me, as I’m not a performer, or a high volume player for that matter.

    I don’t see an audio file, Troy. I’ve seen a couple of clavietta videos recently. I’ll try to insert the link to one of them here.

    #1415
    Melodica-Me
    Participant

    Troy, your recording of the Clavietta put me in the mood to leave work early, head home to my cable knit sweater and enjoy a shot of Blue Label Johnny Walker. excellent recording. For Alan, here is Ray Conniff using the Clavietta

    #1416
    Daren
    Keymaster

    Thanks Alan. I’ve made the link a bit clearer!

    And here’s another link – this time the clavietta is accompanied by a small string section:

    #1417
    Daren
    Keymaster

    Oh yes Oscar, I’ve listened to that Ray Conniff clip so many times. Beautiful, and haunting, specially as the female voices float through, in the background. The clavietta is certainly good for atmosphere…

    #1419
    Alan Brinton
    Participant

    Got it — ethereal. Very nice.

    #1423
    Daren
    Keymaster

    Thanks Alan 🙂

    #1426
    Quetscher
    Participant

    Troy, I love your music!

    #1442
    Daren
    Keymaster

    Thanks Quetscher!

    #1458
    Melodica-Me
    Participant

    Troy I have been trying to upload these pictures but can’t seam too. Can I email them to you?
    Oscar

    #1461
    Daren
    Keymaster

    Hi Oscar, you can’t upload images to this site – only link to them. Yes, go ahead and email them…

    #1495
    Daren
    Keymaster

    Here’s Melodica-Me’s photos

    Hi Troy, here some pictures of the donor melodica I bought for $20 bucks on Ebay and the (2) Clavietta’s I repaired. I also took a few pictures of the materials I used, all found at a local hardware store. The picture of the TFE used was modified with a couple of drops of vanilla so it would not smell. There are other products that would probably work better, but this worked fine and it was inexpensive. Note the first Clavietta I repaired is the one I use all the time. This is the one (shiny back) with all the new washers and gasket. The second clavietta (dull back) I only replaced the hard washers and (1) key that was broken with some of the donor parts. The matte under the donor Clavietta is a cutting matte very useful while cutting the gasket material. I wish I would have taken pictures during the whole process then it would have made a good tutorial. One more thing the washers I used are not the best fit but they worked great, they move a little but they do not leak air tension will need to be tweaked just a bit after replacing your old ones (screw next to reed). If you have any questions just let me know.
    Thanks
    Oscar

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    #2860
    Kipp Sturgeon
    Participant

    A friend recently found me a clavietta in a pawn shop for a great price. I’ve been playing a basic plastic HOHNER melodica for awhile but this Italian made beauty is so nice. lts tone is like an accordion. I have two non functioning keys. I have it apart and will clean the reed area with alcohol and a q-tip. How do I get those two keys back to working order? Is there anything I have to be careful about not to hurt or break? I am a guitarist who has fallen in love with these instruments. Thanks.
    Kipp

    #2861
    Melodica-Me
    Participant

    Hello Kipp, if you see the pictures that I have posted can you tell me if there is a missing hard washer or if it is cracked? If you are one missing or broken you can remove it and replace it with a small rumbler washer, I use a 7/16 washer and it works great. If you see the reeds at there is a tongue missing, well you are out of luck. The best solution is to look for another Clavietta on ebay for parts. Open it up and take a picture of of both the reed Aection and washer section, post the pictures and maybe we can sve you problem.
    Melodica-Me

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