Klarinet Archive - Posting 000107.txt from 1994/02

From: "Dr. Ronald P. Monsen" <RPMONS00@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re: Finish on clarinets
Date: Thu, 10 Feb 1994 11:03:34 -0500

Concerning the wood--I may be way off the mark here, fellows--but unless
I have been misled and directed in my thinking the wood used for clarinets
is most certainly seasoned and soaked--treated call it what you will--well
before it is ever used to make anything.

Herbert Wurlitzer--now sadly gone as is his father Fritz-would have sets of
his instrument back from the leading players in Europe on a yearly basis for
re-conditioning--and that included re-doing and sealing (in some fashion) the
wood of these instruments. I know that because he told me and showed me some
of the instruments he had at his shop. One pair was from Hilversum (Radio

Holland) and a re-form Boehm set-up. The other clarinet currently being
"treated" belonged to none other than Karl Leister of the BPO.

Not trying to confuse anything here-butsome makers do quite a bit to the
wood before they manufacture and some believe in an ongoing plan after
the instruments have taken up the professional duties.

I don't think anyone was varnishing the wood--it was an oil and not a sealant
per-se. This is offered as a friendly discussion point from someone who is
still amazed and terrible fascinated by the Brahms sonatas--so I don't know

much 'bout wood. Just relating what I was told and what I have observed.

Ron Monsen (I do use a little bore oil now and then and also a little
vibrato--not at the same time, usually).