Klarinet Archive - Posting 000257.txt from 1995/02

From: Victor Wyman <wymanvic@-----.COM>
Subj: Re: Clarinet humidification
Date: Sun, 12 Feb 1995 17:04:30 -0500

William Helmers wrote...
>I have only a small bit of anecdotal evidence to add to the discussion on
>the use of dampits:
>
>Several years ago, I started using a dampit with an
>older Bb clarinet, placing it inside the upper joint. Within weeks, a
>fairly significant crack opened up. Whether the crack was caused by the
>dampit or not, I couldn't say, but I'm more than a little suspicious, since
>this instrument was about ten years old at the time, and had not cracked
>previously.
>
>I've lived in Wisconsin now for about 15 years, and owned a large number of
>clarinets. Without using any sort of humidifier in the cases, I've made it
>through some extremely cold and dry winters without suffering any cracks. As
>long as I'm careful with loose rings, the dryness doesn't seem to do any
>lasting damage.
>
My father used to carry a piece of apple (in a salt shaker with expanded
holes) in his clarinet case. This continued from the 30's till the 60's
through all of Southern California's hot, dry summers. The instrument is
still in excellent condition (although the bell is cracked from other causes).
-Victor
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