Klarinet Archive - Posting 000502.txt from 1995/12

From: Chad Smith <csmith@-----.COM>
Subj: Re: Answers to "How Old Is My Clarinet?"
Date: Tue, 19 Dec 1995 11:50:59 -0500

Hi all,

While we're on the topic of "how old is my clarinet?", I was wondering
what you thought about this age issue thing. I was playing in a Christmas
pageant the other night and noticed how immaculate this guy's clarinet was -
no wear and tear, beautifully polished, etc, and he's had it for several years.
Then I look at mine, and it looks like it's been through a war - keys all worn,
silver plating missing in several places on the keys - and... I was just as
proud as could be! I love how my clarinet has this "broken in" look, how the
keys reflect the years of practice I've put in, and I wouldn't have it any
other way. The horn plays great, and it looks bad! And I love it!

What are some of your views on this? I know there are lots of musicians whose
horns are kept polished and in tip-top shape constantly (This guy in the
pageant I was referring to even held his horn during rests with a cloth so he
wouldn't get any excess oil off his hands on the keys.) Anybody else like
me who likes the "broken in look?"

-chad smith

p.s. Victor, I love your clarinet faq - added it as a bookmark in Netscape as
soon as I saw it!