Klarinet Archive - Posting 000444.txt from 1996/12

From: Ken Bryson <kbryson@-----.COM>
Subj: The Incredible Shrinking Clarinet
Date: Mon, 16 Dec 1996 13:33:12 -0500

Ian,

I had the same problem when I lived in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. I
eventually discovered that if I used a violin humidifier, either in the
clarinet case or actually inside one of the long sections of the
clarinet in the case, the problem disappeared. I don't have the
packaging from the humidifier anymore, but it is a rubber tube with
holes all over covering some type of absorbent material. You soak it
briefly in water, wipe off the outside, and then use it. It came with
something that measured the humidity level in the case so that you could
tell whether you needed to renew the moisture level (I've since lost
that part--in Riyadh I needed to resoak the humidifier once or twice a
week, minimum. Otherwise my keys would start jamming because of the
shrinkage of the wood). I hope this helps. Good luck. And by the way,
I am intensely envious. To be in Vienna in the winter time. . . .

Nancy