Klarinet Archive - Posting 000299.txt from 1997/05

From: Jrykorten@-----.com
Subj: Re: Cracking Clarinets and Register Keys
Date: Fri, 9 May 1997 18:10:30 -0400

In a message dated 97-05-09 15:00:32 EDT, deerich writes:

<<
Although I am not familiar personally with the R-13, throat Bb is stuffy
on most brands as the register key is doing double duty. Some student
models of clarinets have a nice Bb but then it throws the registers off
a bit.

As for cracking, any wood instrument needs careful breaking in or you do
risk cracking in almost any climate. If you move, you may have to go
through a similar period of conditioning. I learned that the hard way.
My daughter's oboe was old and well seasoned but we moved to a drier
climate and it cracked within 4 months.
>>

1: Does anybody still manufacture the Stubbins Kaspar mechanism which
separated the role of the register key from the Bb throat tone?

2: Can humidity changes really do this? We go from 80% in the summer to 20%
in the fall here in NYC with no problems. Could this be an instrument in a
parked car that is in the sun? (In TX this can get really HOT!).

Jerry Korten
NYC