Klarinet Archive - Posting 000064.txt from 1998/01

From: Roger Garrett <rgarrett@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: cleaning mouthpieces
Date: Sat, 3 Jan 1998 08:34:08 -0500

On Sat, 3 Jan 1998, Neil Leupold wrote:
> Swabbing out a
> hard rubber mouthpiece after every use is a good way to gradually make
> a new mouthpiece for yourself. The friction, even with a silk swab,
> will slowly erode the inner chamber of the mouthpiece and alter the
> geometrical qualities which afforded the mouthpiece its acoustical
> identity in the first place. The danger is that the changes which
> occur will go unnoticed by the player, because the changes are
> gradual and it is impossible for the player to recognize that the
> sound and response are being altered infinitesimally each time a swab
> is drawn through the chamber. After a year or two of daily swabbing,
> the inner dimensions are no longer the same. It's best to keep swabbing
> to a minimum, i.e.; once a month, if even that frequently, and never
> draw a cloth swab all the way through.

This is a thread we visited slightly in the latter summer months of this
year, but it is good to see it revisited. I agree with
Neil......mouthpiece swabbing, on a daily basis, can have disastrous
affects upon the interior dimensions - most noticeably the tip and the
baffle directly below the tip. The new silk swabs are good for a weekly
swab, but should be done slowly and gently, letting the silk soak up
moisture and any other minerals deposited during playing. Keep the swab
away from the tip if possible.

Roger Garrett
IWU