Klarinet Archive - Posting 000113.txt from 1998/01

From: Bill Hausmann <bhausman@-----.com>
Subj: Re: swabbing really does wear it out
Date: Sat, 3 Jan 1998 23:23:41 -0500

At 08:55 PM 1/3/98 -0600, Baldy wrote:
>this has really confused me. As I understand the basic thesis it is being
>suggestd that a softer item can wear down a harder item. I always thought
>it was the other way around. I guess then I could take a soft cloth and rub
>it on a diamond and gradually wear it away. Go figure!
>
In theory, yes. But I hope you don't have anything better to do for the
next millenium or so while you perform your experiment! And that is my
point. The molecule or two per day that you might lose by swabbing will
take a LONG time to become measureable, much less noticeable. More
material than that may be lost due to simple decay. The saliva acids left
inside the unswabbed mouthpiece may cause more damage. I just can't see
where running a silk swab once lightly through a mouthpiece after playing
will remove any significant material, even over a lifetime! I could be
wrong, but it would take powerful proof to convince me.

Bill Hausmann bhausman@-----.com
451 Old Orchard Drive http://www.concentric.net/~bhausman
Essexville, MI 48732 http://members.wbs.net/homepages/z/o/o/zoot14.html
ICQ UIN 4862265

If you have to mic a saxophone, the rest of the band is too loud.