Klarinet Archive - Posting 000920.txt from 1998/09

From: "L. BORCHERT" <lborcher@-----.edu>
Subj: RE: [kl] C clarinet barrels
Date: Thu, 24 Sep 1998 19:15:02 -0400

Make sure that you first find which joint section is the problem.
If the problem is an out-of-round spot on the mouthpiece, then sanding the
barrel receiver socket may work on that one mouthpiece, but not on
others. The reverse would also be true if you had to use a different
barrel with a mouthpiece you had custom-fitted to a previous out-of-round
barrel. BTW, this holds true for other clarinets and connecting joints as
well.
Remember: "Measure twice, cut once, and always check your work."

Laroy

Dr. Laroy Borchert
Professor of Clarinet
New Mexico State University

On Thu, 24 Sep 1998, Kevin Fay (LCA) wrote:

> Take a 3/4" square of #400 sandpaper, insert it in the socket, and apply a
> little pressure with your thumb so that the paper touches the wall socket
> evenly. Start rotating the barrel with your other hand, so that you take
> wood off the entire wall of the socket. #400 is a fairly benign
> grade--you'll be taking very little wood off. Keep at it for a short time,
> and test (put the mouthpiece on). The slower you go (and the more you test)
> the less likely you will be to go too far.
>
> While you may end up with a socket that is not a perfect circle
> (microscopically), do not fear--you are not touching the bore, only the
> receptacle for the cork. If you go too fast (and go too far), you'll just
> have to get your mouthpiece recorked, not replace the whole thing. Go slow
> and this won't happen.
>
> From: Jacqueline Eastwood [mailto:eastwooj@-----.EDU]
> Sent: Thursday, September 24, 1998 8:06 AM
> To: Klarinet listserv
> Subject: [kl] C clarinet barrels
>
>
> I'd appreciate a response from any C clarinet owners or repair persons who
> have had experience with this problem. Thanks!
>
> The upper barrel socket on my C clarinet is a bit on the tight side for my
> mouthpiece. Sometimes when the horn gets all warmed up, the mouthpiece
> tends to stick, even when well-greased (I grease before every performance
> when I'm switching horns a lot). Once last year, during Traviata, I went
> to pull the mouthpiece and ended up with, yes, a ligature and reed in my
> hand. I found that covering my bare hand with a swab helped provide some
> traction when pulling. I consider myself to be very adept at quick
> switches, and feel that the problem lies with the tight barrel socket.
>
> So my question is, has anyone ever had the barrel socket sanded or reamed?
> Is this a job that pretty much any repair person could handle (we don't
> have a woodwind specialist in town any more) or should it be done only by
> very qualified techs? I hesitate to thin down the cork on the mouthpiece
> since it is fine for my Bb and A clarinets. I'm going to be starting
> Lucia di Lammermoor rehearsals on 10/3 and there are a lot of changes,
> with extended periods on the C clarinet, which could mean trouble if I
> don't try to fix this problem! On the other hand, I don't want someone to
> destroy the only C clarinet barrel I have by not knowing what they are
> doing! Thanks!
>
> Jacqueline Eastwood
> University of Arizona/Arizona Opera Orchestra
> *and now* Double Ring Cycle Survivor
> eastwooj@-----.edu

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