Klarinet Archive - Posting 000164.txt from 1998/11

From: "Martin Marks" <RxReed@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Swabbing Curiosity!
Date: Thu, 5 Nov 1998 21:36:28 -0500

-----Original Message-----
From: Soo Khoon Goh <gohsookh@-----.edu>
Date: Thursday, November 05, 1998 6:10 PM
Subject: [kl] Swabbing Curiosity!

>Hi everyone,
>
> I sense that the question I am going to ask is going to create a
>thread so bear with me. Recently, I've been testing out a couple of new
>R13 and as most people know, you are supposed to swab the new horn VERY
>often to prevent too much moisture absorbtion. When I was doing that I
>noticed that my swab was dirty, just dirty color wise and not full of
>gross stuff on it. This was the swab I bought a couple of years ago and it
>is not a full clarinet swab because it length is shorter. At that time was
>was desperate so I bought it. Anyway... I was just thinking of getting a
>new swab and something struck my mind. I remembered that when I was
>playing in the Opera Carmen, there was this oboe player (I think his name
>was Joost Flach) and I visually remembered him swabbing his oboe so VERY
>carefully and slowly. I could understand that his instrument meant a lot
>to him. What caught my attention was, he swab his oboe from the bottom up
>ALWAYS! As in from the bell to the neck of the instrument.
>
>I know this sounds dumb, but is there a reason for him doing that
>(swabbing from bottom up), or could it be his habit or perhaps there's
>some mechanism in the oboe bore that prevents oboist from swabbing from
>top down like clarinettist mostly do? Does that apply to clarinet as well?
>
>Perhaps, Francis Kloc would like to take a stab at this question. (I heard
>he is an oboe player? :) ) Again, this is question is totally out of
>place, just my curiosity. So ignore it if you wish! :)
>
>Thanks!
>That black or purple stuff on the swab is probably dye. When my R13 was
new it would actually come off on my hands. It will wear off in time. You
can wash the swab in Woolite.
Marty Marks
>
>
>
>
>
>Soo
>
>
>-------------------------------------------------------------------------
>

-------------------------------------------------------------------------