Klarinet Archive - Posting 000204.txt from 1998/11

From: SEAN TALBOT <talbotse12@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: [kl] Swabbing Curiosity!
Date: Fri, 6 Nov 1998 15:09:12 -0500

I was told to swab in one direction for very different reasons. First it
was always bell to top and the reasons were twofold. First, the slight taper of
the bore made this direction work the best going from largest around to the smallest.
It is easier for a cloth to contract and dry the clarinet insted of expanding. The
second reason is more for the sake of the barrel. I always swab the clarinet as
it is put together (except mouthpiece of course) and if the swab is going over the
barrel edge, it will round it off ever so slightly. If you have an expensive barrel,
you will want it to retain it's shape as much as possible to keep it's playing
characteristics. Of course this is pointless if you have a metal barrel. Swabbing
does change the wood very slightly over time. The edges of the tone holes to round
off a little bit. I know the playing characterists of my Yamaha 72 have improved
over time because the air isn't hitting as sharp of an edge on the tone holes
like it did when it was new.
That is what I was taught........tru or not....I don't know

sean talbot

uw-whitewater

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