Klarinet Archive - Posting 000931.txt from 2000/11

From: rgarrett@-----.edu
Subj: Re: [kl] Corrosion
Date: Wed, 29 Nov 2000 08:55:10 -0500

At 12:22 PM 11/29/2000 +0000, you wrote:
>It is almost the moment to decide to buy a pair of Howarth's

The Howarth's are ok - but the tuning is no better than any other
instrument. You may find an entire set of other problems. In my opinion,
15 years is a long time to expect a company to do something about key
corrosion. Nickle plating is standard in the industry - and the corrosion
would have occurred on a Yamaha, Leblanc, Selmer, etc........

There are many places that will replate keys. Having done some replating
on my '41 Chevy, I think replating is a good way to go if you can find
someone who will agree to do it at a specific, agreed upon price. But the
corrosion will happen regardless.

>What I lack is his overall perspective.
>How many people really suffer from key corrosion
>after 5-10 years of use of a Buffet, a Selmer, a Leblanc?

I have finally resorted to purchasing instruments with only Silver keys -
they seem resistant to the key corrosion problem I have with nickle
plating. My first R-13 (which I wish I hadn't sold 9 years ago) had very
worn keys - after about 15 years of playing. My A clarinet is nickle - and
is 1990 vintage - and it is showing some key wear. The Prestige Bb I
purchased in 1996 is still showing absolutely no wear at all. This would
seem to have solved the problem for me.

Best wishes,
Roger Garrett

Roger Garrett
Professor of Clarinet
Director, Symphonic Winds
Advisor, IWU Recording Services
Illinois Wesleyan University
School of Music
Bloomington, IL 61702-2900
Phone: (309) 556-3268
Fax: (309) 556-3121

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