Klarinet Archive - Posting 000035.txt from 2001/05

From: rgarrett@-----.edu
Subj: Re: [kl] Cracking Clarinets
Date: Wed, 2 May 2001 05:18:34 -0400

At 07:19 PM 05/01/2001 -0400, you wrote:
>As near as I can tell, this debate seems to be about what causes cracks:
>extreme temperature changes and moisture, or the stress these factors
>placeon already flawed wood. Since we have no real way of telling if and
>where the flaws are on an uncracked horn, does it really make a
>difference? Of course, if this whole arguement is only for curiosity's
>sake, then my entire post sounds pretty stupid... :)

There are people who believe cracks occur for many different reasons -
including humidity changes, temperature changes, and loosening and
tightening of the rings, etc. There are many theories - most of them based
on experience only - not true tests. However, the lack of a true test does
not mean that the unproven theory is not true (actually - isn't a theory
one that has been proven and a hypothesis one that is unproven? - can't
remember.....).

As a person who makes wood furniture and wooden cases, etc........ I can
say with no guilt whatsover that when unfinished wood is left to the
temperature changes - radical temperature changes, it cracks and it
warps. Is this caused by humidity or lack therof? I'm not sure - when the
humidity gauge remains constant and the temperature gauge changes and it
cracks - I usually conclude it is the temperature. One thing I do know is
that when the temperature does not change radically, there is no negative
influence on the wood - for the most part. I have seen warping with large
changes in humidy - but less cracking. What do I decide from this? I
store my best wood inside and make sure I don't expose it to radical
temperature changes - and of course, humidity changes. I can't keep
jointing that damn piece every time it warps! I paid big bucks for the
thicker board!!!!

I don't need a proven theory to show me the wisdom in protecting the wood
in this manner.

The same holds true for my clarinets. I protect them from temperature
changes. Why? Because most wooden clarinets that I have seen exposed to
wide variances in temperature changes in a short period appear to crack
much more often than those which are not exposed to those
variances. Therefore, I conclude that I should not let my instruments be
exposed to radical temperature changes. Is it only the temperature
changes? How the hell should I know???!!!! I just know they don't crack
when I protect them.

>Yes it could make a difference. The former means it can never be solved
>and that one will be taking preventative measures that may be
>futile. i.e. you keep it out of the cold but then bump it on the stand
>(just a light bump not enough to knock it over) and the horn
>cracks. Flaws can be researched and possibly corrected to some degree so
>that future new horns have a reduced chance of cracking. Of course the
>manufacturers have to have the motivation to do this. If it's not cost
>effective for them, it will never happen.

I had an R-13 A clarinet back when going to Michigan. It was an ok horn,
but I didn't like everything about it. I kept it in a good quality double
case with a special case cover I had made at a tent and awning shop. It
was a heavily insulated case cover, thus, I could walk from the bus stop at
the main drop on Central Campus in Ann Arbor - in sub zero temperature,
walk the half mile to Hill Auditorium - even with a vicious wind blowing -
and open my case in the basement with the horn still warm to the
touch. The horn was cared for in this manner (guarded against temperature
changes) for the 8 years I owned it. During my second year at IWU, I
finally purchased a new A Clarinet and sold the one I had owned to a
student. He did not protect it from the cold, and it cracked within one year.

I owned a brand new Buffet bass clarinet, one model removed from my current
1193-2. It was beautful. Brannen did his work on it, and it played
fantastically well - except for the very sharp low D, flat open G, sharp
long B and C, and flat clarion G. I was very careful in not exposing it to
the elements - and it didn't crack. After three years, I sold it to the
university at a good price - allowing them to have a good quality bass at
an affordable price and allowing me to upgrade to the newest model (my
current Bass - no more sharp low D, long B or long C!). Within four
months, the bass I sold them developed a crack. It was stored in a locker
in a room that became very cold during the warm months when the air
conditioning was on. Further, even though it was in a very nice case, it
went on tour with the Wind Ensemble and was subjected to the equipment
truck. The truck passed through several different climates during the tour
- resulting in fairly wide temperature zones. This is when it cracked.

Can I prove the temperature changes caused the cracks? Nope. Do I think
they did? Yup. Has my new one cracked? Nope. Will it if it goes on
tour? I'll bet anyone on the list a large pizza (except Dee - I will bet
you $1,000,000) that it would if subjected to temperature changes. Same
information regarding my A Clarinet. It has never cracked - I believe -
because I have protected it from extreme temperature changes.

This is why Dee does not put her clarinet in the freezer - because there is
a very good likelihood that it will indeed crack. I wouldn't bet her a
million dollars that she believes it would crack (heck, I would lie if it
meant I could get a million dollars!), but the odds of it cracking are
high. Will it crack because and only because of the temperature
change? Who knows. But it will crack. What have we learned from my two
pathetic stories and the rest of the discussions regarding cracking??

Don't put your wooden clarinet in the freezer.

Best wishes,
Roger Garrett

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

"A man never discloses his own character so clearly as when he describes
another's."
Jean Paul Richter (1763-1825)

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