Klarinet Archive - Posting 000068.txt from 2001/05

From: Will Cicola <clarinetguy@-----.net>
Subj: [kl] Cracking clarinets
Date: Wed, 2 May 2001 22:30:34 -0400

>> 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
>>place
>> on 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... :)

>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.
>
>There is always the chance that someone reading the list has direct access
>to one of the manufacturers. If such a person is wedded to the idea that
>the root cause is temperature/humidity, the mental perception is that these
>are things that we can't do much about so he/she has no reason to bring this
>up to the manufacturing community. However if the discussion has succeeded
>in getting him/her to consider another possibility, one that could actually
>have solutions, that person now has something worth attempting to discuss
>with the clarinet makers.
>
>Also knowing the correct cause can help prevent unnecessary guilt feelings.
>I.e. the person who "babies" their horn and takes all the precautionary
>measures for all environmental element opens his/her case and finds a crack.
>Right now this person is going to react "what did I do wrong" and believe
>they overlooked something in their care routine. Now they can review their
>care routine, find that they did everything right, and be able to say that
>this particular horn was simply waiting to crack.

Good points! I suppose, according to my signature, that I should have a good
day today! :)
--
Any day where you haven't made a fool of yourself is a day you haven't
really lived.
-Will Cicola
clarinetguy@-----.net

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