Klarinet Archive - Posting 000046.txt from 2002/05

From: "Jay Webler" <webler1@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Breaking in new clarinet
Date: Thu, 2 May 2002 23:29:02 -0400

I do not think it is unreasonable to wait a month before you begin to push
the limits.
This is why I increased the use time on the first month. I may also
increase the frequency
of use near the end of the month. By the second month I'm going full speed
ahead. I have
never had a Clarinet crack, and I used to travel all over the United States
with my R-13.

I don't think that we are trying to achieve a final equilibrium. I do think
that care should
be taken in the beginning because of the nature of Wood and how it responds
to moisture.
I also do not believe that a break in period totally eliminates the
possibility of cracking because
there may me hidden flaws in the Wood.

I prefer to err on the side of caution, however. I remember when I got my
Evette & Schaeffer almost 34 years ago that I was told to break it in
slowly. At that point in my life I thought everybody was honest and
company's really cared about their customers so I just did what I was told
to do and kept the Clarinet for 34 years. I wouldn't even begin to try to
guess if there is some hidden motive.

Having said all of that I still believe it is better to safe than sorry,
recognizing the fact that there
are no certainties in this life. Some things just don't follow all the
rules.

Jay Webler
Jay's Clarinet and Percussion

----- Original Message -----
From: "William Wright" <w7wright@-----.net>
Subject: Re: [kl] Breaking in new clarinet

> <><> Jay wrote
> At the store I teach at it is recommended that you not spend more than
> 15 minutes on each session. This allows the Clarinet to absorb the
> moisture slowly.
>
>
>
>
> Jay, I feel fairly strongly about this, which is why I'm posting a
> longer reply.
>
> How do you feel about my attitude that there is no such thing as a
> "final" equilibrium, and therefore a person should discover as early as
> possible if the instrument is prone to cracking --- while the warranty
> is still effect and the sale is still fresh in the dealer's mind?
>
> I'm thinking of changes in exposure to heat & moisture such as: seasonal
> changes in climate, playing in different buildings with different
> heating & air conditioning, travelling from one area to another, and
> even major changes in the number of hours a person plays each day or
> frequency of swabbing. All of these changes are unavoidable. May as
> well find out early.
>
> My instrument is a good example: the previous owner of my instrument was
> especially careful with it, but then she was forced to travel from
> California's seacoast to Phoenix's desert. !Pop! The instrument was
> pinned, and later she sold it to me, and as far as I'm concerned, it
> still plays just fine. But perhaps if it had been exposed to some
> minor stresses in the beginning, it may (agreed, emphasis on "may") have
> cracked while under warranty and the manufacturer may've replaced it.
>
> I'm not the sort of person who suspects manufacturers of being 'sneaky',
> but perhaps some of them recommend gentle break-ins for two reasons: (1)
> the *player* needs to adapt to the new instrument, and recommending a
> gradual procedure avoids knee-jerk "This must be the instrument's fault,
> this has never happened to me before and I've played for many years"
> complaints about intonation and so forth; and (2) postponing the
> occurrence of a crack can put the instrument out of warranty.
>
> Cheers,
> Bill
>
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>

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