Klarinet Archive - Posting 000325.txt from 2002/10

From: Tom.Henson@-----.com
Subj: RE: [kl] cracks?
Date: Thu, 10 Oct 2002 18:16:01 -0400

David,

I'm not really qualified to give you a definitive answer to your question,
and I think you would be best served to have a technician look at it as soon
as possible to see if you are correct or not. Especially if you have to
return the clarinet to where you bought it within a certain number of days.

I will say that I have seen wood with very pronounced grain lines. I have
even seen surface grain lines that look like a crack and are a millimeter
deep. These are what I have been told by a technician as "open" grain lines.
Grain lines also will open and close according to the weather and humidity,
just like a crack.

You can not avoid some grain lines in African Blackwood, but the quality and
age of the wood will also determined how pronounced these grain lines are
and how deep.

I have had two clarinets crack under warranty on me that had very large and
open grain lines, so I have learned to try and avoid them if at all possible
when purchasing a new clarinet.

It sounds like you are pleased with this clarinet, so taking it to someone
and paying them to look at it might give you the peace of mind you are
looking for and would be worth the cost.

On the other hand, if in their opinion, these lines could develop into a
crack, or are already cracked, then you can make a decision based upon fact
and not guess work.

Just my 2 cents.

Good luck.

Tom Henson

<< Having received a new Yamaha CS clarinet, I think it may have a couple of
surface cracks in the upper joint in the inner bore.....This is the best
Yamaha B Flat clarinet I have had (about 6 in the last 20
years.....) so I am loath to just send it back. I am not sure that they are
more than surface "lines" which may not develop at all. Have tried oiling
them to see what happens.....Any advice?......bought mail order from the
States and Yamaha do not offer an international warranty.....

David Adlam >>

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