Klarinet Archive - Posting 000666.txt from 2003/04

From: Kenneth Wolman <kenneth.wolman@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Followup to the frozen barrel non-saga
Date: Sat, 26 Apr 2003 00:40:02 -0400

At 06:25 PM 4/17/2003 -0700, you wrote:

>I know this message is not to me and I am not an expert or anything,
>but it seems that Walter was suggesting this as something you could
>do yourself (carefully), and most of us do have access to sandpaper,
>but not a lathe.
>And it would have to be a *very* good lathe, as not to remove too
>much material, right?
>Sorry, I should shut up. Bye.
>Sue

The thing of it is...I'm NOT 100% sure it's the barrel. I can feel
resistance, yes, but I'm starting to wonder whether it might not be the
tenon itself. As I think I said...I can see why high-end clarinets cost
various body parts while the midprice or "intermediate" horns may sound
fine but things can go wrong. My old Selmer had metal rings on the upper
joint tenons that probably prevented exactly what I ran into last night. I
kept that instrument in the main room of apartment over a barbecue
restaurant--the summer heat plus the ovens that never cooled down made it
excrutiating to be in there. But the instrument never had a problem.

I suppose my options are limited to four. One is to get a "composite"
barrel such as the AccuBore and see how the instrument responds. Two is to
sand down the barrel...somehow. I'm a klutz however, so sandpaper doesn't
do much for me; and I don't have access to a lathe or know how to use
one. Three is to take the horn to a repairman and have the tenon sanded
and recorked. The nearest competent repairmen I know of are in New York,
and it's likely to be more than I can afford to spend right now (the
instrument was used from Musiqueworld via Ebay, so we're not exactly
talking King's Ransom here). Four is to keep the joint well-greased, dry
the instrument after I use it, and keep it in its case to avoid the worst
of the atmospheric mess the Jersey Shore endures--a dessicant pack or two
mightn't be such a bad idea either.

And just see what happens.

ken

-----------------------------
Kenneth Wolman http://www.kenwolman.com http://kenwolman.blogspot.com
Lord, steel us against the expectation of disappointment and our belief in
the surety of heartbreak....

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