Klarinet Archive - Posting 000116.txt from 2004/01

From: Bill Hausmann <bhausmann1@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Cracks, cracks
Date: Sun, 4 Jan 2004 12:47:07 -0500

At 12:12 PM 1/4/2004 -0500, Steve Fowler wrote:
>...For years, there have been two schools of thought on repairing clarinet
>cracks. One that was supported by Selmer and others involved shrinking a
>nickel or silver ring into a slot cut into the clarinet body by using a 1
>ton or larger press and forcing the crack to close. The crack all but
>disappeared. However, this left the bore with a reduction where the ring
>squeezed the wood that many of us feel affects the sound and intonation.
>It also left (IMHO) an unsightly, foreign metal ring on the surface of the
>instrument advertising to the entire world that your instrument was
>cracked and therefore inferior. No longer pure... not a virgin anymore...

Good thorough posting, although I wonder about this section. I do not
understand how the flush-banding process would necessarily result in any
disturbance to the bore. The place where the band goes is cut to fit it,
so that it will, in fact BE flush with the outer surface of the clarinet
WITHOUT impinging on the bore. And I would suppose a quick pass with a
reamer could solve the problem even if it DID exist. I know some people
think the band stifles the vibration of the instrument, but I question that
as well. I don't even find the bands all THAT unsightly, although if one
cuts through the logo stamping THAT is esthetically somewhat
unpleasing. Yes, it DOES unmistakably mark a REPAIRED clarinet, but it
does not necessarily brand it INFERIOR. It may still be a terrific
player. Benny Goodman was often pictured in his heyday playing
flush-banded clarinets, and I'm sure Selmer would have given him anything
he wanted. In fact, the picture on the CD I am holding right now clearly
shows two flush bands on his upper joint.

Bill Hausmann

If you have to mic a saxophone, the rest of the band is TOO LOUD!

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