Klarinet Archive - Posting 000698.txt from 2004/03

From: "Dallas SCUBA" <forest_aten@------.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Bass clarinet
Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2004 11:55:12 -0500


> Forest Aten wrote:
>
> >Hey...did you all know that when you move a bass clarinet from Dallas to
Santa Fe and then to Boston....you have three different size bass
clarinets???
> >
> >Things move a lot per temperature and humidity. Amazing just how much.
> >
> And people think inanimate objects don't grow! Hmph!
>
> I didn't realize Santa Fe was so dry!
>
> Did you incur any damage due to these changes back and forth in humidity
> levels? I hope not. In my dealings with bass clarinets, I have never
> ceased to be amazed at just how fragile the things are.
>
> Patricia Smith
>

Patricia,

My bass has been very reliable. It has been in service for about five years
now and with only a slight issue last year when a weld on the neck let go.
Selmer sent me a new neck (better than the original...just luck).

When I arrived in Santa Fe, it was 4 below 0 and snowing. I didn't subject
the instrument to the cold in any way but the heating systems in the playing
venues pulls the humidity right out of a room. Very, very dry. Santa Fe is a
desert environment as well, so humidity is low on most days. Many of the
players in the area use synthetic reeds to combat this harsh playing
environment.
It could rain buckets in Santa Fe and be back to 10% humidity in hours.

"It started with a pad falling off"....and then a number of issues involving
regulation, related to replacing the pad. It took several days to get the
bass to settle down. Then off to Vegas....SOS. Wow...dry with a capital D. I
had to regulate the instrument every day. I'm sure it would have come to a
point of stability but I was only there for two days. I didn't play the bass
in performance on this trip west. I only brought it along because I had to
play bass with the Dallas Symphony upon returning (this week) and wanted to
practice.

After two weeks of this dry environment, I returned to Dallas and the temps
were in the middle 60's low 70's with 70% humidity. The clarinet started to
move again. I spent a few days playing, regulating and waiting. It is now
playing wonderfully again.

A little scary at times. I'm glad the clarinet didn't crack. (like my basset
horn did)

Forest Aten

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