Klarinet Archive - Posting 000044.txt from 2007/01

From: Mark Sausville <sausvill@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] instrument acting odd....
Date: Fri, 05 Jan 2007 22:53:34 -0500

Where do you live? In the winter months in many areas, ambient humidity
(inside) drops like a rock as more forced air heat is used. Unless I
humidify in my house, the humidity goes as low as 20%.

Suspiciously like your time line.

If your bore changes as the instrument dries out, it will do so slowly.
The changes that happen are completely unpredictable but definitely
include pitch problems. One day, you suddenly won't be able to stand
playing the (now altered) horn one second longer.

Recently, something like this happened to one of my clarinets. That
horn is about 6 years old now. It may also have to do with how far from
the manufactured state the horn is. Presumably all the oil
soaking/waxing/polishing things that are done to stabilize the wood
don't last forever.

If you think this might be your problem, I would try some gentle tricks
to slowly get water back into the horn. It doesn't happen overnight.
Maybe weeks to a month.

M.

Gillian Craven wrote:
>
> Hello,
>
> I was wondering if anybody has ever experienced this problem and could
> possibly help. Over the past few months, I have had intonation
> problems on my Prestige Bb which got worse and worse until one day the
> instrument was unplayable.
> The left hand notes were suddenly all very flat and the right hand all
> very sharp. This seems to be a problem that was building and then
> suddenly got much worse. I have experimented with changing barrels and
> bells but this makes no difference.
> My teacher cleaned out all the holes, checked pads and filed some
> holes which helped the tuning of the top two holes. I then took the
> clarinet to get the venting of bottom pads closed over to reduce
> sharpness. The flatness has now gone but the instrument is now very
> sharp.
> I have spoken to two top repairers who cant think of an answer. Has
> anything similar happened to anyone? I cant play it like this. anyone
> experienced bore shifting???
>
> Thanks
>
> Gillian

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