Klarinet Archive - Posting 000045.txt from 2007/01

From: "Gillian Craven" <gillian_craven@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] instrument acting odd....
Date: Sat, 06 Jan 2007 09:22:56 -0500

My clarinet is three years old and I live in Scotland so it is possibly
related to temperature/humidity. I am always very careful about not leaving
instrument near heaters and leaving it to adjust before playing.
I am aware that this is likely to be the problem but not sure what I shold
do with the instrument now. what tricks are you aware of to get water back
in ?

Gillian

>From: Mark Sausville <sausvill@-----.net>
>Reply-To: klarinet@-----.org
>To: klarinet@-----.org
>Subject: Re: [kl] instrument acting odd....
>Date: Fri, 05 Jan 2007 19:53:34 -0800
>
>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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