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gurgling sounds in clarinet

Author: timw
Date: 2009-09-30 21:11

Just wanted to get some feedback in how others deal with moisture buildup in the tone holes. I often get gurgling sounds - sometimes in the C# pad, sometimes I'm not really sure where its coming from -only that it's usually somewhere in the top joint. Running a swab cloth more often than not doesn't solve the problem. I notice that some players in the Phila orchestra keep a piece of paper handy to place under the pad(s). It's always near the tone hole(s). This often works for me but have to locate problem first.
I was wondering if anyone ever uses the air gadget made for cleaning computers- I tried it the other day and it worked! Just gave it a blast of air and bingo. Any thoughts on this?

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Re: gurgling sounds in clarinet

Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2009-09-30 21:21

The problem with compressed air and the like is that once it leaves its pressurized can, the temperature of the gas drops significantly (the reverse of the bicycle pump warming). I wouldn't do it on a clarinet.

Instead of using canned air, blow through a plastic hose or a straw in order to blast water off the tone holes, or use kitchen paper to wick the water off the pads.

--
Ben

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Re: gurgling sounds in clarinet

Author: timw
Date: 2009-09-30 21:32

Thanks for that- I hadn't thought of a straw, and I had wondered about the feasibility of the compressed air. I believe you're right about the temperature - probably flirting with trouble there. I'll go with the straw.
How about tone wholes? Are there particular ones that are prone to this problem in your experience?

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Re: gurgling sounds in clarinet

Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2009-09-30 21:42

Moisture builds up in wondrous ways, and probably differently in every instrument.
Some people are successful with a bore-oiled q-tip (cotton bud) that is used to impregnate the wood around the "usual suspect" tone holes to prevent water from building puddles.

I have noticed that water condenses (and builds up) easier in non-wood clarinets. But the way and location of the formed streams is partly depending on the aerodynamics of the mouthpiece, reed, barrel and joint, partly of the wood grain, and - probably - partly non-deterministic, ie you need some chaos theory for that.

Try to randomly impregnate the bore here and there, and watch what happens and what doesn't. Sounds awfully scientific, I know. Maybe you just change the reed and the gurgling stops. It's a different world in there, ahtellsya. [tongue]

--
Ben

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Re: gurgling sounds in clarinet

Author: Dori
Date: 2009-10-01 02:54

It's an interesting thought to use compressed air , but I think this falls into the category of "subjecting the instrument to extreme changes in temperature." If anyone doubts how cold the canned air becomes, I know from personal experience. My husband decided to be funny and sprayed my, um, chest. He wasn't expecting my scream of pain or the nasty contact burn that resulted.

I've been having a problem with water in the C#-G# pad and lowest trill key. I keep small pieces of paper towel handy, but it is so annoying. The problem seemed to be worse when I tried Mitchel Lurie Premium reeds. Could be worse, I guess. My oboe-playing friend said he spent more on reeds the first year than he what he paid for the instrument.

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