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It's For YOUR Own Good!

Author: Chris P
Date: 2010-09-14 15:33

Just had a clarinet (early Selmer 10S) I previously rebuilt several months back come back to me as the owner kept it assembled so the tenons stuck and the tenon corks shrunk. Not only that, he 'cleaned' the corks with a pot scourer so now the tenons have been rounded off at the ends when they were previously as sharp as the day they were made, so now they all rock and the bell tenon cork has been worn through in places down to the wood.

He rarely used the case and would carry it around in two halves wrapped in a towel (and that's how he brought it along to me earlier). He thought all the constant assembly/disassembly would cause problems such as straining the keywork or wearing the tenon corks.

The point being - after playing, taking it all apart, cleaning and drying it all out properly, PUT THE BLOODY THING BACK IN ITS CASE - THAT'S WHAT CASES WERE INVENTED FOR!

Don't use harsh abrasives to 'clean' anything with and always use a decent cork grease - NOT butter or even those lipstick ones. IF the tenons do bind in the sockets, GET IT SORTED IMMEDIATELY and NOT left for things to get worse, and unless you know what you're doing, DON'T attempt to try and fit tight tenons yourself as you'll make a complete pig's ear of it - it's always easier to remove too much wood than to replace it. If you know full well things aren't right, get things seen to at the earliest opportunity - NEVER LEAVE THINGS TOO LATE!

I've taken the time effort to do my job to my best ability and now it's your turn to respect that and do your job properly to be sure things stay that way. I'm sure all repairers will echo this thought.

Rant over.

Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010

Independent Woodwind Repair Specialist
Oboes, Clarinets and Saxes
NOT A MEMBER OF N.A.M.I.R.

The opinions I express are my own.

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It's For YOUR Own Good!

Chris P

2010-09-14 15:33