 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: ww.player
Date: 2011-06-15 17:20
Hi. I did a search but didn't turn up anything in the first few pages of results. I apologize if this has been covered before.
I just got a new cocobolo barrel that plays incredibly well. Obviously, I would like to do everything I possibly can to preserve it. Does anyone have any good tips on breaking in a new barrel on an old horn? Should it be oiled and, if so, how often? Does it need the same type of breaking in period that a horn does? Does cocobolo need any special treatment?
TIA.
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2011-06-15 18:10
When Kalmen Opperman made a new barrel for me, he had me bring it back after a month for tweaking, even if it was grenadilla. Other woods needed several adjustments. It depends on the particular piece of wood, so there's no universal rule. I have a grenadilla barrel that needed attention after as week and as cocus barrel that's never needed a thing
The barrel maker is your best source for break-in and care information.
When you put the clarinet away, be sure to swab out the barrel thoroughly, pushing the swab into the sockets to remove the moisture that collects there. The area is end grain, and water soaks in more readily. I would shake the water out of the sockets any time I put the clarinet down for more than a few minutes.
Ken Shaw
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Author: Caroline Smale
Date: 2011-06-15 20:23
I would break in a new barrel in same way as a new clarinet. If you think about it the most affected parts of a new clarinet are the barrel and upper part of top joint anyway and that's where 95+% of cracking occurs.
As ken notes it's important to dry the end grain of the sockets regularly, I use a piece of kitchen roll for this to avoid contaminating my swab with cork grease.
I would recommend oiling very regularly - as much as twice a week for first month - gradually tapering down to say once a month after 6 months and then maybe once every 3 months for next year or two.
Every piece of wood reacts differently and tends to tell you how much oil it needs i.e. if after a few hours all the oil has been absorbed then it needs more, but if after 24 hours there is still a slight oil gloss on the bore then you have given it enough.
Vitally important is to oil the end grain inside the sockets, this is where max water penetration is always going to happen if allowed.
I use a cheap childs piant brush in my workshop to dress this end grain.
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Author: Grabnerwg
Date: 2011-06-16 19:32
That's very good advice about swabbing out the tenon sockets carefully and oiling frequently.
I once had a brand new cocobolo barrel swell so much, in the upper tenon socket, that it "captured" the mouthpiece. We had a terrible time getting them separated.
Walter Grabner
www.clarinetxpress.com
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2011-06-18 01:07
I use all after market barrels, I've done that for years. I never did anything other than put it on my clarinet and play it as if I've had it for years. Lately, I've been using a Backun barrel on two of my clarinets for over ten years now and a Segal barrel on one on mine for about six months, never had a crack or any change that I could notice, everything plays as good or better than the day I first began playing on them. That goes for the ones I used to use years ago as well, just put them on and played them, summer, spring, fall or winter. Just use common sense as you would with any part of your clarinet, new or otherwise. ESP eddiesclarinet.com
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Author: Alseg
Date: 2011-06-18 14:12
Swab often, and remove water from sockets.
Use cork grease.
Over time, wooden bores will constrict or become ovoid. This is especially so with Cocobolo. It may need to be re-bored once. After that, it will usually maintain its bore dimensions.
Oil the sockets when they need it....but do NOT over oil. Sockets may shrink a bit when oiled.......never force connections.
Hard rubber is a different story....Keep them away from heat!
I dislike delrin, so I have no comments about its care.
Disclaimer......I make and sell barrels, as mentioned by Ed Palanker,
above.
Former creator of CUSTOM CLARINET TUNING BARRELS by DR. ALLAN SEGAL
-Where the Sound Matters Most(tm)-
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