 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: knotty
Date: 2009-09-26 00:54
The case for this practice Bundy smells awfully bad of, I guess cigar/cigarette smoke and the velvet material is matted from cork grease and generally ugly.
Anyone have a good remedy for this?
Only thing I can come up with is:
1. Take the old velvet off and put new felt or similar.
2. Throw the whole inside away and line with something else, perhaps closed cell foam?
Thanks..knotty
~ Musical Progress: None ~
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Author: BrianChau
Date: 2009-09-26 01:21
Well I think that you could buy a new one... if you wanted to...
Brian
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Author: knotty
Date: 2009-09-26 01:38
Hi Brian, that's true but I think the original case adds a lot to the instrument esthetically so would like to restore the old one as close as possible and probably it would add to the resale value too.
knotty
~ Musical Progress: None ~
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Author: weberfan
Date: 2009-09-26 02:36
Use the "search" function for "case cleaning" and related topics. You'll find previous threads on cleaning, airing out or relining old caes.
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2009-09-26 02:46
Clean the velvet with an upholstery cleaning product, and leave the case outside, open, in the sunshine (if possible) for a few days to get rid of the smell.
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Author: BrianChau
Date: 2009-09-26 02:47
Knotty, that's true.... some original cases actually are excellent if properly restored and maintained..
Brian
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Author: Lelia Loban ★2017
Date: 2009-09-26 11:14
If that Bundy case is original, it's probably better quality than average, with more room for the doodads (swab, reeds, etc.) than most cases. Those Bundy cases are so well-made that I've even bought empty ones at the flea market. I use them for clarinets I bought with wrecked cases.
Sometimes I do pull out the old lining and replace it, if it's truly rotted or if I'm setting up the case for a clarinet that doesn't fit the Bundy compartments (old Albert system keywork,etc.) but David Speigelthal's good advice on cleaning the case usually works, if there's nothing the matter except dirt and odor. For serious stink, after I wash the case, I spray it with Febreze, let it dry in the sun, then rinse it out again (to get rid of the smell of the Febreze) and dry it in the sun again. Btw, the old pads, corks and dirty clarinet can put that smell right back into the case lining, so I clean the clarinet and get rid of any rotten pads and corks, before I put the instrument in a clean case.
Lelia
http://www.scoreexchange.com/profiles/Lelia_Loban
To hear the audio, click on the "Scorch Plug-In" box above the score.
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Author: knotty
Date: 2009-09-26 13:03
Again some great tips, I'll try the upholstery spray, I just happen to have some handy. Yes, Lelia it's the original Bundy case, built well and in good shape except for the insides. I'll get some Febreze tomorrow.
The clarinet itself, I stripped all the keys off and washed the joints in detergent with a toothbrush. Re-padded, corked, polished the keys.
Thanks!..knotty
~ Musical Progress: None ~
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2009-09-26 15:56
You might also want to spray it with a disinfectant spray first to make sure you "Kill" the spores and germs etc. ESP http://eddiesclarinet.com
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Author: Lelia Loban ★2017
Date: 2009-09-27 12:08
Oh, one other thing about Bundy cases: Might want to put a sticker or a splash of paint or something on the outside top of the lid, to tell yourself which side is up whenever you open it. It's easy to make the mistake of opening a Bundy case upside down. Been there, done that. Not a great experience when you've just gone to all the trouble of cleaning up an old instrument!
Lelia
http://www.scoreexchange.com/profiles/Lelia_Loban
To hear the audio, click on the "Scorch Plug-In" box above the score.
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Author: susieray
Date: 2009-09-28 09:33
I agree with Ed, use something like Lysol disinfectant spray which will kill germs and mold. I'd skip the Frebreze altogether as it doesn't kill anything and it makes the fabric kinda stiff.
Goo Gone works great on old cork grease stains.....
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Author: knotty
Date: 2009-09-28 13:12
I do have Lysol disinfectant, I used it on the mouthpiece that came with the clarinet. Also have Goo Gone, yes, the old cork grease stain is the worse part.
Lelia, I almost opened the case upside down, good thing I noticed the latch position. I put a removable label on the top. LOL.
Thanks all..knotty
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Author: eac
Date: 2009-09-29 15:07
Once you've gotten the lining back to an acceptable condition, lay a piece of soft light weight fabric inside on the bottom to keep it clean. I use a piece of old t-shirt but it can be anything. Even with wiping down the tenons each time after I play, the lining gets kinda grubby after a while. Just toss it and start over.
Liz Leckey
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Author: Chaplain
Date: 2024-08-30 07:43
Very old thread but a major issue.
I have some very old Clairinets and the cases are essential to have.
I don't care how well the Clairinet has been cared for the cases are alway Nasty! I don't want to play anything that has been in that environment.
So I've become adept at restoring my old cases. I prefer suede to the standard velvet or velvatine material. Every case I get gets stripped. Sometimes I even strip the exterior black wax cloth sand and repair the old shell and recover. I have found new nickel hardware on ebay along with split rivets.
To me the case is part of the instrument. We have our instruments rebuilt when necessary so why not the cases. They can be beautiful.
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Author: Chaplain
Date: 2024-08-30 07:43
Attachment: Screenshot_20240829_232624_Gallery.jpg (1242k)
Attachment: 20240829_231502.jpg (1262k)
Very old thread but a major issue.
I have some very old Clairinets and the cases are essential to have.
I don't care how well the Clairinet has been cared for the cases are alway Nasty! I don't want to play anything that has been in that environment.
So I've become adept at restoring my old cases. I prefer suede to the standard velvet or velvatine material. Every case I get gets stripped. Sometimes I even strip the exterior black wax cloth sand and repair the old shell and recover. I have found new nickel hardware on ebay along with split rivets.
To me the case is part of the instrument. We have our instruments rebuilt when necessary so why not the cases. They can be beautiful.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2024-08-30 20:38
Instrument repairers generally don't like doing case work wherever possible as that's something better suited to an upholsterer, carpenter or saddler and most woodwind specialists aren't equipped to do some aspects of case repair that are more involved in repairing or replacing latches, hinges or handles.
There's no reason why we can't do it, but the amount of time and work involved is often far more than the cost involved and then you have some people who expect everything done for nothing.
If it's a recent clarinet or other instrument, chances are there are much better cases than the original case the instrument was supplied in, even if the stock case was ridiculously overpriced and poor quality as was the norm with Selmer, Buffet and several other makers I could mention.
I usually recommend sourcing a new old stock or a redundant but good condition Yamaha cases as they're well built and fit most instruments much better than the cases that originally came with some instruments. They can sometimes be found for a fraction of their new price.
Only recently I bought a Yamaha 62 bari case (to replace my one I've had since 1990) which was in a clearance sale as music shops don't want that sort of thing taking up more room than it needs to, so I got it for a fraction of the cost and it's immaculate as it was never even used. I've had the same luck with Yamaha single and double clarinet cases too.
Most antique cases don't offer any protection for the instrument and are sparsely furnished and padded on the inside and in many cases (pun intended) do more harm than good as they don't always offer the support, cushioning or clearances as a well designed case made specifically for the instrument. Some of these old cases do as much damage equivalent to carrying a raw egg in an otherwise empty shoebox and shaking it about.
Then there's the cases that keep all the joints together or the instrument split into two halves and rattling about in their separate sections divided by a bit of card covered in felt or velvet. While the construction of the case itself may be good whether it's a wooden box or a stitched leather tube or trapezium-sided case with a flappy lid secured with a buckle, the internal fixtures and fittings always tend to leave a lot to be desired as most are fabric lined empty shells.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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