 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: nbblazer
Date: 2007-10-16 05:01
Attachment: Picture 002_edited.jpg (443k)
Attachment: Picture 003_edited.jpg (391k)
I have had both of these checks for nearly a year. They have opened and closed some, but of no avail have they completely gone away and left me with a scar. I’ve tried oiling the clarinet. What are the possible solutions? What are the pros and cons to getting these pinned? Would a type of adhesive glue applied by a repairman enough?
The pictures aren’t very good, but there is a check that goes down the hole for the A key, and one on the back that is usually a little bit wider and goes from the cork, through the register hole, along the register key, and down to the left thumb hole.
The clarinet is about two years old. When I noticed the first check, the warranty had already ended.
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Author: skygardener
Date: 2007-10-16 10:58
It seems that you are in California and since the clarinet is so young, I would suggest that you contact Buffet (or atleast the store you got the clarinet at) about this. They might be nice about it.
IMO, these cracks look serious and due to the way that they have formed, I would say that it is bad wood. Pinning them would be a good option, but you sould contact Buffet about it and see if you can work something out. I have heard that they can replace single joints (in this cast the upper joint). They can probably take the keywork off this clarinet and put it onto a new top joint. Much of the cost of a clarinet is in the metal and this might be the best and most economical option.
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Author: nbblazer
Date: 2007-10-17 00:54
what makes you think I'm in California? What makes you think the cracks are possibly from bad wood?
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Author: grifffinity
Date: 2007-10-17 01:16
nbblazer wrote:
> what makes you think I'm in California?
Well, your ISP locates you somewhere in or around Pleasanton, CA. Mine is off by a good few towns, but I am posting from NJ.
>What makes you think the cracks are possibly from bad wood?
The crack or check in the first pic appears to be going through the tone hole. It's hard for me to see the crack in the 2nd photo, but your description of it sounds serious.
If the warranty is up, I'm not sure if Buffet will do anything (ie - replace the joint)...but it can't hurt to ask them for a solution. A good repair tech will either pin or band the wood, as well as fill in the cracks with a mix of glue and grenadilla dust. The biggest issue is how these cracks affect the seal of the upper joint and compromise the strength of the upper joint.
But, I would definately contact a good repair tech ASAP - these cracks will either A. - stay the same or B. get worse. They will not magically shrink or close up.
Have you tested the seal of the upper joint?
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Author: skygardener
Date: 2007-10-17 02:53
nbblazer--- "-What makes you think the cracks are possibly from bad wood?"
Well, if I am seeing what I think I am seeing it looks like there are 2 cracks, one in from and one in back. If I am right, they represent a weak "ring" of wood and no matter how well you treated the clarinet would probably seperated eventually.
grifffinity--- - "If the warranty is up, I'm not sure if Buffet will do anything (ie - replace the joint)...but it can't hurt to ask them for a solution. "
Even if the warranty IS up and you have to pay for it, you might be able to have a new top joint made- this will be much cheaper than buying a whole new clarinet, especially they swap the keywork. If it were me, since the clarinet is so new and the cracks are so severe, I would replace the top joint. IMO, saving a clarinet from further cracks is an option only if the cracks are slight and/or I have sentimental attachment to that clarinet.
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