 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Debussyin
Date: 2010-04-23 04:56
Hello all,
I'm rather new to clarinet, got a new Festival, wasn't thinking and picked up the lower joint by the main rod between my index finger and thumb, out of the case.
Needless to say I won't do that again, but did I do damage by doing it once?
(I don't know why I did that?)
Any advice is appreciated!
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Author: SteveG_CT
Date: 2010-04-23 05:28
Assuming that you are talking about the rod that holds the pad closest to the bell, I doubt that supporting the weight of just the lower joint would be enough to bend it. If you're worried try laying a small straight edge along the length of the rod to see if it is bent.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2010-04-23 08:31
I must admit I initially pick up the lower joint out from the case by the E/B rod as there's no other way of getting the joint out of its slot - the inside of the tenon and socket are too low to be able to reach inside them. Similarly with the top joint - I tend to pick it out by the throat A touch until I can grip the entire joint.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2010-04-23 09:36
It's ok to pick up the clarinet holding it just about anywhere, as long as you have a feel for how to do it without damaging it.
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Author: skygardener
Date: 2010-04-23 10:20
I doesn't matter. The weight is not enough to do any damage. It might be a problem on bass clarinets, but not for Bb.
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Author: Bassie
Date: 2010-04-23 13:00
Yeah, any decent make should be immune to this sort of handling.
I think it's best not to be too delicate with the instrument. That's how you drop bits...
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Author: Debussyin
Date: 2010-04-23 19:30
Thanks very much, everyone.
And Bassie - "I think it's best not to be too delicate with the instrument. That's how you drop bits..."
That is a REAL GOOD point - because I've almost done that fearing I would damage the keywork and rods if I applied too much pressure.
I'm a sax player, and every sax player knows that handling/picking up by the keywork - unless it's an old Super 20 w/ nickel rods or a Unison; is a big no-no!
Thanks again All!
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2010-04-23 21:10
Just trying to think how I take my soprano, alto and tenor saxes out of their cases now!
I know for a fact I pick up my bari (YBS-62) by placing my fingers between the bell key rods and the inside edge of the bell so my fingers go either side of the low Bb pad cup arm (and my thumb round the back of the main body section) - there's a suport pillar under them at this point so no harm in bending the long rods.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
Post Edited (2010-04-24 11:58)
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2010-04-24 13:30
Picking up a soprano clarinet joint once by a rod won't hurt it. Doing it every time can eventually bow it outward, so you need to avoid the habit. If you can't get hold of the lower joint any other way, put your little finger in the bottom tenon, lift it up and take the underside of the joint in your palm.
Putting the joints together with your fingers squeezing a rod can bend the rod even doing it once. It's awkward, but you have to find a way to hold the joints, particularly the lower one, so that you don't cover any rods, and put plenty of cork grease on the middle joint.
Picking up a Leblanc contra by a rod, even once, can bend the rod enough to create a leak. Instead, I always pick mine up by wrapping two fingers around each of the two cross-braces. Contras, and even basses, need to be handled like a baby.
Ken Shaw
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