 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: moolatte
Date: 2011-08-09 20:25
Attachment: 2011-08-09 10.07.44.jpg (1491k)
My marching clarinet has a little bit of a problem. Attached, if not in this post the next post if possible, is what happened to my clarinet.
Twice in the past 2 weeks, the lower joint fell off while running with my clarinet outside, and also my upper joint swung off. Obviously the middle tenon's cork is bad.
But neither time it fell to the asphalt outside did the middle tenon take the impact. My leather ligature took all the impact, (and thankfully saved my mouthpiece since it's the one I use for both my R13 and marching clarinet for most consistency)
I just pulled out my clarinet from its case yesterday morning for summer band, and I noticed that a chunk of wood was coming off. Today, another piece fell off right before I took the picture I uploaded. I'm not sure if it's going to keep chipping. How do I make sure it stops.
And BTW, the cork somehow remained intact, the chipping goes about 2 cm above what you see.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2011-08-09 20:34
You'll have to get that repaired by either having the tenon replaced which can be costly, or having the chips glued back on and a metal tenon ring fitted to keep it all solid.
It's probably due to the tenon already being cracked in several places and a fairly large chunk has come away due to impact which was probably done before you had the clarinet - looking at the state of the rest of the tenon ring and cracks in the nickel plating on the side Eb/Bb key show this clarinet has had a fairly tough life.
Bits of tenon rings breaking off isn't unusual as there isn't much support due to the tenon cork recess being cut behind the tenon ring, so pieces of the ring can break off relatively easily (and they can be repaired relatively easily too).
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
Post Edited (2011-08-09 20:36)
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2011-08-09 20:36
Looks like the tenon received a blow earlier in history and now, with shrinking/expanding due to moisture and/or temperature, the chips get crumbly and loose and fall off.
It's not the end of the world - a new tenon can be fitted, or the wood can be restructured (ie replaced by epoxy and grenadilla dust) and a tenon sleeve ring be fitted, or.... - it depends what instrument it is and whether or not the repair is the most economical thing to do.
In any case, I think it's time for a visit at your repair person's.
--
Ben
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Author: Lelia Loban ★2017
Date: 2011-08-10 12:49
If you march with your clarinet, it might save you money in the long run to buy a good-quality used plastic clarinet to take outdoors. Even when we're careful, bad things are much more likely to happen to musical instruments outdoors than indoors (pavement vs. carpet, for instance). Used plastic clarinets sell for relatively little. They *can* crack or break if dropped on pavement, but they can take more abuse than wooden clarinets.
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: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2011-08-10 13:49
Additionally, you have ben extremely fortunate that your mouthpiece has not (yet!) been destroyed. Get a cheap student grade MO for marching!
Jeff
“Everyone discovers their own way of destroying themselves, and some people choose the clarinet.” Kalman Opperman, 1919-2010
"A drummer is a musician's best friend."
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Author: FDF
Date: 2011-08-11 22:53
"Today, another piece fell off right before I took the picture I uploaded. I'm not sure if it's going to keep chipping. How do I make sure it stops."
Quit dropping it!
Post Edited (2011-08-11 22:54)
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Author: Barry Vincent
Date: 2011-08-12 00:11
It wouldn't have happened if you had a Ebonite (rubber) Clarinet, it would have just bounced. And gradually turn army green as it aged.
Skyfacer
Post Edited (2011-08-12 00:14)
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Author: moolatte
Date: 2011-08-12 05:11
I do have a plastic clarinet, an old Bundy to be specific, but it's in a state of disrepair, something beyond what I have the money for right now: All pinky key pads have severe leaks, the keys themselves aren't properly adjusted for proper range of motion, and the springs are bad too.
I'm usually the only one who learns our marching show and the only one who brings a reed outside for rehearsal. It's never fun having to play for all 30 clarinets, but if I don't have a reed outside or play, then I'm "not a very good example for the other clarinets." Meh.
And I didn't drop the clarinet before I took that picture It just came off, believe it or not.
Post Edited (2011-08-12 05:15)
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Author: Lelia Loban ★2017
Date: 2011-08-12 13:38
>>It wouldn't have happened if you had a Ebonite (rubber) Clarinet, it would have just bounced.>>
Unfortunately, that's not true. Vintage hard rubber clarinets are extremely brittle. They not only break, they shatter into little pieces. Same is true for old hard rubber mouthpieces. The formulas have changed for hard rubber mouthpieces made today, and I don't know whether they're as brittle as the old ones. But, drop a hard rubber mouthpiece or clarinet from the 1920s-1950s and chances are it's a Humpty Dumpty.
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: Barry Vincent
Date: 2011-08-13 00:43
Lelia, that is mostly likely true of very old ebonite clarinets and keep in mind that some of them were also made of Bakerlite material , Boosey & Hawkes made them apparently. That material is very brittle when hit hard enough. However one of the two things that happens to old Ebonite clarinets in that they go brittle with age as well as turn army green because of the Sulphur used for volcanisation of the rubber. I was only joking about a rubber clarinet bouncing, they don't of course, like all clarinets ect they just make a serious sound as the floor comes up and hits em.
The Ebonite clarinets that we have these days are very tough and probably would not be damaged at all except for the keywork most likely. This is why among other factors they are excellent for 'knock-about' instruments.
The old Arnold Dolmetsch recorders were made of Bakerlite. It is a somewhat heavy material. I have a tenor and alto.
Skyfacer
Post Edited (2011-08-13 00:51)
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2011-08-13 11:36
The old Bundy Resonite, Vito Reso-tone and Yamaha 20 series clarinets also had bakelite bodies (and Yamaha still use phenol resin for their standard mouthpieces).
The old Bundy Resonite bassoons also had bakelite bodies, so you can imagine the weigh of them which was probably getting on twice the weight of a standard maple one.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
Post Edited (2011-08-13 11:36)
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Author: BobD
Date: 2011-08-13 11:56
Volcanization of a clarinet can be a very exciting experience.......
Bob Draznik
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