 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: E. Michael Blake
Date: 2002-04-18 15:51
Hi, folks. I'm thinking about getting a saxophone stand with an upright peg to hold a clarinet, and I'd like to know if there are reasons not to rest my used wood clarinet on something like this. Most of these stands, even the otherwise-metal ones, seem to use a wooden peg for the clarinet holder (also capable of holding a flute; not an issue in my case).
I'd like to hear what sort of experience people have had with stands like these, whether there may be concern about damage to the inner surface of the clarinet, whether one peg can be trusted to fit any bore diameter, and so forth. I was also wondering if it might be helful to sleeve the peg with terry cloth, both to prevent scraping and to soak up some moisture. Any thoughts?
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Author: Ralph Katz
Date: 2002-04-18 16:09
There are any number of stands and pegs available, and at least one is rubber coated. I have three different pegs, purchased at different times, on my stand: one wood, one rubber, and one unknown, and have not had any problems with them scratching the bore.
=>Each time you use the stand, check that the wingnuts on all of the pegs are tight. If you cannot tighten one of the pegs, repair or replace it.
=>Make sure that you *place* the instrument on the peg - do not use force - and make sure the instrument is fully engaged on the peg before you let go of it.
My only issue with this stand occurred at a wedding several years ago. At that time, I kept my instruments in front of me on the bandstand. I was playing away, not really paying much attention to anything else, when a 4-year-old boy snatched my A instrument off the stand. Luckily the little dear's mommy was right there, and she took that shiny new toy away from him before he could test its resiliency. The stand stays behind me now.
Regards,
Ralph
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Author: mike
Date: 2002-04-18 17:48
Two things: I used to have a wooden peg that was too large and the clarinet would stick. Eventually, I got around to sanding down the peg. For a while, I would drape my silk swap over the peg which kept it from binding (the clarinet sounded stuffy with the peg shoved up the bell, and the extra weight of the stand, sax and flute was killing my thumb.)
The second thing is to get one of the more expensive stands that are rigid: Sooner or later, you, or someone trying to arrange things on the stage, is going to pick up the stand with flute and/or clarinet to move it. If its one of the cheap, tripod stands, the base is going to collapse and your flute and/or clarinet are going to go smashing onto the stage. While I think its a bad idea to carry the stand while loaded with instuments (or just while loaded, but that's another story), get one with base that is rigid when assembled and avoid that rather embarrassing mode of failure.
The wood used in the stands that I've seen is probably a lot softer than ebony. I don't think there's too much risk of scratching the bell.
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Author: mike
Date: 2002-04-19 04:32
I meant to say scratching the bore, not scratching the bell.
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Author: Allen Cole
Date: 2002-04-19 05:48
Mike has brought up the most important point. You need a rigid stand if the instruments are going to be together.
Let me propose an alternative setup if you play more than one type of sax. Get a stand for your vertical horns (clarinet, flute, soprano, oboe or whatever) that stands independently of your sax stand. I have a K&M base that I bought from the Woodwind and drilled extra holes in. It fits all my old throw-away pegs and can handle more small woodwinds than I actually own.
It also means that I have a ready setup for my woodwinds that I can use with whatever size sax that I happen to be playing. I have those cheap but sturdy tripod type stands for alto, tenor and bari.
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Author: Bob T
Date: 2002-04-19 06:38
Regarding protecting bell from abrasion - I got some bright red(could be any colour) adhesive-backed felt and lined the supporting peg with it. This has several advantages - clar does not bind to peg - reduces potential wear of inside bell - and can easily be seen in a darkish band pit. Additionally get something white and stick it to the very top of the peg - this improves your aim if changing instruments quickly.
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Author: Willie
Date: 2002-04-19 21:59
I like that idea of bright felt on the peg! Trying to stab a black peg on a darkened stage gets interesting.
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Author: C@p
Date: 2002-04-22 01:55
I have a Hamiltoln Tenor Sax stand with a clarinet peg that is painted black. When the stand was new, the clarinet seemed to stick to the relatively new paint.
I have not used it since I got it as the ensemble in which I was doubling disbaned within a week of its formation.
I was thinking of sanding the paint off but first I might try the felt trick.
C@p
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Author: GBK
Date: 2002-04-22 02:13
For pit work, I "paint" the top of the clarinet peg with "White-out"
(correction fluid). When the show finishes, the white can be easily removed...GBK
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