 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Kes
Date: 2003-03-05 01:22
Lately, I have had trouble with spit building up and making certain notes sound...well...gurgley! One that is especially bad is the C-sharp (1st C-sharp, if you're going bottom->top). I never really had this problem before, or maybe I didn't notice it. But as far as I can tell, it's been especially bad since I got my new buffet. (Which also had some other problems, but they got fixed when I sent them to the repairman).
Any suggestions?
Oh...one more thing! My reeds have been getting "yucky" quickly...I don't quite know how to describe it. They still play well and all, but after about 5 days they look disgusting! What is the average "life" of a reed? Should I get a reed case?
Thank you everybody!
____________________
"I speak reedish. Long live the language of the clarinetist!"
_________________
-kes
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Author: Joel Clifton
Date: 2003-03-05 03:52
I often have problems with gurgling sounds too. Lately I've been taking the mouthpiece off every ten minutes or so and swabbing it out so that not much moisture can collect.
As for the reeds, I've had reeds last more than two weeks with regular use. Just clean them occasionally (I've heard that some people dip them in hydrogen peroxide) and make sure they are not in a sealed container (or they will mold) but in a good airated container. If you need to dry the reed off, don't rub it on your pants or wipe it with a tissue like I often do. I've actually stained some of my reeds blue by doing that, not to mention getting dirt and fuzzies on it.
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Author: Ralph G
Date: 2003-03-05 04:08
Kes,
Swab frequently, get some pad paper (or cigarette paper) to dry out the C# hole when it clogs up, and blow out the excess moisture.
The best prevention I've come across, though, is the Doc's bore treatment (go to the Accessories link on the right side of the page and then click on The Doctor's Products). It treats the bore so that it's almost like a freshly-waxed car -- water runs right through it instead of collecting in the tone holes. It's rarely a problem I encounter anymore.
________________
Artistic talent is a gift from God and whoever discovers it in himself has a certain obligation: to know that he cannot waste this talent, but must develop it.
- Pope John Paul II
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2003-03-05 04:13
One thing I do to help keep the moisture from building up is to inhale every time I get a break. Just forceably inhale through the mouthpiece drawing any excess moisture back into you mouth. It doesn't cure the problem, but helps to delay when it arises. There are tons of techniques to stop the moisture from collecting at those holes. One method is to take a pipe cleaner, dip the end in oil (almond or something) and trace a path on the inside of the clarinet that you want the spit to travel. That usually works. Obviously trace a path keeping steer of the keys that usually get bogged down (C#, the Eb and other side-keys, and the fork Eb).
What I do for my reeds is I soak them in my mouth a little bit before playing (not too much, only like a minute to get it a little wet). Then after playing, I dry them as much as I can before putting them back into the reed case. The way I dry them is I "squeeze" the water from them. Squeeze the reed with your thumb and forefinger and "push" the water to the tip. Then rub your fingers dry and do it again. Just get the reed as dry as you can before putting it back in the reed case. Helps cut down the molding factor.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: Mark Pinner
Date: 2003-03-05 10:30
You need a pointer pad on G#. If the seat is too puffy then water will build up. The other susceptible keys run up from G# namely Eb/Bb, chromatic F# and the two trill keys. Buffet use fairly ordinary pads. Just get the horn serviced and get some treated leather pads properly seated and you will lose the water problem.
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Author: Don Poulsen
Date: 2003-03-05 12:46
So you won't be so grossed out in the future, I thought someone should mention that the majority of the moisture in your instrument is condensation, not spit. Your warm breath is very humid. When it contacts the colder surface of your instrument, it condenses. So, in effect, the combination of your clarinet is a type of still and the moisture is basically distilled water.
To help make my point, consider one of the most twisted (physically) instruments, the French horn. Their players frequently have to drain moisture from places in the middle of the instrument, but it would be extremely difficult to push saliva around and about through all that tubing with one's breath to the point they are draining from. If it were saliva, it would probably all become trapped in the very first bottom bend of the instrument.
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Author: BobD
Date: 2003-03-05 12:49
I keep hearing about "tracing" a line of oil on the bore wall. Isn't bore oiling a lot easier and more effective? To Kes: maybe you have changed your diet or contracted "something"?
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2003-03-05 12:53
BobD wrote:
> I keep hearing about "tracing" a line of oil on the bore wall.
> Isn't bore oiling a lot easier and more effective?
No - the condensation will be "directionless" on an evenly oiled or unoiled bore. The idea of tracing a line aroung the offending holes is to redirect the condensation running down the bore away from the holes.
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2003-03-05 14:57
Go to a tobacco supply store and buy a package of pipe cleaners -- the kind with the metal wire down the middle.
Swab the instrument thoroughly, making sure to get all the water out of the C#/G# hole.
Dampen the corner of a handkerchief and wrap that corner around the eraser end of a pencil. Scrub the area around the hole to get off any build-up. Then wrap a dry corner of the hadkerchief around the pencil and get the area completely dry.
Let the joint dry overnight, outside the case.
Bend about 1/8" at the end a pipe cleaner at a 90 degree angle.
Dip just the end of that 1/8" in bore oil.
Draw a semicircle or an inverted "V" in bore oil above the C#/G# hole on the inside of the bore. Lit it dry overnight.
Also, it helps to keep the instrument on a peg. If you lay it on the chair, make sure the C#/G# hole is pointing upward.
Best regards.
Ken Shaw
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2003-03-05 23:50
Just some ideas to throw in: For solving problems with drops blocking tone holes.... two opposite solutions:
1. Treat the bore (and tone holes?) with an oil repellent, such that the drops roll straight through the instrument and out the end.
2. Treat the bore (and tone holes?) with a 'surfactant', e.g. detergent, that breaks the surface tension, such that the moisture forms a layer over the entire surface and drops never form.
The latter can also be achieved by having a slightly roughened surface for the bore. I've heard of steel wool being drawn through an oboe to achieve this.
I've heard it said that the neck of a sax is not highly polished inside, in part, to avoid condensation forming drops.
I would have thought that if you were making a trail down the bore to steer water away from tone holes it would have to be done with a surfactant, not a repellent.
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2003-03-05 23:52
"Scotchguard" seems to be quite a good repellant for tone holes and pads.
The version of it used for leather also contains an oil, which may, or may not be better.
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Author: Kes
Date: 2003-03-06 01:53
Thanks for all your suggestions people! Granted, a few things I couldn't quite understand, since they were so technical. Obviously I am not a professional...Well, let's be optomistic and say "yet", shall we? Lol.
I'll see about the bore oiling and stuff... If anyone cares to explain that in simpler terms, I'd really appreciate it. I understood the condensation thing...that makes a LOT more sense. The reed drying sounds like a good idea.
Any other suggestions??
____________________
"I speak reedish. Long live the language of the clarinetist!"
_________________
-kes
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Author: clarigurl
Date: 2003-03-06 02:03
you can either take off your mouthpiece and wipe it out or you can open your top sliver key and blow in the hole and also your sharp key for your C# and blow in it too. that is where most spit builds up inside. so maybe blowing in these holes will work for you. hope i could help!
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