The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: jez
Date: 2003-05-10 10:45
I've been having a disagreement with some of my colleagues and wonder what everyone else's opinion is.
Most players I know use a peg to put their clarinet on when it's not in use. Their theory is that this helps moisture drain out and prevents getting water in holes. I, on the other hand, believe the opposite to be the case; that the last thing you want to do is store the instrument vertically so that water will drain downwards all the way round the bore, better to lay it flat where resting on the thumb-rest and LH little-finger keys keeps the area with least holes at the bottom, minimising the chance of water problems. I occasionally use a peg to help with quick changes, but find I get water more when I do.
What do you all think?
jez
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Author: Synonymous Botch
Date: 2003-05-10 11:53
There's no room on my bandstand for an open case.
That's where I use a peg.
I disassemble and swab the horn after use, for storage.
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Author: Ralph G
Date: 2003-05-10 15:30
Peg. I don't like laying it on the floor or perching it on a chair. And, by gum, I spent 20 bucks on my peg and I'm gonna get my money's worth.
________________
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: Clarence
Date: 2003-05-10 16:01
Pegs around the house.
On the road, no pegs. Too much danger of someone knocking the horn over.
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Author: BobD
Date: 2003-05-10 23:23
I assume you are talking about what to do with your horn during a concert or "gig" and not about storage between practices or playings. I use a peg for a couple of reasons: less chance of someone knocking the horn over compared to laying it on a chair, less chance of someone nicking the reed and I personally feel it's better to let water drain out of the horn than to lay inside it.
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Author: allencole
Date: 2003-05-11 04:45
I am also pro-peg. I don't think that the knock-over danger is that great when you use a little common sense in where you put the horn. On gigs, I keep all my vertical instruments on a K&M peg stand and set them up right by the drum hardware. This makes it unlikely that they will be knocked over.
Allen Cole
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2003-05-11 19:50
I also advocate pegs for "doubling" accessability, for cls, oboe, flute, sometimes part of alto/tenor sax "stands". On Reed 4-5 parts, I prefer bari sax on its wheeled stamd, and, because of glass mps, prefer my bass cl with its peg AND neck strap on my lap, doesnt interfere too much and is safe! Need room, tho!! To each his own [solutions]. Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: jez
Date: 2003-05-12 09:22
My point in this thread is not that pegs are convenient when doubling or handy for storage at home, but that when they're used in concert situations, when you've no time to pull through, their use increases the likelihood of getting problems with water in keys.
I suppose this would be minimized by having one slightly off vertical so the water would be encouraged to drain out quickly without going into all the holes equally. Does anyone make such a thing? All the ones I've seen hold the instrument vertical.
jez
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Author: BobD
Date: 2003-05-12 13:37
jez, I'm afraid that I agree with those who disagree with you.
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Author: msloss
Date: 2003-05-12 16:43
Jez,
Do you play the instrument horizontally? The instrument can handle being vertical on a peg. In fact, you have gravity working in your favor getting the water out of the horn rather than pooling on the inside. If you aren't in the throes of a quick switch, just run a swab through the horn before putting it down. Fluted pegs (Blayman) also help by allowing air to circulate through the horn.
If you believe your thesis that the instrument should be canted at a playing angle when at rest to optimize drainage, get on down to the patent office with some drawings. Who knows, you might be on to something. Here -- I'll even give you a product name: "Jez' Clarinet Cradle". Just remember I get the first one free :-)
Mark
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Author: CJB
Date: 2003-05-12 19:59
I was thinking about this one whilst driving home in the rain this evening and think jez may have a point. When held vertically the water will flow down the walls of the instrument. Consider water droplets flowing down a window they tend to follow the path of previous droplets, as when playing water will tend to flow towards the keys on the underside of the instrument when held vertically the water will continue to preferentially follow that path. Its just a thought, and as its been a particularly long day I could be well off track!
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2003-05-12 20:07
Jez, I also was having a hard time to see what you were driving at! As Mark concluded and you said, just an off-vertical peg?? We are all familiar with the "water-run" action whereby on playing, only the back or some side tone-holes will collect water and "burble". As to patents, a speciality of mine, while making a "broad-brush" search on oboes, I ran onto several "inst. stand" patents which might interest you. You could view these on www.uspto.gov, they are [US] 5,544,560, 5,050,827, 4,695,022, 4,304,166, 4,036,462. I didn't study them out, but believe these could be adjusted off-vertical if desired. Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: William
Date: 2003-05-13 14:36
I use vertical pegs during orchestral, wind ensemble and jazz gigs and *almost* never experiance moisture-on-the-hole syndrome. Conversely, my collegue is constantly shoving her cig paper under the Eb pad. Bottom line--??????????
(in usually swab the bore and wipe the joint sockets dry every break)
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