 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Karen
Date: 1999-10-27 11:50
Hi everyone,
Well, I just recently bought a nickel-plated buffet R-13 clarinet.
After playing, i've noticed that the metal gets discolored on the a-flat key, the a key, and the upper register key, where
my fingers rest during playing. I had a nickel (i think) selmer clarinet before and this never happened. But before that I had
a plastic buffet and on these keys I remember the metal actually wearing away. I don't want this to happen to my R-13,
does anyone know if this will happen and what I can do about it?
Thanks!
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Author: Tracy
Date: 1999-10-27 13:12
The same thing happens on my clarinet. It is just a result of the acid in yuor hands chemically reacting with the metal. There is really nothign you can do to stop it from happening (that I have found at least). All you can do is wash your hands before you play to make sure they are absolutely clean and make sure you clean the keys after each time you play! But if you find anything else out ..Let me know..I haven't found anything yet.
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Author: Bart
Date: 1999-10-27 14:28
If you clean the keys, it will take more time for them to become really affected.
Whenever I bring my clarinet to my repair shop, I get it back with the keys shiny & looking like new. The first few weeks, they keep their good looks. Then, when the first coloring appears, there´s no stopping ...
With me, it´s particularly the F/C - left hand little finger key that goes grey.
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Author: Kevin Bowman
Date: 1999-10-27 14:54
The nickel plating has worn completely off at the touch places on most of the keys on my R13. I've had it for about 17 years. It's not really a big deal - the instrument still sounds fine. And when I'm playing it, my fingers are covering those spots anyway, so nobody else can see that it's not real shiny. Besides, I think it adds a personal character to the instrument.
You can have your keys re-plated but it's kind of expensive. Silver and gold are even softer than nickel and may wear even faster. (This is why I am happy paying $100 _less_ for nickel plate keys than for silver
Kevin Bowman
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Author: Eoin
Date: 1999-10-27 15:02
I think that silver and gold are less electrochemically reactive than nickel, so they not react with the acid in your skin as much. This means they should last longer. This is the main reason that jewelry is made from gold.
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 1999-10-27 16:55
Very true Eoin, gold [Au] is one of the least chemically-reactive common metals, it takes aqua-regia or a cyanide solution to "dissolve" it. Silver is good, but tarnishes on exposure to sulfur compounds. Chromium plating, if it didnt cause the key touches to become "slippery" would be my choice, maybe some of us remember chrome bumpers on cars!! Of course many keys are made of nickel-silver {German silver} and depending on the concentrations of zinc, copper and nickel et al, they tarnish accordingly. We discussed key metal several times here and on Early Clarinet so that those series of posts are retrieveable. Likely the good cl books, Brymer, Lawson etc discuss materials of construction. Don
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Author: Drew
Date: 1999-10-27 18:17
I own a Selmer (USA) Signet Soloist, which came from the factory with chrome plated keys! The instrument is about 30 years old, but I've probably played it for only about 5 years total. There is absolutely no sign of plating erosion, unlike my original student clarinet which I really ate up with my acid fingers. My fingers have the same effect on other plated objects that are handled frequently, such as car keys, key rings and pens. My clarinet looks like no other, as most are nickel or silver plated.
Like the advice previously mentioned, wash your hands before playing, and wipe the instrument down after each use. Silver is a good alternative, but you have to watch out for tarnish (I use a special strip in the case, seems to keep the tarnish away).
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Author: Aaron Hayden
Date: 1999-10-27 21:09
Do you have a hard rubber mouthpiece that is less than 10 years old? Do you keep your mouthpiece in your case inside the clarinet compartment?
There have been some changes in the composition of hard rubber used for mouthpieces. The rubber gives off a vapor that acts as a catalyst with the case glue. This causes a cloudiness or discoloration of nickel plating on Buffet Keys.
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Author: Karen
Date: 1999-10-28 11:48
No, I use a plastic mouthpiece that I keep with my clarinet.
Thanks for the suggestions guys! I suppose that I'll wipe the keys after each use and wash my hands before using the clarinet. Wish me a pretty clarinet! :-D
Thanks,
Karen
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Author: Gary Van Cott
Date: 1999-10-28 17:01
I know people with R-13s which are 25 and 40 years old and the plating is just fine. But it has both worn and discolored significantly on my three year old R-13.
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Author: Albert
Date: 1999-10-29 05:03
Drew-
I also have a Signet Soloist and I don't think that it's plated with chrome, but nickel like most other clarinets.
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