 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: ChrisC
Date: 2004-01-03 01:25
I have just noticed a small crack on my brand-new Rossi Bb clarinet (the absolute finest instrument I have ever owned), beginning from just beneath where I would put the barrel and going slightly past the G# key. This is both my first experience with a cracked instrument and, perhaps not coincidentally, my first experience with a brand new wooden instrument during the winter months. I have been in the habit of keeping a cello-sized dampit in the case with the clarinet, but evidently this has not been sufficient. I will not be able to get to a tech until Monday morning and I am desperate to prevent the crack from spreading further--needless to say, I hope to salvage the instrument. I have emailed Luis Rossi, who will not doubt send a helpful reply as soon as he sees my message, but I hope that I can get some quicker responses posting here on this gloomy Friday night.
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2004-01-03 01:38
Throw some scotch tape over it. Forgot where I heard this but I guess it helps keep it from opening up. Mr. Rossi will probably offer to fix and/or replace it since it's brand new. I believe his instruments come with a warranty. If you have a spare, play on that one. Don't play this one anymore cause I'd fear the moisture in your breath swelling and further damaging the wood.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: William
Date: 2004-01-03 14:23
When a small crack appeared on my new LeBlanc Concertyo A clarinet, Tom Ridenour simply told me, "Have it repaired and forget about it".
In any case, do not accept a "replacement" section as it will completely change the way your present Rossi plays. If you like your present instrument, have the crack repaired. It will not affect the way your instrument plays.
Do not play your clarinet until the crack is repaired as the stress caused by warming the interior of the bore while the exterior is still cold may cause further unwanted damage.
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Author: ChrisC
Date: 2004-01-03 16:06
Not much of a chance I will try to use a replacement section since Rossi clarinets have single-piece bodies! So far, the crack has not seemed to have expanded, so there's some good news right there.
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Author: LeWhite
Date: 2004-01-03 20:56
Try not to let it get to you - hundreds and hundreds of new instruments crack. I know if my instrument cracked I'd be absoloutely distraught!
I've heard many opinions on crakcs:
1. Once it cracks, that's it. Throw it away and buy another.
2. Get it fixed - it won't affect the instrument at all. Better now than later.
3. Only the best clarinets crack anyway. You know you've got a good one.
4. Cracking is the wood releasing pressure, therefore now it will play better.
These are what I've heard 'around the place'. Not sure myself I've never had one crack, however, I'm going with No.2...
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Author: ChrisC
Date: 2004-01-03 21:04
Well, I just took the clarinet to Jimmy Yan, who pronounced it a "big crack" that shouldn't have occured in a clarinet that's so new ( I got it two weeks ago). He said that Luis Rossi should either replace it or refund my money, but I still haven't heard from him yet. I sort of have a back-up, but it's badly in need of an overhaul and not a great instrument to begin with ( a LeBlanc Sonata).
I knew I should have stuck to playing the electric guitar.
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Author: donald
Date: 2004-01-03 21:19
you went to see Mr Yan? he certainly knows what he's talking about. Mr Rossi will probably offer to make another top joint- i imagine that you will have to send him the rest of the clarinet so he can match it all up. You'll hear from him soon. A crack that pretty much goes the whole length of the top joint aint no ordinary crack- 95% of cracks would be hairline cracks around the top joint tone holes of a length between 1cm and 5cm.
it seems odd that you choose to seek advice on such a topic via the bulletin board when you have "live access" to such a respected professional!
donald
ps- sorry
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Author: ChrisC
Date: 2004-01-03 21:48
I had actually never been to Jimmy Yan before and had no idea if he was open on Saturdays or would be willing to see me on such short notice. I was pleasantly surprised when I called him up and he told me to just stop by. Once again, though, Rossi clarinets don't have top and bottom joints; if Luis Rossi agrees to replace the clarinet, he will have to make an entire new one--unless there is something about the construction of his clarinets that I don't know about. Since I ordered my Rossi in August and didn't get it until December, I would imagine that there will be a similar wait for a new one. I am thinking of purchasing a TR 147 as a back-up that won't be affected by temperature and humidity changes.
Thanks, however, for tendering your sympathies. I can only imagine how much of a better player I would be by now if I had been playing an instrument of such quality from the start. I assume that this kind of cracking is uncommon with Rossis; however, since I believe it is summertime in Santiago and it is most definitely winter in New York, I would imagine that the humidity shift during and immediately after shipping could have caused some problems. Still, I received no warning from Luis Rossi about the possibility of cracking for these reasons. I also don't know of any humidifying systems other than dampits, which perhaps aren't always sufficient--or maybe I needed more than one in the case. When and if I get another wooden clarinet, Rossi or otherwise, I will be sure to do a thorough investigation into humidifying methods to keep something like this from happening again.
Post Edited (2004-01-03 22:21)
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Author: clarinetmama
Date: 2004-01-03 22:58
I own two Rossis and I am certain Luis will replace your instrument. If he is not responding to you it is no doubt because he is away from his computer. Since he is also a reknowned performer it could very well be that he is playing somewhere.
It is easy to say don't worry. I am sure if I was you I would be in a panic. Do you have another clarinet that you can play? I agree with those who say not to play this one.
I have both a grenadilla and a rosewood. The rosewood I have had for a year now. The grenadilla for four years. Neither has given me a lick of trouble. Love them both...as I am guessing from your posting you do too.
He'll get in touch with you.....I promise.
Jean
May I ask, which type do you have?
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Author: ChrisC
Date: 2004-01-03 23:12
It's a grenadilla Bb, standard key configuaration. I would have preferred rosewood if only for appearance's sake but at the time I placed my order only the grenadilla was available. A beautiful instrument in every imagineable way.
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Author: William
Date: 2004-01-04 16:58
Please do not discount your LeBlanc Sonata as a "not a great instrument" as it is accoustically identical to the Opus and Concerto professional models and should play as well as any of them (on the average).
When I was a guest at the Kenosha LeBlanc factory to pick out Concertos, Tom Ridenour (designer of the Opus/Concerto) told me that, "knowing what I know about these instruments, I would buy a set of Sonatas and save a lot of money". His "personal set at the time were Opus models but at the same time, he "quipped" that, "all those instruments (Opus/Concerto/Sonata) come out of the same woodpile".
Concerning your Rossi, if you really like it, I still advise getting it repaired and forgetting the crack ever occurred. However, do not play it until then--have your Sonata tweeked for minor leaks/etc, and enjoy playing that in the meantime.
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