 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: rayon
Date: 2004-06-09 03:10
I got a new bass clar. checked out to me yesterday by the school and the mouth piece was REALLY nasty. So I took it upon myself to make sure it was clean before using it. I was pretty sure it was wood, and was under the impression that you are not suppose to get it wet. So I used alcohol to sterilize it instead. Within seconds it started to take of the color. I rinsed it and dried it as fast as I could, but it is now about ten different shades of dark brown, and I am not looking forward to showing it to my band director in the morning. I've only had the instrument for 2 days and it's the best one the school has. Does any one have suggestions on what I should do?
I would appriciate it a lot.
I just need to know what kind of trouble I'm going to be in tomorrow morning.
Post Edited (2004-06-09 03:19)
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Author: Contra
Date: 2004-06-09 07:07
First of all, I've never seen a wooden bass clarinet mouthpiece. Second, it's not that big of a deal. As long as the mouthpiece is still undamaged, your director shouldn't get mad.
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Author: Mark Pinner
Date: 2004-06-09 07:22
You are also entitled to clean up after the filthy individual who had it before you.
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Author: Synonymous Botch
Date: 2004-06-09 12:39
What MP said, the band director is primarily responsible for the condition of instruments in their charge, including hygeine.
I would imagine that they're grateful to have someone play low Clar, anyhow...
As with hard rubber mouthpieces, a soaking in soap and water should be sufficient for cleaning purposes... they do get wet when you play, hmm?
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Author: John O'Janpa
Date: 2004-06-09 13:21
Don't do anything more to the mouthpiece until the band director has seen it.
Fess up! Tell the band director what happened at the first opportunity. Let him decide what, if anything, will be done next.
As far as playing goes, color shouldn't make any difference. If it's a valued school antique, and color is important, then it can probably be restained by a professional restorer, but that needs to be the director's call, and not yours.
It may help your cause if you refer him to this board.
Good luck.
John
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2004-06-09 13:27
Prob. the most frequently-used mouthpiece cleaning liquid is vinegar [its about 5% acetic acid, mild!], I dont know what the Doctor's good solution contains, perhaps he will chime in . Likely nearly any cleaner will remove some dye from a wood [if thats what yours is] mp, it could be replaced!, but cleaning/sterilizing? is very necessary before playing !!! Luck, Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: Vytas
Date: 2004-06-09 14:34
The worst part is that with the dirt you've also removed stain, finish and oils from the mouthpiece and made this mouthpiece dimensionally unstable.
I won't discuss what should be done with this mouthpiece, because you don't have pro materials/tools/knowledge/skill to do the job right anyway.
What you CAN do to make this mouthpiece usable, dimensionally more stable and esthetically appealing is:
Wash the mouthpiece using oil soap mild detergent (or dish washing liquid) and a soft toothbrush. Be careful!
Rinse it under cold water.
Dry the mouthpiece with the towel and then use hair blow dryer. Do not hold the blow dryer closer that 12 inches.
Apply a lot (or immerse) of olive oil on the mouthpiece (inside and out). Use extra virgin, first cold press variety (if you have sweet almond oil use it instead) let it stay for at least 12 hours.
Remove the oil with a papertowel. Polish the mouthpiece with soft cotton cloth.
Vytas Krass
Pro clarinet technician.
Custom clarinet mouthpiece maker.
Former pro clarinet player.[/i
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2004-06-09 15:07
Excellent advice re: care of WOOD mps, Vytas. It struck me that we are assuming wood [it does appear to be], not hard rubber [which does change coloration] nor plastic. from Rayon's only post. If he [you] can find any info on it, maker/seller name, letters/numbers p.e. Selmer C*, Bundy 3 etc, we likely can be more specific as to it's cleaning. Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2004-06-09 15:09
I hope my high school band director never finds out about all the school instrument mouthpieces I REFACED without permission!!!
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Author: hans
Date: 2004-06-09 19:17
Rather than trying to clean or revive an old relic that might be harboring herpes virus (or worse) deep in the grain, I would ask for a new mouthpiece made of a non-porous material.
Hans
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Author: Katrina
Date: 2004-06-10 02:41
Rayon,
I'm curious to hear what _did_ happen with your band director.
If you're listening, please share...
Katrina
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Author: Synonymous Botch
Date: 2004-06-10 10:40
When I was a wee lad, we were forced to carve our own mouthpieces from discarded hockey pucks...they played better when it was cold.
NEVER volunteer information that could incriminate yourself.
If the BD gave me a hard time, I would ask how much was spent on instructor's gear last year... that should quash the inquiry.
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Author: BobD
Date: 2004-06-10 12:09
Can herpes virus actually remain in a mouthpiece and infect someone?
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Author: Don Poulsen
Date: 2004-06-10 14:43
I wouldn't have expected this to turn into a debate on ethics, but I strongly disagree with Synonymous.
First, if I were to give a piece of advice with the word "NEVER" in it, it would be "NEVER intentionally do anything for which you could be incriminated."
Second, people are much more forgiving if you confess to your errors, especially if you do it before you are called on them. It gives you the reputation of being honest and forthright and of having a willingness to correct your mistakes. Hiding your trespasses and hoping they won't be discovered just eats at you from the inside and may haunt you long after the incident.
And, by the way, using sarcasm on teachers, parents and, in the future, bosses (such as asking how much was spent on instructor's gear) will most certainly make them angry with you, cause them to stop listening to you, and is one of the quickest ways to get in trouble.
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Author: hans
Date: 2004-06-11 00:38
BobD,
Re: "Can herpes virus actually remain in a mouthpiece and infect someone?"..... I don't have a definitive answer but IMO it's not a risk that it would be reasonable to take. There are so many serious contagious diseases (Hepatitis A, B, C, etc., Mad Cow, and HIV, to name a few) that IMO it would be foolish to play on something as sponge-like as a piece of wood.
The standard "there is no evidence...." line from "experts" is synonymous with "we don't know" as far as I am concerned.
Expert: (Ex = "has been") + (spert = drip under pressure).
Unfortunately there is no condom for mouthpieces.
Regards,
Hans
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