 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Dawne
Date: 2004-09-11 22:27
Do I need to do anything different to care for a rosewood horn? I just got one off ebay that is a jem. I don't know the make unfortunately, but care was taken to match the grain from piece to piece, and there seem to be extra adjustment screws in places I have never seen them before. It's beautiful, the tone is very sweet, and intonation is right on the money from top to bottom. How do I take care of my new baby?
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2004-09-11 22:56
There is no difference in caring for a grenadilla wood instrument and a rosewood instrument. Just guard it from extreme changes in temperature, too much moisture, swab after playing and oil the bore with clarinet bore oil about the same as you would your grenadilla wood clarinet. Actually, they don't need to be oiled too frequently unless you live in an excessively dry climate.
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Author: Dawne
Date: 2004-09-11 23:04
I noticed it doesn't seem to suck up the oil as fast as my grenadilla horns. Maybe rosewood is more oily to begin with? I was surprised because I don't think it has had much care for quite some time, even though it is gorgeous.
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2004-09-11 23:06
Yes, they do suck more oil. But, you don't need to overdo it. Oil it well for now and then come back in a week or so and oil it again. That should catch it up.
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2004-09-12 07:10
Here is a quote from the Eaton website.
"Oil the keywork regularly to keep wear and noise to a minimum. We recommend motor oil, not the thin oils usually sold for this purpose. We do not recommend that the bore of the instrument be oiled."
As you can see he recommends not oiling the bore at all.
I also have a question. What is the difference between those oils and motor oil? Those oils usually sold for this purpose are motor oils, no?
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Author: L. Omar Henderson
Date: 2004-09-12 19:21
(Disclaimer - I sell bore oil and synthetic lubricants)
There are many opinions on both sides of the issue of oiling the wood and you should follow the manufacturers recommendations for new clarinets to maintain the warranty. IMHO the weight of scientific evidence today indicates that the bore of the clarinet should be oiled on older clarinets to keep it from absorbing too much moisture. The oil used to impregnate the wood is lost over time due to its water miscibility and drying conditions.
Modern synthetic lubricants are far superior to petroleum based lubricants for instrument lubrication in my opinion. Many of the expert technicians who frequent the BB can give a better recommendation about the viscosity of the oil that should be used on instruments than myself. Modern synthetic lubricants, both oils and greases, have the ability not to evaporate like petroleum based oils and do not leave a gum or "varnish" behind as do even the best petroleum oils. Many technicians use oils that clock makers use (which are now overwhelmingly synthetic) which are less viscous than most motor oils and even the old stand by clock oils like Nye have changed their formulations in recent history to exclude the whale oil that was originally used because of its fine properties. The newer synthetic oils have better lubrication properties because they form molecular bonds with the metal itself to insure better lubrication in metal-metal contact situations.
The Doctor
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Author: pewd
Date: 2004-09-12 21:37
2 things in the dawne's posts stick out in my mind
1. extra adjustment screws
2. doesn't seem to suck up the oil as fast as my grenadilla horns
then brenda's 2nd post confuses me - didnt dawne say it adsorbs LESS oil not more than a grenadilla wood one?
are you sure you have a solid rosewood clarinet?
is it possibly an old conn pan american? (see if theres a logo on the bell)
these were made from a wood laminate material, and they did indeed have extra adjustment screws on many posts, perpendicular to the usual rod screws.
they dont appear to absorb much if any oil, probably due to the glue or whatever used in the laminating process.
the one pan american i had behaved like plastic in regards to oil - didn't appear to absorb it at all. i treated it like a plastic horn, only oiling the keywork. any oil put in the bore was still there the next day, no apparent absorption into the wood.
-paul
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2004-09-13 14:46
Woops, yes she did say they absorb less--however, it was my experience with my two Leblanc Symphonie VIIs that they seemed to absorb more. Thanks for catching that.
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Author: Alseg
Date: 2004-09-13 18:37
(Disclaimer....I make and sell Rosewood barrels.)
I recommend a light oiling on ends, sockets, and bore weekly for about a month. Emphasis on lightly.
I recommend Dr. Henderson's products to purchasers.
Rosewood expands and contracts more than grenadilla. The difference is noticed more in the pitch when warming up. It then settles in.
I do use a sealant on the bore, but the outside is a natural wax finish that needs no oil.
Otherwise do the usual...avoid extreme changes in temp. etc. Maintain approx. 45% humidity esp. in dry climates.
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Author: Dawne
Date: 2004-09-13 22:42
I do notice the difference when warming up. This horn has some kind of nice finish on the outside also...maybe the wax finish you use, Alseq. This is also on the inside of the bell...the reason I thought it didn't suck up the bore oil so fast. The rest of the bore soaks it up pretty readily.
I sure wish I knew the maker of this horn. It seems to be a very small bored horn, and has a bit more resistance than my Yamaha CSV. The feel of the keywork is very refined. There is a small silver sleeve inside the bell where the bottom tenon fits. The tone holes that have rings on the front of the horn are stained black. There are some extra adjustment screws on the posts, but the most interesting ones to me are on the little rocker key hinges (I don't know the proper name) like on the R pinky C/F key. I see a very faint five digit serial number that starts with 1. The ligature that came with the horn says it's made in England...may or may not be a clue.
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Author: Alseg
Date: 2004-09-14 00:33
Dawne....might it be a Patricola???
sounds like a nice horn.
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