 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: musicmargarita
Date: 2005-02-09 02:09
So I have a Buffet R-13, quite old. I think it's from the late 50s or so. Anyway, the other day I unthinkingly left it in the car for a few hours, something I NEVER do. I was horrified when I realized what I'd done! My question is this: is there a particular way one should warm up a wood instrument after it's been in the cold? I thought it would be best to let it warm up slowly, so I let it sit inside for a while, to get to its normal in-the-case temperature, before playing it. But is there another procedure?
Also, is there anything else I should know about caring for a wood clarinet, other than keeping it out of cold/extremely hot temperatures?
Thanks so much!
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2005-02-09 13:13
http://www.woodwind.org/clarinet/Equipment/Care/index.html
That might help you care for the wood. Yes, a very gradual warming was needed after doing something like that. Also, warm up the wood in your hands before playing it (people like to stick the barrel/top joint under their armpit to warm it up . . . a little much for me, but I'm sure it works)
Ya did the right thing.
Instinct - 1.
Weather - 0.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: Arnoldstang
Date: 2005-02-09 13:38
Here are two oils for the clarinet that might be worth looking into. 1. see Webpage for Naylor Custom Wind Repair 2. see page....Doctor's products.
Freelance woodwind performer
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Author: msloss
Date: 2005-02-09 13:47
You just have to avoid environmental shocks that cause the wood to change shape rapidly and/or unevenly. An example would be playing a very cold horn. You did the right thing by letting it warm slowly. Don't worry about it too much, particularly with such a well-seasoned instrument. The odds of it cracking now are remote unless you really abuse it.
When I freelanced in Chicago I regularly was on foot getting to gigs, and as you may know, the winters there can be, well, brisk. My clarinets would get a thorough chilling, and never suffered any ill effects.
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Author: BobD
Date: 2005-02-09 13:51
The cracking of wood clarinets is a mysterious subject. Years ago before I ever heard of such a thing I had a wood clarinet and subjected it to both hot summers and freezing winters during outdoor play and transport. It never cracked. If I had known that it might crack perhaps I would have been more careful......and then it might have cracked.
Bob Draznik
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Author: Don Poulsen
Date: 2005-02-09 14:25
Yes, warming/cooling any object as slowly as possible allows it to keep a more even temperature throughout and decreases the amount of thermal stress. (The same even holds true in cooking.) For example, if you warmed your instrument quickly, the outer surface would, in the process, end up several degrees warmer than the interior whereas in warming it slowly the difference at any time is much less. I would even suggest leaving the instrument in its closed case as it warmed up as this will help slow the process.
To help illustrate the point, consider a drinking glass that is hot from, say, boiling water in it in the microwave. If you suddenly plunge it into ice water, a large thermal gradient (difference in temperatures) will develop within the glass and it will likely shatter. If, on the other hand, you just let the glass sit until it reaches room temperature you can eventually put your favorite iced drink in it with no problem.
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Author: Dano
Date: 2005-02-09 15:27
I think you should also know that making sure you dry your instrument thoroughly after playing it is important. This includes tenons and sockets. I like to run bore oil through my clarinets once a year or so. Some don't think it is needed. It has never had an ill effect on my horns. Just gives me a little peace of mind. I, like BobD, treated clarinets as if they were all plastic for years and never had one crack on me. I never worried about it. Sometimes what you don't know helps make for stress-free enjoyment of your clarinet.
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