 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: BobD
Date: 2005-03-20 15:52
I guess we acknowledge that condensation (not all spit) is a problem when playing the clarinet but has anyone ever attempted any solutions other than the proverbial "track" of oil down the upper section? How about insulated barrels? Does a plastic horn make the condensation problem worse or less? If you lay your horn in your lap during breaks this prevents the condensate from escaping unless if you happen to lay it with the trill keys in the down position in which case it goes to those pads. Was the old double wall metal horn an attempt to lessen the problem? and so on...
Bob Draznik
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2005-03-20 16:33
Good questions, Bob D. Overly simplified, I view the water [etc] accumulation to be a natural occurence in our common "air-water system" whose physical-chemistry is quite well known, as it obeys the same rules that our weather does. Warm , moist breath when contacting a cooler surface will/may condense out water, 100% relative humidity at that point !!, as in the occurence of dew, a form of rain. Solutions, drain, shake out, dry with absorbent ?cloth?, turkey feather for oboe, etc. Yes this plus temp "maintenance" is the reason for the Powell/Haynes "Thermoclarinet , pat # known. Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2005-03-20 17:27
I know a repairperson who was playing a 2 hour rehearsal with a (famous name) Synthetic material Clarinet (not the forte) and after a while it started to play with a really strange vacuum feel to it.
A solution to the condensation problem is to play in 100 degree weather - I did a recording gig that was that hot with no A/C on due to the blowers making too much noise, and after 8 hours there was zero water condensation in the Clarinet. It was dry as a bone!
Wouldn't like to ever repeat that "non scientific experiment" again.....
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Author: John Morton
Date: 2005-03-21 15:51
We are often advised to "swab often" while playing if condensation is found to be a problem. Taking this approach, my idea would be to devise the simplest and quickest method of swabbing the barrel and upper joint. The usual swab routine doesn't take long, but if I displace the reed while removing the mouthpiece it can take more time than I can spare in performance.
What suggests itself is a stiff absorbent swab that could be inserted upwards from the middle joint as far as the mouthpiece. Once in and out, and I would only have to break the middle joint, which is quick and easy to replace. Those furry things that sax players use are said to leave pieces in the bore that can cause trouble. Is there a similar tool which leaves nothing behind?
John Morton
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Author: Rene
Date: 2005-03-21 15:59
The plastic horn worsens the situation, at least that was my experience. It is (IMHO) due to the fact that plastic stays cooler inside, while wood warms up. I have never played a metal clarinet, but common sense would tell me that it is even worse, especially in cold environment.
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Author: jim S.
Date: 2005-03-21 17:21
Solution I am presently experimenting with that seems to hold promise:
Q-tip application of a very small smear of cork grease (lasts longer than almond oil) diverting condensation at critical points that by regular observation are seen to be the points at which the stream goes wrong, i.e., heads toward a hole. Swabbing disrupts this application in time, but with experience, I think one can become familiar with the tendency of his/her own condensation track given the angle he/she holds the clarinet. With regular touch-ups, being sure that there has been a recent touch-up before a critical performance, one should be able to ignore the condensation during performance, letting the juice flow as it will.
The beauty of this system, as I see it is the strong tendency for the stream to follow its current stream-bed and not stray. One needs to be careful not to hold the clarinet at a stream-disturbing angle of course, an argument for a peg when not holding the instrument. My experience so far has been good, while frequent swabbing during performance only seems to assure that the current bad condensation flow track will continue as established.
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Author: BobD
Date: 2005-03-21 18:19
I wonder if anyone has ever made a "barrel cozy" and tried it.
Bob Draznik
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2005-03-21 18:36
Good points, John M and Jim S, combinable methods? I have seen skillful players, between movements or long rests of a symphony etc, disassemble the horn at the barrel/U J tenon/socket, shaking out or cloth drying the mp-barrel, and swabbing [pref. chamois IMHO] in the best direction [top to bottom] of the joints and bell, rather quickly. Just my thots, I seem to have only minimal "watering" ! Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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