 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Roger
Date: 2000-04-11 00:04
I have just purchased a new Buffet R13 Prestige--I need advice on the breakin proceedure to be followed.
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Author: Justin
Date: 2000-04-11 02:07
About a month ago I got a new E-11. There should be a pamhplet included, but the store told me this: For the first month, always be sure to warm up the instrument to room temperature. He suggested placing each joint under your armpit. Then follow a warm up routine using long tones, scales etc... to get the instrument used to being played. And again, for the first monthplay it for only a half hour a day. I didn't always follw the rules, and nothing bad has happened, but I feel safer not following break in procedure on a $1200 E11 than on a $5000 R13 prestige. If I decide to keep playing halfway through high-school, I will pick up an RC prestige Bb and A set, at which point I will follow break in to the letter.
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Author: Peter Spriggs
Date: 2000-04-11 02:15
Roger,
I have just sent to you directly an excerpt from my "CLARINET CARE BOOK" regarding my recommended break in procedure for wooden clarinets.
Peter Spriggs
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Author: Mary
Date: 2000-04-11 03:23
I had a series of 3 (yes, 3) R13s over the course of a year that cracked badly...all of which were broken in by being played a half hour per day (or less!) for the first few weeks, and all of which were carefully guarded against temperature changes, etc etc. I think I was unlucky, but I did call Francois at the Buffet factory to complain and to see what advice he had...He actually said that it's not so important to only play it for a short time, but it is crucial to swab it out every ten minutes so that the moisture inside doesn't prevent the natural wood oils from soaking into the wood, making it more susceptible to cracking.
My next new clarinet, I'll try to break in by using all the methods. It doesn't hurt, if you can be patient enough to resist playing it for hours at first!
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Author: Alec Thigpen
Date: 2000-04-12 18:43
There should be little effect of water in the Prestige, as it is thoroughly saturated at the factory with oil, and it is finely polished. There are also metal tenon ends where the R-13 is wood, so swelling at the joints should be no problem. After three years with my Prestige bass, it still accepts no oil. I lightly oil the bore twice a year, and it stays wet looking until the next time I run a swab through it. The standard R-13 soprano absorbed oil every time I treated it. I believe the Prestige is in a class all it's own on the wood stability.
Francois Kloc at Buffet advises not to play the horn more than 30 minutes a day for the first month, avoid rapid change in temperature and humidity, and oil the bore lightly every 6 months. Dry the instrument after use from the bocal towards the bell. He may be reached at Boosey & Hawkes for more information.
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Author: paul
Date: 2000-04-12 20:49
Alec:
I have to ask, the curiosity is killing me. Does the clarinet have a bocal? If so, could you describe it for me?
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Author: Roger
Date: 2000-04-13 10:23
Both Paul and I would like to know what the Bocal is ---someone please tell us.
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Author: Ken Shaw
Date: 2000-04-13 17:22
Roger wrote:
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Both Paul and I would like to know what the Bocal is ---someone please tell us.
Paul and Roger -
Yes, we have no bocals. A bocal is a metal tube on which a separately made double reed is mounted, as on a bassoon or English horn. Actually, the oboe has a rudimentary bocal, since the reed is tied on to a brass tube, except oboists call it a staple.
Double reed players obsess on bocals like clarinetists do on mouthpieces and barrels.
Best regards.
Ken Shaw
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Author: Alec Thigpen
Date: 2000-04-13 22:08
Sorry, I was referring to my Bass Clarinet in the quote from Francois. That would be the metal section. Perhaps the French use the term differently. We would say the neck, or barrel in the soprano.
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Author: Ken Shaw
Date: 2000-04-13 22:55
Alec Thigpen wrote:
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Sorry, I was referring to my Bass Clarinet in the quote from Francois. That would be the metal section. Perhaps the French use the term differently. We would say the neck, or barrel in the soprano.
Alec -
I've never heard the metal tube between the mouthpiece and the upper joint of a bass clarinet called a bocal, or anything except a "neck."
Francois Kloc's English is serviceable but not perfectly fluent. Also, he was trained as a double reed player, so it would be an understandable mistake for him to choose the incorrect but similar word when translating. And, after all, it's perfectly clear what he meant.
Best regards.
Ken Shaw
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