 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: David
Date: 2000-05-15 02:35
I've changed from a plastic to wooden clarinet. I used to leave the plastic clarinet put together (except for the mpc/reed) on the stand and just put the mpc on and practice. I did swab out the clarinet after each practice though. The only reason I kept it together was for convenience. Will this somehow damage a wooden clarinet by leaving it together and only swabbing it out? Thank you.
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Author: Eoin
Date: 2000-05-15 07:37
Yes, it will damage your wooden clarinet. Moisture collects at the joins between sections ( I mean the gaps between the "joints") which swabbing will not remove. This moisture is against the end grain of the wood which is the most absorbent, so it will soak up some of the moisture. Next thing, you won't be able to take your clarinet apart, or worse still, you may get a crack.
What you can do is dismantle the clarinet, swab and dry each section, then put it all back together again, leaving it ready to play.
If your wood clarinet is new, it is a good idea to apply cork grease to the ends of the tenons once a week for the first few weeks. This helps stop the problem described above.
One other thing, never use a pull through swab on the mouthpiece. Since it is hardened rubber, it bends very slightly and the swab could permanently distort it.
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2000-05-15 19:41
Good advice from Eoin. We have discussed the subject of care several times before, so I suggest you make a search of Sneezy to help. I dissasemble my good cls and dry them as best I can after each playing, have had no great problems! Don
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Author: Kontragirl
Date: 2000-05-15 22:02
Haha...this kind of reminds me of a funny story. We have a clarinet player that leaves her wooden horn together like you've described, and one day she couldn't pull it apart and it was really really funny. I probably wouldn't have thought it was if I actually could stand her, but what can I say? BTW...my plastic one is together right now.
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Author: Karel Vahala
Date: 2000-05-16 02:34
David, what some people on this list suggested, and what I do: Swab the clarinet after practice, including drying of the joints. Re-assemble and put on stand. Swab and disassemble for the night(put it to bed for the night).
I have been doing this to my new R13 for 6 months with no problems whatever. Good luck, Karel.
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Author: Willie
Date: 2000-05-18 05:30
If you don't swab it out after each use, you not only have the possibility swollen/cracked tenons, but it will eventualy accumulate a layer of crud (dried spit, fungus, etc) in the bore. I just stripped and scrubbed the bores of two clarinets (1 wood & plastic) from the local high school. It made a big difference in tone, not to mention a lower bacteria count.
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