 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2006-12-25 20:01
When you get a new clarinet, how do you "make it yours"? It's not about paying and all that, it's more about how to "assimilate" that new kid on the block?
I bought a nearly unused horn off an auction site (no, not that one) but had to recork and repad it at the very least, partly because cork grease must have been an utterly foreign concept to the former owner, but also as a kind of initiation rite. I admit I feel a bit like Adrian Monk for doing such a thing, but it is my way of getting friends with a new item. (Yes, I'll reformat the disk of a newly acquired computer as well)
How do you do it? Just unpack it and get going?
--
Ben
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Author: SVClarinet09
Date: 2006-12-25 20:43
Actually, I didn't like the way my clarinet came from the factory(tone wise it was great) I sent the clarinet to the local repair shop down the road from me where the guy is a great friend of mine and I let him know that my key action wasn't as good as I expected. He fixed it in a jiff and now the keys are like butter. I love it.
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Author: skygardener
Date: 2006-12-26 00:44
I always have to do some repair/adjustment on mine to make it 'feel' good. Even it plays fine and has great pitch (if!), but I am picky about having spring tension 'just so'.
I used to do overhauls but, as life gets busier, now I only do that if it doesn't play. But the springs are very important.
-S
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Author: stevesklar
Date: 2006-12-26 01:18
You have to make it feel right to you. And that varies with each person. Addtionally, it's probably just another clarinet until you get the tone and feeling (keywork) out of it that you like.
For instance in my latest purchased clarinet I was having problems on the lower stack - it just did not fit my hand. I lowered the thumb rest and that was it. My hand fit perfectly and my RH is at ease playing - and the instrument "responds" better due to he better ergonomic fit. (plus my mpc search for the best tone and response has me settling on a vintage HS*)
In short, the instrument has to feel like a glove to you (both ergonomicaly and the tonal qualities), then it's "IT"
changing the corks / adjusting it yourself too gives it the slight emotional attachment and helps too !!
Good luck with your new clarinet !!
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Author: Lelia Loban ★2017
Date: 2006-12-27 12:26
I check a used instrument for general condition (pads and corks that need replacing, etc.), but I don't feel a need to replace pads, corks or springs just to make the instrument seem like my own, as long as the old equipment works. Cleanliness, though, is another matter. The idea of putting someone unknown person's dirty old dried-out spit in my mouth--eeeeeeewwwwww.
The first thing I do with an old clarinet is wash the mouthpiece thoroughly, wash the clarinet itself if it seems dirty, wash out the case lining and dry the case open in the sunlight. If the lining has a stink that washing and sunlight won't remove, then I rip out the case lining and re-line it with new cotton (washable) velvet. If a case smells that bad, then generally the corks and pads reek, too, and need replacing.
Maybe this is too Adrian Monk of me, too, but I never play on a former owner's used reed. I throw away any reeds in the case unless they're interesting, obsolete brands--if so, I wash the interesting reeds and put them away in a collection. If I'm quite sure an obsolete brand of reed is new and unused old stock, I might get curious enough to try it out after washing it, but I think the ick-factor is enough of a distraction to negatively affect my playing, whether or not the reed seems any good! As for the mouthpieces, I do play on them, after covering up any bite-marks with mouthpiece patches. Bit of an ick-factor there, too, even if the former owner gnawed marks that fit my teeth!
Lelia
http://www.scoreexchange.com/profiles/Lelia_Loban
To hear the audio, click on the "Scorch Plug-In" box above the score.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2006-12-27 13:03
I generally strip and rebuild any used instruments I buy for my own use, though with new ones there's always a certain amount I feel needs doing to make them better.
Generally you should expect a new clarinet of any quality to have been set up properly by the shop's repairer before being sold to you - if not, then they're not doing their job properly.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2006-12-27 16:50
Since nearly every instrument I own began as a semi-basket case from The Unmentionable Internet Auction Site (TUIAS), I 'made them mine' by giving them complete overhauls. Now they have a lot of 'me' in them. Maybe too much.
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2006-12-27 17:23
> Now they have a lot of 'me' in them. Maybe too much.
I see. Yet another "Clingon". ![[wink]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie3.gif)
--
Ben
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2006-12-27 17:33
Usually when buying an older or neglected clarinet I tend to look beyond the initial problems as I know most things can be put right - even split joints can be fixed. There's a sense of pride and satisfaction in getting an old heap into top notch condition, and then playing it as your main clarinet.
But shortened barrels are always a problem unless suitable replacements can be found.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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