 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: scurry
Date: 2007-08-14 07:29
Hi all,
I see a lot of wood clarinets sold on ebay. Many of these listings indicate that the clarinets have been sitting in attics, unplayed, for the last ??? years.
Any thoughts on how this type of storage can effect the instrument?
Thanks,
Sue
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Author: L. Omar Henderson
Date: 2007-08-14 12:19
(Disclaimer - I sell technician restoration products)
Depending on the conditions in the attic - heat, cold, wet, dry - these clarinets may have suffered a dehydration, loss of oil in the wood, evaporation of oil from the keywork leaving a varnish or sludge behind, and the pads will possibly be cracked or loose proper seating. Ambient mold may have also been allowed to flourish in the case. Also depending on how the wood was aged prior to manufacturing it may have deformed due to the loss of water and oil.
It is a craps shoot because some clarinets will be harmed more than others and rehydration, oiling the wood, cleaning the rods and tubes of the keywork and reoiling, replacing and reseating pads, may bring it back into decent shape. Some wood deformation due to dehydration and loss of oil can be reversed and sometimes it cannot. This latter step should be done slowly and carefully to avoid potential cracking of wood due to rapid rehydration.
L. Omar Henderson
www.doctorsprod.com
Post Edited (2007-08-14 12:20)
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2007-08-14 14:18
Omar says it very well, I recently had experience with an old wood cl and a early alto sax [Bundy], made before the Selmer improvements of the 50's +. Both had had "attic-type" storage-treatment. My recommendation was to spend their available money on more modern insts., but they had ?se[nt]dimental? feelings for the oldies, so I did what I could, new pads/corks on the cl, almond oil to the bore, etc etc, got it playing quite well ! The A S presented neck-fit problems, needing [badly] a palm key pad and THE [usually-bad] Eb PAD [gave a lecture re: "flat case storage" vs case-back storage] with which it played like any old sax on [low] C, B, Bb. Swore to NOT do such again ! Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2007-08-14 14:29
My set of Centerd Tones languished in an attic for around 20 years before I got them. All the screws were rusted and they dried out after I took them home - the conditions in the attic must have been pretty damp as the original case disintegrated as well (the old Selmer London burgundy covered double case). All the rings became loose and cracks developed on all the joints except for the barrels (three).
But I was young and naive then and had the lot silver plated and rebuilt, salvaging most of the screws to use until I replaced the lot with stainless steel ones later on (and bushing all the toneholes). They are still great players even though they were abandoned for such a long time and under such conditions.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: scurry
Date: 2007-08-16 04:32
So...the general opinion is not to buy vintage, attic stored, wood clarinets from eBay.
... But the impulse to be stupid was too strong. I went ahead and bought the clarinet anyway. I had fun buying it too! I bought a Selmer Signet Special. I have also promised myself not to bid on another clarinet on eBay for a really long time. ... I'm not! .... Really! .... Honest!
But, now that I bought this clarinet, how do I get the most out of it? Professional repair would be easiest, but the cost wouldn't be worth it for me.
I am fairly confident I can take the clarinet apart and put it together, replace pads, cork, springs, etc. But I am unsure that I could correctly identify or repair any damage to the wood from the attic storage. I would not like to cause more damage to the clarinet by trying to incorrectly treat/repair the wood, or by playing the clarinet before it was ready.
Are there any postings here, or websites, books, etc., where I can read-up on how to repair/restore the wood on a damaged clarinet?
Thanks,
Sue
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Author: b.roke
Date: 2007-08-16 05:07
there are lots here. search, search and search some more.
look at the clarinet really carefully and see what works and what doesn't. how is everything lined up?
buy some of the oil produced by The Doctor. pull the keys off and wipe over everything regularly for a few days or week. just until it stops soaking it up again.
borrow or buy a good book on repairing woodwinds and study it while you are waiting for the wood to stop soaking up the oil.
this oil is all that should be needed. unless it has cracked.
repad and cork and get it working.
and if it DOES work AND you enjoyed the whole process, then abandon your resolution not to buy another. look especially for those that need some TLC.
.
steadfastness stands higher than any success
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