 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Ai Li
Date: 2000-10-26 11:30
Hi guys,
I bought a Selmer CL210 two days ago. One problem I have is assembling and disasembling the instrument, especially the mouthpiece/barrel and barrel/top half combinations.
I use the provided cork grease, though they said sparingly, I increasingly used more, but to no avail. I also applied cork grease to the inside wood of the connecting parts, but that helped the assembly slightly - the disassembly is still a pain. Since the delicate mouthpiece is affected, I'm quite worried about this problem...
Is it alright to leave my instrument assembled for a few days? rather than disassemble it to keep after every practise? Could I simply remove, clean and store the mourthpiece, swab through the rest of the instrment and store it assmebled, standing on the stand? (OT: I bought this really neat K&M stand...)
Oh yeah, humidity is high year round here in Singapore, worse during the end months of the year. Would that be a problem??
Thanks for any guidance!
Ai Li
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Author: Pam
Date: 2000-10-26 11:50
Please don't leave your horn assembled! Especially a nice wood one! Even with swabbing the inside some of the spit/condensation will stay in the joints and you could end up with a crack. Some folks on here swab them completely out then re-assemble though.
If you have a good service rep. nearby I bet they could help with your tight joints. I would try that.
Enjoy your new horn and remember to break it in gradually.
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Author: Dee
Date: 2000-10-26 13:03
Since you are already having problems assembling and disassembling do *NOT* leave your horn assembled. It could end up sticking so badly that you would have to take it to a repair technician just to get it apart.
Take it to a repair technician and explain the problem. He will then decide the best way to fix it. In many cases, all he has to do is sand the corks a bit. In other cases, the wood has swollen and he has to sand that a bit.
You should get it fixed as soon as possible otherwise you risk bending keys trying to get it together and trying to take it apart.
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Author: Lelia
Date: 2000-10-26 13:05
Sometimes it does help to swab the brand-new (or freshly re-corked) clarinet and then leave it assembled for a day or two, just long enough for the new corks to pack down. The amount of time the clarinet stays assembled while you're practicing can take quite awhile to compress the corks. Leaving it put together for a day or two won't hurt , IMHO, unless the wood has a flaw in it that would probably run a crack anyway -- better sooner, while the warranty is in effect, than later. Manufacturers cork new instruments tightly so that they won't end up too loose once the corks compress. If you're really having to *force* the sections, though, IMHO it's wise to take the instrument back to where you bought it and get some help. Forcing the sections can do damage. Be careful not to use any of the keys for leverage, BTW -- I gradually bent a rod that way in high school.
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Author: Robin
Date: 2000-10-26 13:14
If you're having a continual problem here, I would tend to agree with Dee and the swollen wood theory. We recently talked about tenon swelling on this board. Sanding is quick and easy, but do leave it to the repairer.
Robin.
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Author: Daniel Bouwmeester
Date: 2000-10-26 15:44
Hello,
I've had the same problem with my previous clarinet.. a buffet e13... the barrel got stuck everytime....
This will happen depending on the wood.... if you have a very high quality wood (let's say a 12 year old wood kept at constant temperature.. like a good wine)... the wood should not swell... if you have a less old wood, it can swell... (not saying that your wood is bad or anything.... I found my buffet RC standard better than the buffet RC prestige, which is supposed to have a better wood)
But it is recommended not to play too long on the instrument when it's new.... just play it max.. 20 - 30 minutes a day..... this will prevent the farnish to going brown.... and will help the wood get used to humidity and it will not swell as much as if you played hours.. then of course ..clean it.... swab it.... grease the corks everytime...
With my buffet E13, the problem took about 2 - 3 months to get elliminated..... But during this period... I didn't play too much.... I did check once in a while (like every 20 minutes).. that the barrel was not getting to tight... and if it happened... I just had to use brute force.....
People recommended me to get a good dealer work on sanding the joint.. I didn't do it.... and I don't think it should be necessary...
just put a whole lot of cork grease everytime... and you should'nt have too much problems..
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Author: bob gardner
Date: 2000-10-26 19:07
Take the horn apart after each session. You will have to be Hulk Hogan in order to get it apart once it get stuck. I have a problem with my selmer 10 and it is 20 years old. The bell get stuck so i have to be careful.
have fun
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Author: Lelia
Date: 2000-10-26 23:49
I've had second thoughts about my previous message. If that clarinet were mine, I think I'd take it to the dealer, just to be on the safe side. Maybe the corks are a little too tight as I theorized -- but if you do have swollen wood or wood that doesn't fit quite right, that's bad news. We can't see what's going on. Better to take it to an expert who *can* see it.
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Author: Ai Li
Date: 2000-10-26 23:50
Many thanks for your quick replies!
I've decided to leave it assembled after each session for a few days, after disassembly, thorough cleaning and reassembly. I'd hate to have any thing go wrong, so I'm being very careful... but brute strength has been necessary to get the barrel from the top half.
If it persists, I suppose I'll bring it down to the repair tech.
Again, thanks for your reponses!!!
Ai Li
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Author: Kenny
Date: 2000-10-27 06:04
IMO, One of the ways of preventing your instrument from being stuck in the assembled position is to leave at least a small gap between the joints when you assemble it. It will be easier to take apart the instrument later on. Should you get into a situation where it is impossible to disassemble your instrument, send it back to the dealer and let them disassemble it. Applying to much force may damage / bend the keys
Anyway, do not expose your Selmer to temperature or humidity extremes. I did that to one of the Selmer (bringing in and out of an air condition room) and cracks developed on the key holes
Kenny
Singapore
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Author: Lelia
Date: 2000-10-27 12:23
Unless the clarinet naturally plays sharp and needs to be pulled out for good intonation, a "small gap" between the sections can result in a major intonation gap, unfortunately. Pulling out at the bell, in particular, usually won't do good things for tuning.
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Author: Anji
Date: 2000-10-27 13:52
It sounds like a visit to your seller is in order. They work for you, not the other way around. Most new horns carry a 90 day "Tune up" provision to cover things like this.
More likely than the tenons locking is that you will damage the keys while twisting the horn apart.
It might be heresy, but why not use a vary light sandpaper (320 grit or finer) on the corks while dry?
Seriously, a competent shop will sort you out. That may be the cheapest insurance. If they don't satisfy you, find someone else. You will eventually have some regulation or pad work done and it is best to know where you may go for quality work.
Been there
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Author: Ken Rasmussen
Date: 2000-10-28 02:09
I'd be very worried about the horn if it were me. The wooden tenons are probably swelling enough so that the wood which protrudes beyond the tenon is making contact with the counterbore in the barrel, so it isn't the cork that is binding at all--its the wood. I had a Selmer Series 10 clarinet that acted that way, and it cracked in short order. I'd rush that horn right back to the dealer and complain loudly. I would prefer a new horn out of the deal, but if that couldn't happen I might settle for a tenon cap and an extended warranty. Use bore oil!! Good luck.
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Author: HTW
Date: 2000-11-02 03:25
IMHO, this isn't something to worry about too much. Just take it to the shop. You said it was humid there, and humidity will affect the wood, especially if it's warm.
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Author: Ai Li
Date: 2000-11-02 08:22
Update
It's much better now. I left it assembled for 5 days. Brute strength is no longer necessary... I'll be leaving it disassembled, snug in the case from now. If it occurs again, however, I will bring it down to the shop pronto.
Thanks for your advices!
Ai Li
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