 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Westerly64
Date: 2009-09-15 17:53
Hi everyone,
I wanted to take up clarinet and was given a Noblet 27 by a friend that hadn't played in over 25 years; pads were shot and tenons needed replaced but otherwise seemd like a quality clarinet, I thought. After a re-pad and tune-up, it played great for a couple of weeks and then I found pretty bad cracks in both the bell and barrel that affected the tone badly.
Anyway, I got permission to rummage around in the parts bins at a local music store and found a nice Selmer barrel and a Leblanc bell, and for a $50 investment the Noblet sounds as good (better, actually, the Selmer barrel is a big step up from the Noblet original) as new.
My question, since I live in the arid southwestern US: will these parts, since they are from different manufacturers with different curing methods and probably different ages of grenadilla, cause cracks in my horn's joints if the wood expands and contracts over our dry and wet seasons in AZ? I'm primarily a saxophonist and know almost nothing about wooden instrument maintenance, and I want to keep the Noblet playable for a long time. Any advice?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2009-09-15 20:20
as the parts come from the rummage bin, chances are pretty high that they won't behave differently than the rest of your horn.
If you follow the basic care procedures for a wooden instrument, you should be reasonably sure (but never safe) that it won't crack.
- prevent humidity shocks (although the wood won't just make "crack!" if you take your instrument out of the case into the sun). Swab after use, let the disassembled instrument dry in its open case, then close the case and store it in your socks drawer. I usually put a (new) teabag in the case, as a moisture buffer and a stench preventer.
- don't leave your instrument assembled on its stand over extended periods of time (not more than 2..3 hours) and keep it away from direct sunlight when not in use.
- occasionally oil the bore if the instrument starts looking dull inside or outside. Use a good wood or woodwind oil; in a pinch use (good!) olive or almond oil instead of mineral-based oil.
As I said, nothing's for granted. The instrument may or may not crack, but chances aren't higher just because you took bell and barrel from a different vintage.
--
Ben
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Westerly64
Date: 2009-09-15 22:51
Thanks Ben!
I'm certainly learning a lot about the proper care and feeding of clarinets today...thanks for the tip on using the teabag. I was noticing a funky smell coming from the case and thought it was mildew. I'm going to put a teabag in there tonight after I finish practicing. And I'll stop leaving the clarinet assembled on its peg on my sax stand...I guess whats good for a metal instrument isn't necessarily so for a wooden one, eh? It sat there all the time and maybe that was what caused the cracks to appear.
Again, thanks for the great advice.
Wes
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2009-09-16 00:23
Wes, when it comes time to oil the instrument, look at the Doctor's Products website: http://www.doctorsprod.com for excellent bore oil formulations, great key oils and other maintenance items. His Black Legend swab is also top rate, as the Dr. Slick cork grease.
Jeff
“Everyone discovers their own way of destroying themselves, and some people choose the clarinet.” Kalman Opperman, 1919-2010
"A drummer is a musician's best friend."
Post Edited (2009-09-17 02:33)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Westerly64
Date: 2009-09-16 14:22
Thanks Jeff, just ordered some stuff off the website you gave me. Thanks for turning me ont their website. The tech who overhauled my horn tells me he oiled the Noblet while he had it dis-assembled and should be good, even here in the desert, for at least six months.
Wes
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
