 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Adrianna
Date: 2010-07-02 18:01
I am leaving for a summer music program on Sunday morning, and my clarinet has just developed a crack... I purhcased a new Buffet R-13 a couple of months back and slowly broke it in, making sure to dry it out throughly. Just yesterday, I noticed a very small crack on the bottom tendon, just running through the cork. Here's my question, it has not cracked through the acutal bore, is it safe to play for the two weeks I need it and then send it away? Does anyone have any temporary solutions to stop the crack from contiueing?
Thanks for all you help,
Adrianna
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2010-07-02 18:26
The good news is that you have a five year warranty from Buffet that should be honored through the store that sold you the horn.
The bad news is that if you see the crack at the very bottom of the tenon working its way up, it probably will continue like a zipper. You may want to contact Buffet Canada or your shop RIGHT AWAY (Monday) to find out if ANY intervention will void your warranty (they WILL replace the cracked lower joint).
In the meantime, use your next best horn, a loaner from a friend, or just this one until its kaput.
...............Paul Aviles
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Author: vin
Date: 2010-07-02 18:26
If it's on the bottom joint, you probably don't need to worry, as long as it seals. Where is your summer program?
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Author: Caroline Smale
Date: 2010-07-02 19:09
Are you sure its a crack and not just a heavy grain line?
Cracks at the bottom tenon of the top joint are very unusual and if it is actually on the lower joint (the bell tenon) then it is more likely to be caused by mechanical damage.
Have an experienced person (preferably a tech) check it to see what is really there.
My guess is that using it for a couple of weeks would not exacerbate any problem.
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Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2010-07-02 19:28
Disclaimer: I am NOT a qualified repair technician.
However, having said that: I would never play a wood clarinet with a crack forming, until I had a tech look it over and repair it as necessary. I wouldn't want to chance having the problem get "terminal" while I was away and playing it intensely at a summer workshop.
Just my two cents...
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."
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2010-07-02 20:28
You'll play the instrument a lot more during the summer program than you normally do, and this will increase the likelihood of additional cracking. I'd advise sending the instrument off for repair and borrowing or renting a substitute.
Don't panic. If you can't find another R-13, you could use a plastic Buffet with your regular mouthpiece and R-13 barrel. They have the same design and internal dimensions, and you'll find it hard to tell the difference. (I certainly do.)
Good luck. Work hard, but don't forget to have fun.
Ken Shaw
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2010-07-02 21:14
David -
At least for me, a top quality mouthpiece and barrel make any clarinet sound pretty good. I once put my Opperman mouthpiece and barrel on my nephew's plastic Vito. Nobody listening could tell the difference, and I had a hard time myself.
Ken Shaw
Post Edited (2010-07-02 21:15)
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Author: Adrianna
Date: 2010-07-02 21:44
Thanks for all the helpful suggestions so far. It looks like I might just have to make due with a rental instrument... ughhh But I really don't want to prolong the crack, seeing as it is a brand new instrument.
And vin, I am attending Orford Arts Centre in Quebec.
Adrianna
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Author: vin
Date: 2010-07-02 22:02
While Orford is quite beautiful, I don't know any repair techs around there, sorry. Maybe someone from Quebec can chime in.
I've never heard of a crack on the lower joint being caused by anything but a defect in the wood or an accident; in my experience, two weeks (especially in the summer) will not worsen the problem and if it's under warranty, Buffet will replace it anyway. As long as it's sealing, you should be fine.
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2010-07-03 01:54
If you insist on taking the clarinet as is to the summer program you might want to do the two following things. First, leave the bell on as much as possible to keep the lower joint from expanding but make sure the joint is well greased so you don't put any strain on the cork when you take it off. Second, you might want to put a piece of tape over the crack, if it is indeed a crack, to prevent air or moister getting into it. During the summer months the humidity is high so it's a better chance that it won't crack any further if you don't allow it to get cold. That's only a maybe of course. ESP http://eddiesclarinet.com
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Author: Merlin_Williams
Date: 2010-07-03 03:36
Closest good clarinet tech to Orford would probably be Pascal Verquin in Montreal.
Jupiter Canada Artist/Clinician
Stratford Shakespeare Festival musician
Woodwind Doubling Channel Creator on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/c/WoodwindDoubling
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Author: Franklin Liao
Date: 2010-07-03 03:39
I think that it's a horrible idea to use a wood instrument if the said instrument is going to be subjected to rapid temperature change and in less than ideal humidity. One should invest in a horn that is less susceptible to the environments at any rate.
Adrianna, how many days of action are still to come in your summer program?
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Author: Adrianna
Date: 2010-07-03 16:25
After trying a couple different rental instruments... there is just no replacement for my Buffet. So, it looks like I will indeed be taking my cracked instrument. I have sealed the crack with wax from the doctor's products. I can barely see the crack now, I hope that is a good sign. Does anyone have any other suggestions as to keep the crack from getting worse in the next two weeks?
Also, are there any other woodwind tech shops in Montreal, in case of an emergency.
Thanks,
Adrianna
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Author: jasperbay
Date: 2010-07-03 17:07
Adrianna; This may not be helpful, depending on how your warranty works out, but this is one of the easier cracks to repair if it stays in the tenon, under the cork, or only creeps a little higher.
(a) Take off the cork with a screwdriver or similar tool.
(b) Sand the recess a little deeper with a fingernail file, etc.
(c) Make a nice, even, one or two layer wrap with cotton/poly black sewing thread, and let a few drops of thin CA (Superglue) soak into the thread and crack.
(d) Recork
This repair will make the tenon stronger than new, in the way that plywood is stronger than a thin board. While the wax may prove useful during the summer to keep the crack dry, it should probably be removed with a good floor wax remover prior to the crack repair. Careful with the wax remover, it will probably remove any black stain on the clarinet exterior if it has a chance.
Good Luck, and enjoy the summer!
Clark G. Sherwood
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Author: GLHopkins
Date: 2010-07-03 17:35
Do not try to repair the crack yourself. Buffet may not honor the warranty if it has been messed with. You've used wax. I'd go ahead and go to your function, and deal with it when you get back.
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Author: Barry Vincent
Date: 2010-07-03 23:11
Ebonite sounds the same as wood . plastic ---------- well it's different but still sounds good and as Ken Shaw says , if you match it with a quality mouthpiece and barrel the sound quality is very good. I do this with my plastic Jupiter clarinet and the result is excellent. Still , it's nice to own a wooden instrument , it looks and feels nice, but the instability of it -------
Skyfacer
Post Edited (2010-07-03 23:12)
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Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2010-07-04 01:37
Yet another reason to consider a Lyrique....even as a backup horn, if nothing else. Tom's instruments sound much better than plastic student models. THey are close to pro-grade, if not equal in many cases. And the hard rubber will not crack.
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."
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