 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: John Morton
Date: 2010-10-05 20:14
Occasionally conditions are exactly right for producing a river of condensation, noticeable mainly at the C#/G# key. I am advised to swab frequently, but the music sometimes does not allow this. The process can take awhile, particularly because dismantling the MP/barrel joint tends to dislodge the ligature and reed setup.
I decided that the quickest way to deal with this moisture is to break the clarinet at the center joint, push a stiff swab up into the upper joint and barrel, and reassemble. Saxophone-style swabs have a reputation for leaving behind tiny threads that can interfere with pad operation, so I made a sort of chamois fringe on a wooden skewer. It doesn't work very well, not much area of contact with the bore.
Has someone invented what I'm looking for? I picture one of those frizzy sax or flute swabs made with a fiber that leaves nothing behind.
thanks
John
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Author: Alseg
Date: 2010-10-05 20:25
You will see the pros either briskly blowing into the keyhole or placing ungummed cigarette paper or a wick cloth (BG makes them) to remove the moisture.
The Buffet Vintage model A-clarinet has an elevated keyhole at that position, but alas I still get moisture there.
Former creator of CUSTOM CLARINET TUNING BARRELS by DR. ALLAN SEGAL
-Where the Sound Matters Most(tm)-
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Author: susieray
Date: 2010-10-05 22:22
I remove the mouthpiece and barrel together in one piece, and never have any trouble with the ligature/reed coming off. And I use a Spriggs ligature, which WILL slip off easily if you try and remove just the mouthpiece. As long as I grab the barrel only, the ligature and reed are not disturbed in the least.
I shake the condensation out of the barrel/mouthpiece, then run a silk swab through the horn, it's very quick. It's also a good idea to dry under the pad with paper like Allan suggested.
If you really want to use the fuzzy swab type thingies, cover it with some kind of lint-free fabric. If you know someone who has a sewing skills it would be very simple to do. You could make a simple slipcover for it that would be removable and washable. There are some pretty absorbent microfiber fabrics available that do not leave lint.
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Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2010-10-06 00:09
Don't use thesax-style stuffer swabs in a goodwooden clarinet. You risk scratching the bore,not to mention gumming up some of the toneholes with the crud those things leave behind.
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: John Morton
Date: 2010-10-06 04:05
Thanks for these ideas. I guess I shouldn't second-guess the great soloists. I once watched Paquito d'Rivera swab during a trio performance - he pulled it through first from one end, then the other.
I thought I needed to swab the barrel, because that end has the most moisture. But I'll try shaking the mp/barrel as susieray suggests, and practice speed swabbing in the privacy of my studio!
One drawback to pushing a swab up from below is that frequent breaking of the center joint risks disturbing the cork on the little lap mechanism that crosses the joint.
John
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2010-10-06 06:49
If you disassemble the barrel your lig shouldn't slide off, then swab the entire clarinet. You can try pushing the corner of the swab into the barrel from the bottom to help or push with your finger.
You can use rolling papers in the tone hole or even just your swab (a bit les comfortable to get it into a tight area though). Or just blow, it helps (sometimes very temporarily only).
Some recommended against the pad savers but the H.W. brand pad savers will not cause any problems, they don't shed (unlike every other pad saver I've tried) http://www.hwproducts.com/ so you can use those for the barrel/mouthpiece.
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Author: salzo
Date: 2010-10-06 18:26
Susieray wrote:
"If you really want to use the fuzzy swab type thingies, cover it with some kind of lint-free fabric. If you know someone who has a sewing skills it would be very simple to do. You could make a simple slipcover for it that would be removable and washable. There are some pretty absorbent microfiber fabrics available that do not leave lint."
That's awesome.
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