 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Loliver
Date: 2010-10-14 21:52
In short, while playing, I seem to produce a gallon of saliva, which leaks, abd clogs, through the LH C#/G# key,the LH D#/A# key and the LH next trill key up from LH D#/A# key. It can also clog up the octave key.
I was just wondering if there is anything that can be done, or will I just have to wait for a cymbal crash to blow the bubbles out?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Caroline Smale
Date: 2010-10-14 22:53
Are you sure it's saliva? sounds more like condensation to me.
Swabbing out the clarinet regularly during playing sessions should help keep this in check.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: EEBaum
Date: 2010-10-14 23:39
Try swabbing about 5-10 minutes after you start playing, before you think you need to. For me, that tends to buy about an hour. I think it's because that's when the most significant temperature change occurs, resulting in the most condensation.
-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: mikeyarbulu
Date: 2010-10-14 23:40
I salivate a lot, as well. I always make sure to suck the spit out of the mouthpiece whenever possible to prevent things like this from happening.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2010-10-14 23:50
I have the same problem but perhaps not to your extent. If I don't swab every 10 minutes when I practice, between most movements with performing and when ever I get time in the orchestra I have a problem with "water" in some holes. I think it is mostly saliva, something that some disagree but I know most of it is saliva. My dentist told me that's the reason I get so much calcium deposits on my lower teeth, to much saliva flow. Besides, there's a difference in density between saliva and condensation. Try not drinking to much before you play, swallow as often as possible and swab, swab, swab. I even have the problem playing bass clarinet and have to swab out often on that too. ESP http://eddiesclarinet.com
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Bob Bernardo
Date: 2010-10-15 00:31
I have a gut feeling you are experiencing condensation, not saliva, although it could be a combination of both.
Before doing anything major, try using a mouthwash, this tends to reduce moisture. Second thing to do is swab the clarinet every 10 minutes or so, even during concerts and rehearsals.
Funny- the great Eddie Palanker said the same thing. I hadn't read the other posts. By the way buy a few swabs, I have several, because I wash them a lot, which I feel keeps the germs and paticles in the bore away. Actually I switch swabs everyday.
I've told this story before, but it is funny at least I think it was! During a reheasal I experieced the same thing with water in the A key. I had a solo, got the gurgle sound, the conductor stopped asked what happened. Not thinking I said I had water in my A hole. The orchestra cracked up. I felt really stupid!
Designer of - Vintage 1940 Cicero Mouthpieces and the La Vecchia mouthpieces
Yamaha Artist 2015
Post Edited (2010-10-15 00:45)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: EEBaum
Date: 2010-10-15 01:11
Just be sure to swab before you need it. An early swabbing can keep the problem away, but once your keys are waterlogging, a few dozen passes may seem fruitless.
-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Arnoldstang
Date: 2010-10-15 02:51
Once water gets in the tone hole then cigarette paper is a better approach. Swab and then put paper in tone hole. Blow through the instrument with closed holes...openlng the offending tone hole with cig paper in it. There used to be a product for woodwind bores....woodwind all or something like that. It helped keep the moisture flowing down the instrument and not in the tone holes. Talk to some oboists about the problem.
Freelance woodwind performer
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Roys_toys
Date: 2010-10-15 22:30
Sorry to ask a very simple question but if I'm going to swab out every 10 minutes or so as rec'd here, I always have to disassemble my mp . Set up is Optimum lig on a Vand M 30 Lyre R13.
I've given up trying to take mp off in one since the Optimum tends to move and I fear for the reed. .
Is there a way of doing it in one, or do I just need stronger wrist ?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2010-10-15 22:55
If your ligature/reed set up is "light" (that is, you don't screw it down like a vise) than you can simply opt to just undo the barrel. Swabbing the horn itself is much more important. As for the barrel/mouthpiece, just knock it against your thigh for a general de-moisturizing.
.................Paul Aviles
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: djphay
Date: 2010-10-16 23:59
This will not deal with the issue of water getting inside the clarinet in the first place but applying a tiny smear of vaseline to the sides of the offending tone holes will help stop bubbles forming.
David
Rank Amateur
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2010-10-17 07:41
When the clarinet is cold, then of course there will be a fair bit of condensation, but I don't believe more than a trace of saliva needs to enter the clarinet, only moist breath.
I collect the saliva in a space under my tongue, just behind my lower teeth, and swallow it at each opportunity, before it goes into the clarinet.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2010-10-17 07:46
"Sorry to ask a very simple question but if I'm going to swab out every 10 minutes or so as rec'd here, I always have to disassemble my mp . Set up is Optimum lig on a Vand M 30 Lyre R13.
I've given up trying to take mp off in one since the Optimum tends to move and I fear for the reed. .
Is there a way of doing it in one, or do I just need stronger wrist ?"
I think you leave the reed on the mouthpiece, remove the mouthpiece, and swab the rest of the clarinet.
The mouthpiece itself will not contain a lot of saliva, without that running down into the rest of the instrument.
If the mouthpiece is difficult to remove, clean off the cakey cork grease residue, and use a decent cork grease such as Alisyn or one from Doctors Products. If it is still difficult to remove, get a tech to deal with it.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: EEBaum
Date: 2010-10-17 15:27
Having recently tried a bunch of saliva-heavy techniques on clarinet, I can safely say that you'll know if it's saliva (or, at least, if it's primarily saliva). Saliva is sticky and viscous. If a bunch of pure saliva came dripping out of your instrument, it would resemble drool, forming a long string of goo.
Pour some water into a cup, then hock a loogie onto a plate or into another cup. Which of the two substances does the liquid coming from your holes resemble more?
-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: sonicbang
Date: 2010-10-17 17:15
It often happens to have condensation in my horn which can be very unpleasurable. Sometimes I turn the barrel a bit right or left. This can prevent condensation to find a constant way to go. Another thing is to get the keys off from the upper joint, and clean the holes with a small amount of ethanol. After doing that, you should smear the holes with liquid paraffine. Make sure to do it in the inside of the bore in a small surface surrounding the tone hole.
Belive me it works. Its enough for me to do this 3 times a year.
Good luck!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
