 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: ColorFiend
Date: 2011-02-24 20:31
(Sorry, I know there's another thread about a crack right now, but I really have a situation here.)
Hello. I'm a high school student and in December, I got a Buffet R13. My dad got it online because it was pretty cheap ($2,500). Today in first period band class, I discovered a crack in the upper joint that starts at the top right under the cork. It goes through the tone hole for the first trill key and continues halfway down the joint. I don't know how this happened; I'd been practicing on it fifteen minutes earlier, but now it barely plays any notes.
I don't think it's due to weather conditions - the weather here's been pretty mild and I haven't left it exposed to anything. My dad called a music store and the guy said that when you get a brand new clarinet, you're supposed to gradually break it on over a few months, but I've never heard that anywhere before. I've been playing it maybe an average of five hours a day since I got it, so could it just be from playing it too much...?
It may be from when I was down in San Antonio for all-state a few weeks ago for all-state and I had to walk around outside in the cold with my clarinet a lot, but wouldn't the crack have appeared a few weeks ago if that's what caused it?
Is there any way this could be repaired? My dad's calling to try to find who he bought it from to ask about the warranty on it. When I told my band director about the crack, he said something about pinning, and when I Googled things about clarinet cracks, I saw a lot of people mentioning it. Could I just get that done to it?
Sorry, I know that was long, but I'd REALLY appreciate some advice.
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Author: ColorFiend
Date: 2011-02-24 21:24
I just looked inside of it with a flashlight and it goes all the way through...
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2011-02-24 22:11
It can be repaired even if it goes through to the bore, so don't worry - it's not the end of it, so take it to a decent tech with plenty of experience at repairing cracked instruments.
My first pro model clarinet (a late '40s Selmer) cracked right through to the bore in between the trill toneholes which I filled and pinned and it hasn't moved since - and that was back in the late '80s and it hasn't moved or opened up since even with some pretty wide humidity fluctuations.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: jasperbay
Date: 2011-02-24 23:36
Several points:
(1) playing a new clarinet 5 hrs. per day does introduce a lot of moisture into the wood, causing it to swell.
(2) San Antone's dry cold air will cause it to shrink, first on the outside, eventually working to the inside. That's stressful on a wooden tube, especially when then played cold, as the outside is dry and cold (trying to shrink) while the bore is moist and warm (trying to swell).
(3) The crack can be superglued, pinning usually considered optional, the horn should then play fine. This is not a cheap repair btw.
(4) $2,500 online isn't what I would consider cheap, if it didn't have a warranty.
Clark G. Sherwood
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2011-02-25 05:10
First, best to not panic, it's not the end of the world.
Definitely look into a warrently. That price sounds like it's probably an almost new clarinet. Does it still have a warrenty? Did you buy it from a dealer which gives a warrenty? If from a private person, does it still have a warrenty and does it move to the next owner? All things to check.
Pinning used to be the stadnard method, it's an old and traditional method. With modern glues, gluing became the standard method and is good to hold most cracks, with other reinforcements like pins and bands being optional. You can have this done, price will depend a lot on the length of the crack i.e. more pins and/or bands will be necessary. The more are put, the more work it is to do.
IMO too many people give too much significance to "breaking in" the instrument etc. IME the main reason clarinets crack is because... they just do sometimes. The second and far behind reason is abuse like playing, then letting it dry without swabbing in a dry area.
Since it sounds like a random clarinet you just bought online (i.e. didn't choose it because you especially liked it) then unless you feel a special "bond" with it, I'd consider returning it and buying a maybe more used but repaired clarinet which you might be able to find for even under $2,000. If that's even an option.
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Author: jasperbay
Date: 2011-02-25 16:25
Before putting this thread 'to bed', somebody (may as well be me ![[grin]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie5.gif) ) should question the approprietness of using an R-13 for marching band. While I have no argument (many would, however) with using a grenadilla clarinet in band, wouldn't it make a heck of a lot more sense to use a $200 horn than a $2500 concert/symphony clarinet?
S_ _ t happens in marching band. Why not let it happen to a Signet, Malerne Standard, B&H Edgeware, etc, etc. The player would still sound great, possibly even better than on an R-13 !!
Clark G. Sherwood
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2011-02-25 17:05
Winter is the worst time of year to get a new wooden clarinet due to the sudden changes in temperature and humidity it will experience, plus the fact it has been played for too long too early on as it should have been played in gradually starting with 30 mins. at a time and gradually increasing the playing time over the first 6 weeks or so.
The best time of year to buy a wooden clarinet is late spring/early summer as it'll be played in before winter sets in and temperature and humidity levels drop.
If the clarinet is covered by a warranty, see if you could get a top joint transplant carried out under warranty. And if you can, then you will have to play the new top joint in to get it used to the fluctuations in humidity. But in all honesty you will have a tough time of this while it's still winter.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Tobin
Date: 2011-02-25 18:28
"somebody (may as well be me ) should question the approprietness of using an R-13 for marching band"
Jasperbay -- the OP doesn't say they used the instrument for marching band. They said they had the instrument outside a lot when they were at all-state band.
Now I think we can all jump on and say the OP should have put his instrument in it's case before going outside, but I wasn't there to see why they were moving from building to building in the first place.
James
Gnothi Seauton
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Author: Wes
Date: 2011-02-25 19:59
Next week, my granddaughter is playing in Carnegie Hall in New York on a clarinet that has two long cracks in it, which I glued with super glue. She doesn't know the difference.
Properly repaired, you won't know the difference either. Good luck!
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Author: ColorFiend
Date: 2011-02-25 21:39
Thanks for the great info, everyone. My teacher referred me to a woman that does clarinet repairs, so I'm going to see what she can do for me.
I wish I had been able to choose a clarinet myself, but my dad decided to order it online without talking to me first as a surprise present. At least he had good intentions, haha... He's still trying to get info about the warranty.
By the way, I never used my R13 for marching band nor did I take it outside without it being in its case.
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