 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: markcr
Date: 2011-02-28 21:16
I was wondering if it is ok to leave my student clarinet assembled and resting on my clarinet stand while not in use? It takes a while to assemble and disassemble for each practice session. I'd remove the reed and clean it internally after each practice but it sure would be nice to simply come home, put on a reed and start practicing.
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Author: Bob Bernardo
Date: 2011-02-28 21:37
If you leave it assempled all of the time, nothing can really go wrong. However, the cork will shrink and dust will make the horn look like it was never cared for. You still need to swab out the bore. It doesn't matter it it's plastic or wood because particles can get into the tone holes and also mess up the intonation and sound of the clarinet as well as the mouthpiece. In some cases mold can appear between the cork and the joints of your horn. This is unlikely but in a humid conditions this is more prevalent.
If you leave the horn attached you will most likely need to replace the cork about once a year, instead of once every 5 years or more.
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Author: markcr
Date: 2011-02-28 22:08
Thanks for the reply. Your response makes sense. Maybe if I were to take it apart every couple of days and thoroughly grease the corks it would help. I basically come home at lunchtime and practice for a 1/2 hour then practice again in the evening. I'm a beginner so maybe I'll get more proficient at breaking it down and setting it back up and it won't be an issue.
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Author: Caroline Smale
Date: 2011-02-28 23:06
It really should not take more than 1 minute to assemble or disassemble your instrument.
I would highly recommend doing it.
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Author: PrincessJ
Date: 2011-02-28 23:35
What are you doing when you assemble it? Norman is right. It takes me 30 seconds or so to get mine together if the corks are already greased.
Perhaps you're just not fluent in the "art" of Clarinet assembly/disassembly.
It took me linger when I first started out, and I got the "hang of it" within a month.
-Jenn
Circa 1940s Zebra Pan Am
1972 Noblet Paris 27
Leblanc Bliss 210
1928 Selmer Full Boehm in A
Amateur tech, amateur clarinetist, looking to learn!
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Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2011-02-28 23:41
I would put it back into its case, regardless of the grade of the instrument.
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: markcr
Date: 2011-03-01 00:11
Yes, I will disassemble it each time and put it back in the case. It's really difficult to get it to come apart, that's all. I use plenty of cork grease but it just isn't easy to put together or take apart. Maybe over time it will "break in" and become easier.
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Author: kdk
Date: 2011-03-01 00:27
markcr wrote:
> ...It's really difficult to get it to come apart, that's
> all. I use plenty of cork grease but it just isn't easy to put
> together or take apart. Maybe over time it will "break in" and
> become easier.
What clarinet are you playing? Is it wood or some other material? If it's wood and you're having trouble getting the sections together and apart despite using "plenty of cork grease" it may be the wood of the tenons binding in the sockets. If this is the case it probably won't get easier - may get worse, and it's easy enough to fix. If this is a wood instrument you might have a good repair tech check it and determine if the problem is tight corks or binding wood. You can cause significant key damage when you have to grip too hard or in the wrong place to get a clarinet apart.
Karl
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Author: markcr
Date: 2011-03-01 01:34
Hi Karl,
It is a synthetic material. Here is a link to the clarinet I bought:
http://www.amazon.com/LJ-Hutchen-Clarinet-Hardshell-Case/dp/B000FOMKM2/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1298946630&sr=8-1-fkmr1
It got good reviews as a starter model and seemed like a good place to start. I completely agree with you about damaging the keys if handling it too firmly while assembling and disassembling. This is the main reason I posted the initial thread. I AM being very careful not to damage it while taking it apart - and that is also why it is taking a lot longer than it should.
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Author: grifffinity
Date: 2011-03-01 02:39
Quote:
It's really difficult to get it to come apart, that's all. I use plenty of cork grease but it just isn't easy to put together or take apart.
Try putting the cork grease inside the tenon of the connecting joint. Usually helps.
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Author: BartHx
Date: 2011-03-01 15:35
The Doctor's Products has a couple of cork greases that are really slick and won't break down the cell walls in the cork like petroleum based products.
If the joints are tight, be sure to hold it carefully when putting it together or taking it apart -- especially avoid grabbing the LH key extensions on the lower joint and the trill keys on the upper joint. I have had to swedge many trill keys for people who were careless about this.
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Author: Claire Annette
Date: 2011-03-02 21:32
One minute to disassemble? My husband complains that I seem to always be the last person to leave a performance or rehearsal because I take so long to put my clarinet away. I take great care to swab my horn with my silk swab--then, I carefully remove all the moisture from the joints before I'm ready to close my case.
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Author: markcr
Date: 2011-03-02 21:40
Hi Claire. After some good suggestions from the forum members I'm having a much easier time disassembling my clarinet. I too have been taking care to swab it out and clean the inside of the joints. All in all it's less than 10 minutes from last note to clarinet cleaned and in the case. I'm getting used to handling it correctly without damaging the keys.
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