 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Rick2
Date: 1999-03-29 04:36
I discussed my current gurgling problem with my instructor and he had a technique that I havent heard here before (unless I just missed it) so I thought I would share it. It was suggested to him by a repair guy/friend of his.
Take a piece of thread and using a small amount of contact cement--like you use for corking--and paste the thread to the bore at the top of the upper joint, and run the thread down the bore. Water should follow the thread.
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Author: paul
Date: 1999-03-29 13:47
This sounds very interesting. Is this another approach that's comparable to "painting" a little bit of oil at the lower part of the bore on the upper and lower joints so the moisture can pass around the tone holes? How far down the bore would you attach the thread?
Does your instructor have a trick like this to help delay moisture build-up on the reed?
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Author: Kevin Bowman
Date: 1999-03-29 14:28
I'd be very suspicious of this thread method. Any thread is going to have volume and placing it inside the bore *will* affect the pitch and tuning of the instrument to some degree.
I personally use the "painting" method. I use a Q-tip (is that a register tm?) dipped in bore oil (then squeeze out the excess) to paint a semi-circle above the most offensive tone holes. It's really quite easy and I only have to repeat this procedure about once every 6 months. If you regularly oil your bore, you can get the same effect by using a *dry* Q-tip in the same manner just after oiling the bore. I have done this with good results also.
Kevin Bowman
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Author: Rick2
Date: 1999-03-29 15:05
I have not yet tried the thread. The oil on the Q-tip works for me but I have to repeat it every couple of sessions. The drainage properties seem to change every time I oil the bore. Yes, the thread takes up space so certainly affects tone to some extent. That was the first thing I thought of. To what extent, I don't know. Maybe it'll be minimal enough that it is something that anyone other than a professional can get away with it. I plan to try it and wil report back. Paul: Long enough to get past the point where you have problems. I was going to send it only down the upper joint because I don't have problems on the lower joint, but I suspect the original intenion was to get the thread into the upper part of the bell, or at least past the lowest tone hole. Actually, I think he said that it was used more often for oboes than clarinets, but I see no reason why it wouldn't affect an oboes tone if it in fact affects tone. Again, will let you know after I try it.
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Author: Don Poulsen
Date: 1999-03-29 18:04
Hmm... The point about the volume of the thread affecting the intonation of the instrument brought up a question in my mind - How much does the condensation in the bore affect tone and intonation? The condensation that forms in the upper joint of my bass clarinet seems to have more volume than a thread would (although I'm not planning on sticking a thread in my instrument). It is also more irregular. This doesn't include the moisture in the gooseneck. I realize that the only way to minimize moisture in the gooseneck is to drain it frequently, but is there a way to minimize that in the bore? I assume that painting selected portions with bore oil is strictly to divert the moisture, not to decrease it.
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Author: Rick2
Date: 1999-03-29 18:55
I tend to agree. I think the volume of the thread to be insignificant compared to the moisture, and the moisture is irregularly shpaed as well.
By the way, it occurred to me this morning that instead of cementing the thread ontot he horn, you could simple attach it by catching it between the upper joint and the barrel. That way it's completely removable without putting glue on the horn.
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Author: paul
Date: 1999-04-06 20:54
I believe that the temporary attachment trick in your posting above would set better with me than permanently gluing something in place. The glue idea just makes me feel uncomfortable. I'd hate to ruin a very expensive clarinet with glue in the bore if the trick didn't work out.
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