 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: bethmhil
Date: 2011-09-20 23:02
Anyone have any tricks for getting water out of the register key tube? Water is stubborn, especially when it's caught in a small space like the register key tube. Continuous swabbing, blowing a throat tone Bb super loud, and cigarette paper just aren't doing the trick.
BMH
Illinois State University, BME and BM Performance
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: marcia
Date: 2011-09-21 01:08
Have you tried taking just the top joint, covering all the tone holes, sealing the bottom opening with right hand, opening the register key, sealing the top opening with your mouth, blowing forcefully into the bore? Or just opening the register key and blowing directly into the tube? I have found these to be helpful.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: bethmhil
Date: 2011-09-21 01:17
I've tried blowing into the tube, but that doesn't seem to help. I'll try the other trick you suggested.
BMH
Illinois State University, BME and BM Performance
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: CarlT
Date: 2011-09-21 01:34
I do what Marcia suggested first.
Of course, the top joint has to be removed, and that takes some time, but it seems to work the best for me (more so than just "blowing directly into the tube"). If time is a problem, then her second suggestion may have to do.
CarlT
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Bob Phillips
Date: 2011-09-21 02:58
Alex's suggestion is a very helpful one.
Early in your warm up, the rate of condensation is highest, and that gets the bore wet; so you swab early, and keep the water under control until the bore warms up and condensation slows down.
You still need to stop and swap --at every break in the flow of your playing; just as insurance.
Bob Phillips
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: pewd
Date: 2011-09-21 03:28
Running some bore oil through every 2-3 months or so helps in my case.
I use Doctor Henderson's 'Bore Doctor'.
- Paul Dods
Dallas, Texas
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2011-09-21 04:00
I think Alex has the best solution. Preventive measures are almost always better than corrective measures.
But, if you still get water in the tube, rather than blowing into the bore, try sealing the upper joint and sucking to create a vacuum. Then open the register key. Doing that a few times should get the moisture out of the tube and into the bore where you can catch it with a swab.
Another option, if you don't have time to take the top joint off is get a pipe cleaner and feed it into the register tube from the outside to capture the moisture.
Best regards,
jnk
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Bob Bernardo
Date: 2011-09-21 05:57
During long rests in the music wipe out the clarinet. Ever see a pro like some one in a major or even a minor symphony wipe the horn after every piece or movement? Probably 3 or 4 times per movement, if the player is a bit neurotic! I usually do this before each new piece.
I told this story one other time on this site, but I thought it was kind of funny, perhaps worth repeating. I too got that gurgling sound when opening the throat A key. It happened to be a solo, thank god it was a rehearsal. The conductor stopped the orchestra and asked if my horn was OK. Not thinking about the wording I told him I have water in my A hole. Of course everyone laughed as I turned bright red. This was in the Air Force orchestra. I'm not sure if the Washington DC Air Force still has an orchestra.
So just wipe the horn during breaks. After time the horn does wear a bit so keep an eye on the tuning perhaps every 6 months or so and if something needs adjusting have a top repairman take a look at it. For example you may be able to simply try assorted barrels before undercutting key holes or something like that on the horn. Needless to say don't ever jam the swabs through the mouthpiece. All sorts of bad things can happen. I'll save that for another MP topic.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2011-09-21 10:55
Now you understand why vintage (and modern Oehler-system) clarinets have a wraparound register key with the register tube on the top of the instrument.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2011-09-21 13:57
I think Jack has the diagnosis right. A cloth swab gets tiny bits worn off when it rubs against the register key tube. These collect inside the tube and provide a perfect place for water to condense.
Take the register key off and clean the inside of the vent tube thoroughly with a well-dampened pipe cleaner. Rubbing alcohol, vodka or bit of crud solvent such as Un-Du https://un-du.com/ might help. They evaporate quickly and leave no odor. Avoid citrus-based products such as Goo-Gone, which smell awful and are hard to clean off.
Ken Shaw
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2011-09-21 14:59
I didn't really get the diagnosis right but Ken's comment has clarified something for me. I've been trying to figure out how water can run into a register tube that protrudes into the bore. It actually seems to me more likely that water could run into a wrap-around whose tube is flush with the inner bore.
The answer, I think (with Ken) is that the water probably isn't running into the register tube at all, it's probably condensing in the tube or at the very end of a perhaps partially clogged tube. (In which case, frequent swabbing, while a good idea in general, and oiling may not help much and, if the tube is partially clogged, trying to blow the water out from the inside is doomed to failure.) Try cleaning the tube thoroughly, as Ken describes and see if the problem doesn't go away completely. If it doesn't, carry a pipe cleaner for those times you need to clear the tube fairly quickly without removing the register key.
Best regards,
jnk
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Bob Phillips
Date: 2011-09-21 15:18
David.
My throat A key is on TOP of my clarinet --like a classic clarinet's register key vent, and it still accumulates water.
My biggest wet hole problems are:
side Eb
left pinky C/G#
throat A/G#
Knock grenadilla --seldom the reg key.
Bob Phillips
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2011-09-21 15:40
To all who have water accumulation problems in certain toneholes, may I suggest installing leather pads on those keys --- in my experience the leather is slightly absorbent and will soak up a bit of moisture and reduce gurgling in that way. The cork pads favored by many players for some upper joint pads, because they are so hermetic, do nothing to wick away moisture and so are prone to gurgle.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2011-09-21 22:01
David -
Is the Galper Register Key/Tube available again? It was my impression that it was no longer made.
Also, is it available for the R13 clarinet in A?
Ken Shaw
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
