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Re: Basics in caring for wooden clarinets

Author: Chris P
Date: 2011-10-21 12:41

Always dry the bore after playing (you can do this with the clarinet still assembled but with the mouthpiece removed by dropping the pullthrough down from the bell and pulling the string from the barrel socket, pulling it slowly all the way through the bore), then dry all the sockets with a piece of kitchen towel instead of the pullthrough as that way you'll keep the pullthrough clean and reduce the risk of getting cork grease coating the bore and occluding toneholes. Then wipe the keywork and joints over with a cotton cloth to remove fingerprints and perspiration.

As long as you dry the joints after playing, you shouldn't encounter any problems. The pullthrough will absorb most of the condensation but will also distribute any remaining moisture evenly in the bore instead of leaving some areas more damp than others, but several passes through with the pullthrough (and pulling it through slowly) will remove a high percentage of condensation. If you've bought a new cotton pullthrough, wash and dry it first as that will make it more effective.

Don't use padsavers with wooden clarinets - they're fine on plastic or metal instruments, but not ideal for wooden ones.

Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.

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