 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Tony F
Date: 2013-01-13 23:05
With the move towards compact cases, I've noticed that a lot of the clarinets that I see have adjustment problems with the crows foot keys and the l/h pinky keys. Snug cases frequently have very little wriggle room in them, and it is this that is causing the problem. The bottom half has recesses for the joints, but the top half is often just a padded lid, which exerts enough pressure to cause the problems. I've just looked at a Yamaha C100 that has needed crows foot adjustments 3 times in the last few months. The players father was a bit annoyed until I pointed out the problem. Being a practical person, he's currently reworking the case. Has anybody else noticed this?
Tony F.
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Author: Ursa
Date: 2013-01-14 01:49
Yes, I have seen this problem, and it's even worse for brass instruments. I'm seeing trumpets and trombones absolutely ruined beyond repair by minor collisions between soft cases and book-filled backpacks. Ultimately there is no good substitute for a quality hard-sided case.
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Author: Wes
Date: 2013-01-14 03:02
Even the blue/gray plastic cases for MKVI tenor saxes from the 60s caused dents in the horns from pushing the palm keys too hard!
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2013-01-14 06:46
Soft-sided cases are the biggest cause of bent keys, especially if they have a lid compartment or outer pocket that's stuffed full of odds and ends which will only put pressure on the keywork. Any knock or pressure on the case will be transferred to the instrument.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2013-01-14 19:43
I despise these tiny new cases, and would refuse delivery of a clarinet that came with only this to "protect" it. These cases are worse than useless, and will lead to heartache for hte apiring musician who knows no better.
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: Chris P
Date: 2013-01-14 21:01
MkVI bari cases had the weight of the bari concentrated on the low Eb keyguard, so carrying them was enough to cause damage.
The clarinet (and oboe) cases I can't stand with a passion are those soft back-pack style cases that are egg shaped. They have the annoying habit of rocking about or tipping up when opened or the lid keeps closing on them when the balance shifts.
I prefer box cases over gig bags or soft sided lightweight cases, provided they're well fitted inside.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: MSK
Date: 2013-01-14 22:00
By soft sided cases, do you mean protec cases or some other brand? I'm presently shopping for a case,
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2013-01-14 22:11
Yeah - ProTec, Bam, Gewa, Ortola, etc. - I don't trust them.
I know it's not always practical to carry a box case around, but if you get a good padded cover or holdall to fit it, then that offers much better protection than a lightweight case.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Lelia Loban ★2017
Date: 2013-01-15 12:28
I wouldn't put any clarinet I liked in a gig bag or a soft case. If a clarinet comes in an inadequate case, consider wrapping bubble-pack around the whole case with the clarinet inside and stowing it in the child's suitcase from old-fashioned luggage, available for next to nothing at flea markets and yard sales, until it's possible to get a better clarinet case. (If anybody says that looks geeky, just give 'em some attitude: "Yeah, so what's it to ya?")
Lelia
http://www.scoreexchange.com/profiles/Lelia_Loban
To hear the audio, click on the "Scorch Plug-In" box above the score.
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Author: blazian
Date: 2013-01-15 12:30
Tony, is the Yamaha case the plastic shell one for the lower-end Yamahas or the pochette case? I use the Yamaha pochette with the case cover for my Festival and I don't think there's a problem, though my crow's foot has been a bit suspect lately.
I also carry my horn in a Fusion gig bag and the bottom edge of the bell can get a little crimped if I'm not careful. It's a great bag but it doesn't offer much protection in that area. Also unfortunate is that this horn (a Yamaha) seems to be soft and susceptible to these things. I can rub ding and bell crimp out with my finger.
I'm the caretaker of the university's music department property and I'm glad that ALL of the cases are hard. Except one. It's a crime that our bass sax is in a gig bag.
- Martin
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Author: Lelia Loban ★2017
Date: 2013-01-15 12:47
> It's a crime that our bass sax is in a gig bag.
>
Yikes. Having paid for restoration of my 1926 C. G. Conn bass sax that was badly damaged when the previous owner dropped it, I suggest you go to the repair person who would do the work on your school's bass if it needed restoration. Give the repair person the hypothetical situation: the key stacks get crushed into the body, creating a nice long deep dent. Get a formal, written estimate on much the restoration work might cost. (That repair plus complete repadding and a few springs cost me $1300 in 1997. What would it cost 16 years later?) Take that estimate, slap it down in front of whoever makes the university music department's budget decisions and ask whether they'd rather pay that bill or worse, or pay for a real case.
Lelia
http://www.scoreexchange.com/profiles/Lelia_Loban
To hear the audio, click on the "Scorch Plug-In" box above the score.
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Author: blazian
Date: 2013-01-15 13:11
That's a great idea! It should put it directly into consideration. I do the minor repairs and man does that thing take some adjusting.
I did a quick search on bass sax cases and they're looking pretty heavy. I saw a post where the the case weighed close to 100 pounds empty. I think that's one major factor of cases these days. Everybody wants to have something portable and convenient. For small woodwinds it shouldn't be such a big deal to carry something a pound heavier for the sake of protection. For something as beastly as a bass sax, it creates problems to have a solid case. It's where wheels become a consideration.
- Martin
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Author: blazian
Date: 2013-01-15 14:26
The case we currently have is quite similar to the Gear4Music case sans the extra handle. The zipper is broken on it and I'm afraid it might happen again. The price isn't bad... but it's up there. Maybe it's time to make a case.
- Martin
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Author: Tony F
Date: 2013-01-15 15:00
Hi Martin,
The Yamaha concerned was in one of the tiny hard-shell cases. I think the B12 Buffet hard-shell cases are just as bad. I've just rescued a nice dovetail-corner wood case that had electronic test equipment in it and I'm fitting it out to take 2 clarinets, an alto sax and all the gig junk you carry round. It's a bit on the weighty side, but I doubt that an Abrams tank could do much more than scratch the varnish.
Tony F.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2013-01-15 15:29
I never found the Yamaha cases to be a problem - I used to carry my old CT Bb around in a YCL-52 case which has the same innards as a YCL-26II/34II case, but had a wooden shell (which didn't taper in at the front) with aluminium trim around the ends like the 32/52 sax cases.
I've seen Peter Eatons and other clarinets housed in the plastic YCL-26II/34II cases with no adverse effects. I use Yamaha double cases for my sets of Selmer clarinets and a Custom case for my plastic Yamaha.
The plastic Vito cases with the clasps on the sides were notoriously bad for bending the F/C key on Vitos as they were a funny shape.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: MSK
Date: 2013-01-16 01:02
So what commercially available cases are good?
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Author: Paula S
Date: 2013-01-16 10:10
The after market thumb-rests which came with my Eatons does rather make the joints stand proud of the cushioning in my hard case. The case they came in is a 60s case exactly the same as the one that came with my 1010s. I am a bit worried that the rigidity of the case lid could bend the lever keys.
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Author: Tony F
Date: 2013-01-16 11:32
Paula, If there is sufficient depth of padding under the thumb-rest recess, I'd take a hobby knife to it (carefully!) to deepen the recess a bit.
Tony F.
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Author: Claire Annette
Date: 2013-01-16 15:10
OK, why was the BAM case mentioned above? I have one and it seems extremely sturdy and spacious enough to accomodate pinky/side keys without putting undue pressure on them.
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