The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: CapnCheapo
Date: 2013-01-29 19:56
Hello BBoard,
I currently own 2 sets of barrels and bells in cocobolo, a Backun set about 6 years old and a Gao set that are around 4 years. Both sets started out the beautiful reddish-orange color we expect from cocobolo. However, at this point they have all darkened considerably to nearly match the color of my grenadilla clarinets.
Have you all experienced this? Is this a normal part of the aging process for cocobolo? I don't usually soap or oil the outside bodies of my instruments, but would this bring the color back? Would my living in a fairly dry climate (southern New Mexico) have anything to do with it?
Thanks in advance...
--
Steve Moore
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2013-01-29 20:14
That's normal for cocobolo - it's due to exposure to air and light. You can only get the orange colour back by machining the surface to remove around 1mm of the outer diameter, so not recommended.
Similarly, kingwood (violet wood) starts out purple then turns a light brown colour with exposure to air and light.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: LJBraaten
Date: 2013-01-30 04:07
I have one that's dark but with a wide blonde streak down the front. Perhaps there's hope it will darken to match the rest of the barrel!
Laurie
Laurie (he/him)
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Author: Buster
Date: 2013-01-30 05:39
The Darkening of Cocobolo....
Isn't that the title of the next Star Wars movie.
Post Edited (2013-01-30 13:59)
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Author: Lelia Loban ★2017
Date: 2013-01-31 18:12
>>The Darkening of Cocobolo....
>>
>>Isn't that the title of the next Star Wars movie.
>>
According to rumor, the darkening is a secret signal to intergalactic spies. The signal instructs them to activate the Arundo donax WMD to vibrate in a harmony previously unknown to science that will cause all who hear it to compulsively play, sing or at least (in the case of those benighted souls unable to sing or to play any instrument) vividly imagine "Stranger on the Shore" and do nothing else -- namely, nothing whatsoever to stop the invading fleet. Naturally the Jedi know about this plot, and know how to counteract it with mighty explosions of free jazz.
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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