The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Garth Libre
Date: 2013-05-11 21:33
I'm concerned about the braided string which attaches the silk swab to the plastic coated weight. This seems to especially concerning when I'm putting the swab through the mouthpiece as I feel the slight roughness of the braided string could change the dimensions of the mouthpiece in critical ways. I had a Buffet Crampon silk swab for years that actually used a piece of soft ribbon to attach the swab to the weight. The swab I use is the black one that is highly recommended on this board (the white brand identifier lettering fell off the swab some months ago.) Should I make some effort to replace the string with a soft ribbon?
Garth, 305-981-4705. garthlibre@yahoo.com
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Taras12
Date: 2013-05-11 23:18
I really never noticed. I guess you could damage the mouthpiece if you run the string too fast and hard.
Tristan
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: kdk
Date: 2013-05-11 23:23
Save your energy. There are so many more important things to worry about in life and in clarinet playing.
The braided string might do some damage over time if you pull it tight against the tip rail and pull, so don't pull it over the tip (or any other) rail or the bottom of the window at all. Carefully drop the weight through and let the string feed through on its own power until the cloth is at the opening. If you've dropped it through the reed end, the string can't make contact with the rails or the bottom edge of the window (there's a name for that, but I can't think of it right now). If you drop the weight in from the the tenon end, pull the string straight through the window and don't let it contact the rails.
The reed is probably more abrasive than the string and it's in very rapid contact with the rails all the time you're playing.
Karl
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: alanporter
Date: 2013-05-12 01:25
I don't believe that there is any justification in using a pull through on a mouthpiece. Run some clean water through it and let it dry naturally. If it happens to be a wooden mouthpiece (rare) gently pull an unstringed piece of silk, chamois, or microfiber through it.
tiaroa@shaw.ca
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ed
Date: 2013-05-12 01:33
I just wipe the mouthpiece with a corner of the swab. I don't drop the weight through. It is not that I am that concerned about the pull cord. I just have a habit of doing it this way.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2013-05-12 14:01
I drop the weight through very gently through from end and pull the cord/ribbon out at an angle so it doesn't rub against the baffle or tip. I also wrap the wings of the swab around the cord/ribbon (contrary to the way they "want" to wrap) to make sure only the swab material touches the inside of the mouthpiece.
For me, a water rinse doesn't get out all the saliva deposits. Only a cloth surface (or my thumbnail) gets everything off.
Ken Shaw
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Kaeren
Date: 2013-05-12 22:17
I don't pull the swab through the reed end of the mouthpiece. I do wrap some of the swab around the weight, though, and use it to wipe out moisture from the other end.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
|