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Re: CRACKS

Author: Geronimo
Date: 2016-05-15 07:21

Tucker,

From what I have observed and been told, cracks come from changes in atmosphere (humidity, temperature, etc). As well as from moisture not being cleaned out of tone holes. I think (generally) new instruments are more prone to crack because they haven't been played much and the wood is essentially not "broken in". But the same can happen for older instruments that have not been played in a long while.

In either situation, the instrument has been sitting with little/no moisture coming in contact with it and was stored with consistent humidity and temperature. The argument for having a "break in" period is to acclimate a clarinet to performance level changes gradually. I think an instrument that has been consistently played and maintained has the best defense against cracking.

From my own experience, my clarinet has a small crack on the surface of the instrument that I had repaired this year. That clarinet was made in 2002 and I purchased it in 2014 and have been doing my best to have it not crack. However I live in Chicago so I think the 0 degree winter with low humidity and then rehearsals in 70 degree performance/practice spaces is what did me in.

Another story is a friend of mine bought a vintage (sometime in the 60s I think) instrument and had it completely rebuilt. A year later it developed a devastating crack.

Hope that helps.

GM

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