 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Lux
Date: 2016-08-11 00:17
Attachment: DSC_1847.JPG (91k)
http://imgur.com/v0CHI58
I took both of my clarinet mouthpieces out today and took them to the pawn shop to try out a couple clarinets. Now, when I took them out they looked completely fine, no discoloration. However, once I tied my reed on and began to play I noticed a very acrid bitter taste in my mouth. I looked and noticed the mouthpiece had changed colors.
What happened?!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Chris P
Date: 2016-08-11 01:05
Did they get hot or have you washed them in hot water?
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: johng ★2017
Date: 2016-08-11 01:06
Makes you wonder if the store used something nasty to clean those clarinets and the gas somehow reacted with the mouthpiece material. You didn't say what brand of clarinets they were, so maybe they were just one of those really stinky brands that should be avoided.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Philip Caron
Date: 2016-08-11 01:22
Chris, "Did they get hot or have you washed them in hot water?" - why do you ask that? What happens when you do wash mouthpieces in hot water?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Chris P
Date: 2016-08-11 01:31
Ebonite turns green if you wash it in hot water or if it gets exposed to direct sunlight. It turns green/brown and smells like sulphur (rotten eggs).
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: fskelley
Date: 2016-08-11 01:48
Chris- what's the best / safest / easiest way to get them nice and black again? (I have my own method, but I'd rather hear the other views first.) There have been several threads here on this, but I don't think any of the answers were that clear cut.
Stan in Orlando
EWI 4000S with modifications
Post Edited (2016-08-11 01:49)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Philip Caron
Date: 2016-08-11 01:51
Thanks for the info, Chris. I briefly dip my mp in fairly hot water to rinse it out and off after playing. I'll be sure to keep that brief.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Tony F
Date: 2016-08-11 02:24
I made the same mistake once and ended up with an olive-green Selmer HS*. I tried various suggestions from this bb without success, and eventually decided that as I didn't much care for the mouthpiece I'd try something extreme. I rubbed it lightly with fine steel wool and restored it to its original condition, with no obvious damage to the facing. It still played exactly as before. I've used this technique several times since on old pieces, and as long as you exercise some degree of moderation it works fine. The smell is sulphur, which is always present in hard rubber but is normally not a problem until activated by contact with hot water.
Tony F.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: pewd
Date: 2016-08-11 16:01
"dip my mp in fairly hot water to rinse it out and off after playing"
Nooooo...
Never use hot water. Room temp. water only. Never hot or too cold. Never use chemicals (e.g. no bleach).
- Paul Dods
Dallas, Texas
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Chris P
Date: 2016-08-11 18:06
I've machine polished discoloured mouthpieces in the past when I worked for a music shop, but there are much better and less harmful ways of restoring the finish on discoloured ebonite mouthpieces. Also using a small amount of non toxic oil (almond oil or similar) rubbed into them with a finger will restore the colour. Don't do anything to the facing as that may cause damage to the rails and table.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Mojo
Date: 2016-08-11 18:21
Heat can also warp the facing.
MojoMP.com
Mojo Mouthpiece Work LLC
MojoMouthpieceWork@yahoo.com
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Philip Caron
Date: 2016-08-11 18:59
Paul: "Never use hot water. Room temp. water only. Never hot or too cold. Never use chemicals (e.g. no bleach)."
I'll keep this in mind. I've been doing the quick dip and wipe thing daily with the same mp for a couple years. Hopefully / apparently the water temp isn't too high and the immersion isn't too long. I haven't encountered a problem - but I'm now aware that there's risk. I've noticed that room-temp water does not by itself remove saliva residue / condensation as well. Same idea that prompts my washing of reeds in "fairly" hot water. Hmm - I'll add that the warmth of one's mouth is well above room temp.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: fskelley
Date: 2016-08-11 20:10
I've always used something after daily play to sterilize my reed and mouthpiece. When I was using Legere reeds, that was Sterisol on both. No way I will return to my high school days with nasty mouthpieces and reeds.
But then I gave up on Legeres (that's another long boring story) and found that Sterisol will not rinse out of cane and tastes terrible. So I switched to a 50% mix of household peroxide and water for the reeds. Then later I ran out of Sterisol and began cleaning my mouthpiece with the peroxide also.
But then the mouthpiece began fading around the edges (to gray/white, not green). So I returned to Sterisol. Still fades, just not as quickly.
I recolor periodically with black Sharpie ("non-toxic"- I hope so), then clean thoroughly with Sterisol and cloth until no black will wipe off. But it stinks for a couple of days- I learned to immerse in water for 24 hr and that takes care of the odor. So now I have a complete routine that works, sort of.
But fine steel wool sounds like a better choice than marker- I will try that next time it needs it. Or perhaps the almond oil (think I tried olive oil once- did nothing).
Stan in Orlando
EWI 4000S with modifications
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Tony F
Date: 2016-08-11 20:55
To remove mineral and biological deposits from your mouthpiece drop it into a glass of lemon juice for a few minutes and the deposits will wipe off. White vinegar works as well, but lemon juice tastes better.
Tony F.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Chris P
Date: 2016-08-11 21:53
You can use neat kettle descaler as well, but rinse it well in cold water to neutralise any acid.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: gkern
Date: 2016-08-11 22:09
When I get a new (to me, but used) mouthpiece, I soak it in white vinegar for a while to sanitize and remove some of any scale that it may have accumulate, brush out, then rinse in cool water and dry.
After a practice, rehearsal, or concert session, I scrub it with a makeup pad soaked in rubbing alcohol. Keeps them nice and clean.
Gary K
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Chris P
Date: 2016-08-11 22:18
Alcohol can form a surface bloom on some mouthpieces, but is safe to use on plastic, ebonite, crystal, metal and wooden mouthpieces.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
