 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: fskelley
Date: 2017-08-24 19:28
So I'm ready to play yesterday afternoon and the tenon cork just falls off my middle joint. 1 day after I'd been across town visiting my tech to have him service my other horn. Grrrr. OK- I can handle this, but it's been a while- do I still have the supplies? Yep, lots of cork, an almost full (and still liquid) bottle of contact cement, instructions. And a mouthpiece that also needs cork (wobbly) to do first for practice. And a fat roll of Teflon tape so I was able to play yesterday anyway. An hour of work this morning and mouthpiece and clarinet are both good to go, that feels good.
Could have been worse, I could have been ready to play somewhere when the cork fell off. Teflon tape works but I never seem to get enough there to hold securely for confidence and careful tuning if it's a joint that wants tuning. The point is you have to have a 2nd horn ready at a moment's notice, or perhaps with a quick trip to the car. (Does it live in your trunk? How hot does it get in your trunk?) I decided years ago that as a professional photographer I always have to have a 2nd (duplicate! not inferior!) camera ready to go. Lenses and flashes are another matter. And I can get a migraine (vision gone) and there's no backup for me. Isn't it the same deal for a pro musician? In another thread I mused about your different horns having different mechanisms or being different brands. Is that a good idea? Or do you pros just roll with the punches come what may?
And how adept are you at quick repairs? Can you slap on a new tenon cork in 15 minutes? (contact cement takes 10 min to cure).
Stan in Orlando
EWI 4000S with modifications
Post Edited (2017-08-24 22:13)
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Author: Wes
Date: 2017-08-24 22:05
If I lost a cork on my clarinet at a performance, I would take a business card and tear enough strips from it to serve as a temporary measure. I keep a small sandwich plastic bag in my case with a screwdriver, clipper, and a few items such as a couple of 10mm pads and a small tube of cement. At a rare important oboe performance, I've had a second instrument in my car.
Migraine temporary loss of vision also occurs for me, but the episodes only last a few minutes and have never happened during a performance.
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Author: Fuzzy
Date: 2017-08-24 22:32
I always keep a piece of yarn in my case. While I've never had to use it in an emergency myself, I did use it for testing. It also came in handy on-stage twice....once when the player next to me lost the middle tenon cork, and once when the bass clarinet player's mouthpiece cork popped off. It's a quick fix. (Though I'd recommend testing it out before relying on it.)
Fuzzy
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Author: fskelley
Date: 2017-08-24 22:47
Business cards and yarn- 2 things I would never have thought of. Good to know.
My old cork came off in 1 piece- looks like the adhesive just gave up. In a pinch I would have been tempted to try to glue it back in place temporarily, but superglue would be a really bad idea. Chewing gum? Fun tack?
Stan in Orlando
EWI 4000S with modifications
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Author: jbutler ★2017
Date: 2017-08-24 23:15
Teflon plumber's tape works okay in a pinch. Just wrap it around the joint until proper fit is achieved. Always apply Barges or S-19 cement to tenon and let dry, then apply a second coat to tenon. Certain cork greases will cause the situation you describe.
jbutler
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2017-08-25 10:51
>> contact cement takes 10 min to cure <<
That depends on the type of glue, temp and humidity in your area and how you apply it. If I leave it for 10 minutes it's likely too long to glue. It usually takes 1 or 2 minutes at most (usually closer to 1). It's relatively dry here and I spread it thin. I think some people use a brush and a very thick layer so it takes longer.
>> I decided years ago that as a professional photographer I always have to have a 2nd (duplicate! not inferior!) camera ready to go. <<
I'm also a photographer (third hobby/job after playing and repairing woodwinds) and it's a little different. I'm trying to think if cameras or clarinets have more problems but it's hard to say because of the differences in the way they are made and used. I think woodwind players need repairs more often, but cameras have critical issues more often.
Photographers often use two cameras (sometimes the same model) regardless of backup. Almost no clarinetist needs two of the same clarinet (I actually did a couple of times but still).
How often do you hear about a clarinet player having a problem playing a concert because of a sudden problem with an instrument? It's extremely rare. For most people, rare enough that having a second instrument is too much.
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Author: fskelley
Date: 2017-08-25 16:35
It might depend on the setting. I got to spend 1 day at Clarinet Fest here in Orlando courtesy of my middle school granddaughter (I was her chaperone for student day), and I've pondered the backup issue for the soloists. Some surely did bring a 2nd clarinet they would be comfortable playing, even if not an exact duplicate of their #1. But think of the venue- 1000 other instruments ready to be borrowed, technicians right and left ready to fix anything not catastrophic (think broken tenon from a drop)- especially for a big name player, no problem no matter what. Except for the migraine. Any symphony or high end band setting would be almost as forgiving.
On the other hand, if you go play somewhere that if you needed to borrow a clarinet you'd be lucky to get Suzie's (sorry Suzie) First Act in poor repair- perhaps a backup in the trunk is a wise move.
Stan in Orlando
EWI 4000S with modifications
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Author: kdk
Date: 2017-08-25 16:51
A colleague in one of the orchestras I play in regularly does bring a second set of instruments out on the stage for rehearsals and performances - fully assembled on instrument stands next to the ones he's actually using. It eliminates what is for him a considerable source of anxiety. I've always been more inclined in an emergency to count on being able to transpose to the other of my two instruments (A and Bb), which are both always with me on stage, either assembled or in my case, when I play.
Karl
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Author: Tony F
Date: 2017-08-26 04:38
I've fixed quite a lot of loose tenons and mouthpieces in emergency situations (not mine) with the roll of teflon tape I keep in my case. Just hold the old cork in place with your thumb, apply a few wraps of tape and you're good to go. I've even fixed them between numbers.
As for spare instruments, I always have an old plastic Henkin in the car. It has been set up specifically for my shovel-sized hands and is close enough in feel to my every-day instrument that changing to it isn't a problem. It has a mouthpiece similar to my normal instrument. It gets an airing a few times a year when I'm able to score a blow at a jazz club or jam. I keep it in a double case on which the unused side has been converted into a woodwind repair station, with some tools, pads, cork, glue etc. This also gets used a fair bit, but again not often on my instruments.
Tony F.
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Author: fskelley
Date: 2017-08-26 05:59
Karl- sounds like a safer way to eliminate stress than taking meds, and more useful in a pinch also. Unless, of course, the RX is needed for some other reason.
Tony- of course I should have known not to try to fill the whole void with my Teflon tape, put it over the old loose cork. Genius. Might have even decided why bother to fix it. OK, maybe not.
I am not surprised you have helped others but have not needed the tools or spare much yourself. That's because you are prepared, the gremlins (just like burglars) would rather bother someone not ready for it.
Stan in Orlando
EWI 4000S with modifications
Post Edited (2017-08-26 06:01)
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Author: fskelley
Date: 2017-09-01 01:45
Today 8/31 in the mail came what I should have bought a long time ago- a Ridenour Lyrique 576BC. Price on this one was low because it looked like it had nickel wear through in a few places, but the photos looked worse than reality. And it is responding well to my polishing cloth even the first day. I had expected to want to touch up the plating, but there's no need. (Edited to add- after further polishing I think the nickel is actually intact or nearly so. Easily this is a "3 footer".)
And it plays perfectly and wonderfully, in better playing condition than I had any reason to expect. Interesting that my Arioso which is supposed to be identical acoustically to the 576 (there is some dissension on that point) is close but I can tell that I've stepped up. Tuning is really good on the Arioso but the 576 is better! So of course the 576 is now primary and the Arioso is my backup. And I will not bat an eye if I need to pull out the Arioso in a pinch. One less thing to worry about at a performance.
Stan in Orlando
EWI 4000S with modifications
Post Edited (2017-09-01 16:32)
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