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Re: is this a crack?

Author: Chris P
Date: 2017-10-20 07:02

I see - their build quality has never been particularly great. I think they also use kiln dried grenadilla instead of naturally seasoned grenadilla (kiln drying is a much faster way of reducing the moisture content of wood, but not always the best way), so the dryness of the wood can cause it not to machine as well as wood with more moisture content.

I noticed when I've been cutting toneholes and reaming bores in summer when humidity levels are high, grenadilla feels very soft and almost waxy compared to winter when it's dry and powdery what with low humidity levels.

I've seen so many wooden oboes made by them with warped joints and the bores on their wooden clarinets aren't the smoothest which is why their plastic bodied instruments are better in that respect as they're moulded to leave a perfectly smooth bore and also don't warp like wood.

But I've seen wooden Yamaha, Buffet, Leblanc and Selmer Paris clarinets with fairly rough looking bores too, so it's something that can happen to any maker.

Reaming the bore can tear out defects in the timber leaving rough patches or voids - this can happen on high end instruments as well what with wood being a natural, massively variable and live substance.

Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.

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