 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Daniel
Date: 2001-06-09 11:51
What swabs are you using? What brand and type? How do you feel about "pad savers"?
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Author: susannah
Date: 2001-06-09 11:59
I have one pull through which is really goos, as far as I know it has no brand on it, but it is a light blue colour with a maroon cord. Apart from that I just use the yamaha ones that come with the clarinets. I used to use the fluffy kind off pad savers but they were just too much trouble.
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2001-06-09 13:00
Pad 'savers' should be named 'pad destroyers' because of the mould they encourage (if they are left inside the instrument). This sort of naming/advertising designed to deceive the public is actually illegal, I believe, here in New Zealand. It amazes me that the industry has put up with this BS for so long.
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2001-06-09 13:03
The subject has been well discussed quite recently. Do a search on "pad saver".
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Author: Rosie
Date: 2001-06-09 15:49
I bought some plain white cotton swabs last year, however, the first time in the wash, I lost the weights. So in order not to totally lose my 'investment', I went to the local fabric store and bought a length of the type of weights used in the making of drapes. I also bought a heavy type of binding stuff, I think it was about a half an inch wide. Anyway, with these in hand, I fabricated my own length to go down the bore covering the weights with the binding, and attached it to the original swab. I've had no problems in the washing machine since, and I can still get it through the bore quite nicely.
When these wear out, I'm going to fashion my own with high-quality men's 100% cotton handkerchiefs and new weighted lengths. Since the hankies are a little large, I'll probably cut them down to approximately the same size as the original swab.
When I first started playing last year, my teacher told me to use the 100% cotton handkerchiefs to clean out the mouthpiece after each use, so that's where the idea came from.
As far as the pad 'savers'. That's the fuzzy thing right? I have a set of those too, and if I've been extra 'spitty', I'll go through with those too, trying to dry out the tone holes after I've used the cotton swab. I NEVER leave them in the clarinet.
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Author: David Kinder
Date: 2001-06-09 16:45
I've used a Selmer swab for years. I've heard of other more expensive swabs, but I think the selmer works great for me. I still can't believe that the Vandoren swab costs almost TWICE as much as the selmer.
Pad savers are just plain stupid. Somehow they make my sound stuffier when I use them. I think the cotton fibers somehow affect the inside of my bore and it just doesn't play the same. I'd stay away from them - unless it's a plastic clarinet and you have students that refuse to swab. (I have no experience with that, but I would think that they would work much better for student clarinets.)
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Author: Sara
Date: 2001-06-09 19:03
I use the GEM silk swabs, they're the best, and I keep two around so that when one gets dirty I can switch and wash the other one!
Sara
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Author: beth
Date: 2001-06-09 19:34
I use a chamois, length of cord and a weight. When my chamois wears out, I cut another square from my DH's auto stash (in the dead of night!).
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Author: Wendy
Date: 2001-06-10 01:21
I use cloth diapers (the ones I got for my first child 23 years ago & never used 'cause disposables are SO much easier!) I cut them to a good width with pinking shears (just one side - the other 3 sides are finished) & attach a cord & weight taken from those useless cheap chamois swabs. They are nice & long so they do a great job getting it all dry with one or two passes.
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Author: mw
Date: 2001-06-10 01:28
From all that I have seen & used, the Gem is probably the best value for silk swabs (bang for the buck wise, anways) I recently got a microfibre swab from WW&BW it looks kinda thick compared to my silk swabs, but have not used it yet.
best,
mw
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Author: beth
Date: 2001-06-10 01:39
Let me clarify, I don't use the cheap, felt "chamois". I use the real McCoy! Started using them in the early 60's and when they got too expensive, I've started to raid my DH's treasured stash. I agree the felt squares are horrible, they don't absorb worth a darn.
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Author: Jonathan
Date: 2001-06-10 04:49
Well,
I have used a silk swab that i made myself but having just tried out some new Festival A clarinets the little weight on the end wouldn't fit through. So I thought - well what could be the harm in using the new pull through that came with my new Festival Bb that i'd already bought-until i make a new silk one. So I took it along a few mondays ago to wind octet - came to a piece that required A clarinet - played for a while then decided - wee hee - time to pull through. Sooooo, down went the pull through - down the bell - out through the barrel and i pulled it through. It tore and got caught on the post for the register key and the whole top joint and barrel went flying into the second clarinettist next to me - luckily it got her in the stomach otherwise it probably would have knocked her out or severely bent some keys had it hit her clarinet. (I also had a job getting the pull through out as well)
Moral of the story - don't use buffet pull throughs that come with their clarinets - my teacher said he's had some similar experiences as well. Perish the thought that a pull through that comes with a $4500 (AUD) clarinet should actually work(even for one time)!!!! I think the people at Buffet think that clarinettists would take a pull through with buffet inscribed all over it (not wanting to get it dirty of course) and hang it on the wall or something and make a shrine to it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :-) ;-)
What i'd suggest is just get a large piece of silk and tie/sew a soft cord or string with a small weight on the end to it. (ie rip the weight off a buffet pull through and wack it on a piece of silk) ;-)
(Also of course don't ever pull through your mouthpiece)
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Author: Anji
Date: 2001-06-10 12:08
Being relentlessly cheap, I make my own from the synthetic Chamois available at car parts stores.
I use a 48" long hiking boot lace, with the swab tied in the center of the string.
WHEN it gets stuck, I can pull it back out the other way.
When the swab is no longer a shocking orange, I cut another 3 1/2" x 5" section from the original bolt.
This stuff is designed to hold lots of water, so it works really well.
The heavy shoelace doesn't need a weight.
Wendy,
The 'recycled' nappies make better swabs... the micro burnishing effect of biologic byproducts makes horns play 'darker'.
anji
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Author: Sandee
Date: 2001-06-10 13:15
Does pulling a silk swab through your mouthpiece really damage it? It just bothers me to think of putting the MP away wet.....
Sandee
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Author: L. Omar Henderson
Date: 2001-06-11 13:09
I am not a mouthpiece maker nor a "wannabe" and the fine craftsperson's represented on the sponsor page can give your their opinions, but I would not put anything through my mouthpieces - especially given the diversity of types, and potential abrasive qualities of swabs used. Why not try removing the mouthpiece first after playing and just running some tap water through the MP, set it aside on a paper towel, then go through the swabbing of the instrument, wiping off the keys, and by then the MP should be dry - put it all away. Given the qualitites of the warm air (I won't gross everyone out with all this stuff - never play just after eating without brushing your teeth) and condensation in the MP, it is an ideal place for bacteria and mold to grow - it probably will not kill you but after a while it does smell. Other's may have helpful advice on the subject.
The Doctor
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