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Re: The most appropriate Clarinet temperature & humudity

Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2018-01-02 04:04

I have a number of inexpensive hygrometers and have found them to be unreliable - at least in the sense that no two of them actually agree on what the relative humidity is. So, the first question is, how certain are you that the reading on your hygrometer is accurate?

FWIW, I tend to consider seriously two indicators: is condensation forming on the instrument (RH is much too high)? are the socket rings loose (RH is too low)?

We're in an unusual cold snap right now in my area - temps haven't been out of the 20s (F.) in a week and are going down near 0 at night. We keep the indoor temp around 70 degrees during the day and let it fall into the mid-60s at night. RH in the house right now is in the low 40s (depending on which hygrometer I use) with a whole-house humidifier running. I'm not finding that any of the rings are loosening and the clarinets are playing normally. I should say that the newest of the clarinets I regularly play is around 35 years old, for what that may be worth.

I don't think trying to maintain some specific temperature and humidity is of much use as long as the instrument is being played regularly and you're warming it from the outside (per bmcgar's comment) before you start blowing hot air into it.

Karl

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