 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: tdufka
Date: 2019-09-23 23:11
I have read conflicting accounts of the treatment one should give a new clarinet. Some say that play time should be limited during the first few sessions to allow the wood to slowly equilibrate to the added humidity of the breath. Others have indicated that this is not necessary.
Is there a definite answer to this question?
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Author: kdk
Date: 2019-09-23 23:27
Yes, and that's very likely what you'll read here, too. This advice, of course, was meant to apply to new wood instruments. I don't think the manufacturers recommend a phased break-in for composite materials.
That said, I suspect most of us have used the limited-use break-in process if oinly out of an abundance of caution regardless of what we suspect is really needed.
Karl
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Author: jdbassplayer
Date: 2019-09-23 23:50
Personally I think you should play it as much as possible to increase the risk of cracking. This may sound counterintuitive, but if a clarinet is going to crack it is likely going to crack no mater what, and playing it less is only going to delay the inevitable. It is preferable to have it crack when it is still in the warranty period that way you can get a free crack repair or new replacement joint and avoid paying out of pocket. This of course only applies to instruments with a warranty.
This is what I did when I got my new wooden G clarinet, and the barrel ended up cracking after a few days. If I had played it less and it cracked later, I would be paying for a new barrel myself.
-Jdbassplayer
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Author: Caroline Smale
Date: 2019-09-24 01:54
I am firmly in the camp of treating an instrument gently in the early weeks / months. In 65 playing years I have never had an instrument crack.
Yes playing an instrument intensively from new may cause it too crack, and you may be able to get a joint fixed or repaired under guarantee. But a replaced joint is rarely as good as the original one so why take that risk.
If one has a piece of wood that is at risk of cracking (i.e. insufficiently matured or just a bad piece of wood) then it will still show up in the first year anyway.
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Author: Late_returner
Date: 2019-09-24 14:28
Widening this topic beyond only new.
If you believe in gently breaking in, and have a lot of wooden clarinets, do you rotate each one to keep it " in service" ? How long can you leave any one unplayed before you should break it in again ?
I have 5 woodens, but i tend to play just 2 on a very regular basis, and my Eb can go for months without my remembering to play it. i read here of some posters with loads, which must take a lot of rotation organisation.
Be interested in your thoughts.
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Author: Late_returner
Date: 2019-09-24 14:28
Widening this topic beyond only new.
If you believe in gently breaking in, and have a lot of wooden clarinets, do you rotate each one to keep it " in service" ? How long can you leave any one unplayed before you should break it in again ?
I have 5 woodens, but i tend to play just 2 on a very regular basis, and my Eb can go for months without my remembering to play it. i read here of some posters with loads, which must take a lot of rotation organisation.
Be interested in your thoughts.
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Author: Tom H
Date: 2019-09-25 03:20
I will only talk about my most recent new Buffet. Bought exactly 20 years ago, I played it very sparingly at first. And still do. I practice on it once a month, but 4 hours a week in summer when I'm performing in a Band. My repair costs have been literally zero. 3 years ago a pad fell out...….
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Post Edited (2019-09-25 03:21)
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Author: Caroline Smale
Date: 2019-09-25 04:00
In response to "Late Returner" yes it is a very good idea to rotate your usage if you have multiple clarinets. Even If you have just a Bb and an A it is good for several reasons to practice on both, not least that it keeps you familiarised with the feel and response of each instrument.
Once an new instrument has been properly broken in then it should never need the "full" break in treatment again. However if an instrument is not used for a long time then a mini- break in, just to acclimatise the dried out wood to it's new humidity levels is a wise practice.
There will be plenty of folk who say they never do any of this and have had no problems, rather like folk who never wear a seat belt and are still alive and uninjured.
Ofcourse those who weren't so lucky may have a problem in posting from the grave.
Me, I buckle up for every journey!
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2019-09-25 10:56
If you are buying a new clarinet, then only buy it in mid to late spring when humidity levels are on the up.
Play it in as you have been advised to and by the time autumn and winter sets in and the heating goes on, it will have less chance of cracking.
Buying a new instrument in October or later is only asking for trouble as humidity levels are on the decline.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: HelenaS
Date: 2019-09-26 23:51
I only buy used wood clarinets and rarely have problems with them, even bringing them outdoors to play. The wood is pretty settled by then and for the $200 to $300 I pay for them, cracks don't scare me. Then again, I only play casually in a community band. If I had a brand new expensive wood clarinet, I'd likely baby that thing.
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