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Re: very tight joints on new clarinet

Author: Chris P
Date: 2020-09-08 23:34

What has to change is peoples perceptions and expectations from running around like headless chickens shouting "OMG I like sooo can't believe this is like happening to my like brand new clarinet?" to understanding the nature of wood and how it will change with humidity changes.

As Buffets are undoubtedly the biggest sellers of clarinets, then perception is skewed that it's just a Buffet thing when it's something that can happen with any brand new wooden instrument by any other maker where the tenons were fitting well at the point of manufacture and began to bind up during the playing in period.

It's the total lack of education and explanation that's the problem - ALL brand new wooden instruments will experience some degree or other of movement and binding tenons once they're being played from new, all sellers should explain this can happen to the buyer and the buyer has to understand this is something they're likely to experience within the first few weeks of owning a brand new wooden instrument and what to do when it happens. That way, no-one will feel they're being hard done by. Yes it's an inconvenience, but it's easily rectified by a repairer and dealt with when it begins to happen.

Also what is never mentioned is the ideal time to buy new wooden instruments - the worst time is between October and March as that's when humidity levels are dropping. The chances of cracks happening is greater during this time, but not to say they can't happen at any other time.

If you buy a wooden instrument, you're taking a gamble. Wood isn't as stable a material as you think it is.

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

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