The Clarinet BBoard

The Clarinet BBoard The C4 standard

New Topic | Go to Top | Go to Topic | Search | Help/Rules | Smileys/Notes | Log In

Previous Message | Next Message

Re: New R13 break in advice

Author: Chris P
Date: 2021-02-13 14:30

This is the worst time of year to buy a brand new wooden clarinet what with the heating on, large temperature differences and the humidity levels low.

Only ever buy a brand new wooden clarinet from late spring to late summer so they'll be played in whilst humidity levels are higher as that will reduce the risk of the top joint cracking.

Unless they're in lockdown for the next few months and the clarinet is being kept and played in a stable environment, then they should be alright. If they are out and about all the time and playing in freezing cold halls or churches, then that's where problems usually happen.

Should the tenons bind in the sockets, DON'T reach for the nearest piece of sandpaper and start sanding away at the corks or the tenons, but take it straight to the best woodwind specialist to deal with them as it's the wood that's binding and just the right amount of wood should be removed from where it's binding so the tenons aren't wobbling in the sockets nor still too tight. Slapping on loads and loads of cork grease won't cure binding tenons as cork grease is for, oddly enough, cork.

It should be covered by a warranty for these niggling problems early on and usually that's issued by the seller, so some repairers may charge for any remedial work if they've had nothing to do with it - perhaps the repair costs can be reclaimed depending on the seller's policy.

Anyone who doesn't budget for future maintenance work on any instrument is naive. All instruments will require work at any point in time and that should always be a factor when buying any instrument, new or used.

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

Reply To Message | Avail. Forums | Flat View

Newer Topic | Older Topic

Topics