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Re: How much of a leak to impact playing?

Author: Chris P
Date: 2021-08-12 02:14

"The horns shouldn't ever leak"

No, they shouldn't leak, but they very often do and most wooden clarinets do from brand new.

The leaks may not be apparent, but they're still there to some degree as some instruments will leak more than others. You can't rely on wooden clarinets to have perfectly cut toneholes as wood will always have natural flaws and vessels that become apparent as soon as the cutter uncovers them and pads won't seal these natural flaws.

I've currently got a Yamaha YCL-CX in for a full overhaul and although the tonehole crowns are nicely formed with a flattened top to make them pad friendly (unlike the razor sharp Buffet ones), they have a LOT of vessels running across the crowns which I've had to fill in to be sure they're airtight once I install the new pads.

Anyone overhauling wooden clarinets ought to do this sort of work to ensure the pads they use will seat and seal perfectly on them. There are no excuses on not doing any tonehole work as it should be one of the most important stages of the overhaul, just like levelling toneholes when overhauling saxes regardless of make or model.

Plastic/composite and ebonite clarinets and wooden clarinets with their toneholes all bushed with plastic, ebonite or any other synthetic material should be the most airtight provided the tonehole countersinks have been cut nicely, the crowns are level and not damaged.

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

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