 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Mike M
Date: 2025-03-20 17:31
granadilla wood clarinets and oboes have been cracking (for various reasons; humidity/temp variations, etc.) for years.
For the past several years it seem to me that more newer insts have more of a tendency to crack...although I could be wrong..
If I were to look for a new-to-me clarinet (R13/other) I'd have more confidence in a 70's/80's vintage "used" instrument that has lived its life without cracking and thus should continue to do so with proper care.
I have a Selmer 10G (that I purchased new in '77) as my main inst. Over the past few years I have acquired a couple of Selmer 9* clarinets (for something different to play); no cracks and they play well for what they are.
I am not in the market for a new inst. although I do have students that need one on occasion...and I always recommend a used one (vintage listed above).
Have more granadilla insts been cracking as of late or is it my imagination?
Allegro Chamber Players
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: mozartklar
Date: 2025-03-20 18:24
I think a lot of people would tell you that the quality of the wood was much better as was the aging process for that wood. They used the let it air dry for up to 10 years! Look at Buffet for example. The R-13 was their top of the line model for many years and as such, they had a stockpile of quality heartwood that went into all of those horns. They made those horns out of their best, most dense wood. Later, as they developed more chic models, the better wood got diverted to those instruments. Think R-13 vs. R-13 Prestige, Festival, Legende, Tradition, Tosca, RC-Prestige, etc.
I've played on some R-13s from the 60s, 70s, and 80s and they are almost all better than the newer Buffet's I own and have played.
My former teacher was gifted a set of 10Gs from Anthony Gigliotti and they are just wonderful. The A clarinet is especially well built and solid all around.
Post Edited (2025-03-20 18:26)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: David H. Kinder
Date: 2025-03-20 19:41
Attachment: density of 2x4 past vs present.jpg (136k)
I hope this is a false equivalent, but when I see these images of 2x4 wood from 100 years ago compared to today, I truly hope it's not an indication of the quality of grenadilla for clarinet manufacturing.
Ridenour AureA Bb clarinet
Vandoren BD5 HD 13-series mouthpiece
Vandoren Optimum Silver ligature (plate 1)
Vandoren #4 Blue-box reeds
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: mozartklar
Date: 2025-03-20 19:50
It's not. All those centuries old trees they cut down are not coming back anytime soon. Go look up the grenadilla tree at various ages. A 80 year old grenadilla tree looks like a 10 year old maple.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Chris P
Date: 2025-03-20 23:11
High volume producers are going to rush things through far more now when they want to monopolise the market by having at least fifteen models in their lineup instead of concentrating on one model like they used to back in the '50s, so somethings got to give and that's the time allocated to well seasoned wood and allowing the wood time to rest in between each stage of machining.
From square section billet to finished joint should take around seven to ten years with plenty of rest time in between each stage, but modern machining and production techniques can turn a square section billet into a finished joint in a matter of minutes with little to no rest time in between each stage of machining.
If all the joints for all models have the same basic outer dimensions and profile, then the joints that don't make the grade for high end models can always be used for intermediate or pro level models and the difference in grain pattern and colour variation can always be disguised with dye.
And it doesn't take a genius to work out exactly which maker I'm talking about there. Although they're not alone as I've seen a small volume maker using joints that should've been scrapped due to the inherent defects in them, but they still made it right through production with said defects being filled in and the problems soon arose afterwards.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: m1964
Date: 2025-03-21 06:21
Mike M wrote:
"granadilla wood clarinets and oboes have been cracking (for various reasons; humidity/temp variations, etc.) for years.
For the past several years it seem to me that more newer insts have more of a tendency to crack...although I could be wrong..
If I were to look for a new-to-me clarinet (R13/other) I'd have more confidence in a 70's/80's vintage "used" instrument that has lived its life without cracking and thus should continue to do so with proper care.
...Have more granadilla insts been cracking as of late or is it my imagination?"
There are plenty of older instrument with cracks. They can be a good value since the price is often reduced. A crack that is fixed properly will not open up.
Regarding how many new instruments crack vs. those in 70s and 80s is impossible to compare. We may just hear about the issue more due to the modern information tech.
Also, I have a feeling that many owners of a new instrument made of grenadilla do not follow the recommendations from the manufacturer on breaking the instrument in and just start practicing 1-2 hours/day or more.
No new clarinet comes with printed instructions on break-in procedure. You'd need to go to the manufacturer's website for that or to an external source like this one:
https://clarinet.dk/content/show_content.php?id=151&cont=us&lang=en&instr=cla
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: RBlack
Date: 2025-03-21 06:57
I have owned probably ~10 clarinets, and the ONLY one that cracked on me so far was also the only one that was purchased new… Anecdotal, but it definitely informs my personal opinion and belief on it.
I am quite careful with temperature, humidity, and general care of my clarinets, however.
I don’t remember the exact process I followed on the new clarinet in question, but I did follow some break in routine, and I believe it cracked a year or so after purchasing it.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: ruben
Date: 2025-03-21 10:45
One of the reasons for cracking is that producers use one operation for lathing the bore and do it a high speed, which overheats the wood and is an assault on it. A friend that makes handcrafted clarinets does this in three different operations and at low speed. His clarinets never crack. Plus, his wood is high quality and naturally air dried.
rubengreenbergparisfrance@gmail.com
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
