 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Marci
Date: 1999-06-01 15:25
On the way back from a weekend trip, I had my clarinet case in the backseat (on the floor) Well, the little cooler we had back there somehow leaked and got onto my clarinet case. Now not only did it ruin some of my music, but it also got on my clarinet. I think that it was a combination of both water and a little bit of coke. When I opened up my case, I saw that the upper joint and bell of my Bb clarinet was wet. I dried it off and noticed that the wood had been discolored somehow. Could this be because of the coke that was also in the water? What can I do, if anything, to get rid of it? I tried to wipe off the upper joint using a wet cloth, being careful to avoid the pads. There was a brownish sort of color that came off onto the towel. Could the coke have soaked into the wood? I checked for cracks and didn't see any. I guess I just want to know if my clarinet will be alright!! Thanks in advance for your help!
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Author: Don Poulsen
Date: 1999-06-01 15:57
If your clarinet did not soak in the water for a long time and your clarinet is already dried out and there are no signs of damage to the body, I would not be too worried. Remember that it is expected to be exposed to some moisture.
If the brownish stuff came off when you were wiping off the outside, it is probably the carmel coloring in the Coke; if it came off when you were cleaning the inside, it also could have been gunk that has accumulated in there, but since you probably swab out your clarinet after playing it, I doubt that it was. Was the instrument still discolored after you wiped it off? After wiping it with a damp cloth and letting it dry off thoroughly, I would expect that wiping a little bore oil on it wouldn't hurt.
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Author: Nicole Y.
Date: 1999-06-01 21:54
Hola!
It could be the stain of the clarinet, IF it is a wooden one. However, I can't say. Like Don said, it could just have been the coke coloring...
the rising freshman,
Nicole Y.
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Author: Dee
Date: 1999-06-02 00:59
I'ld suggest a really good cleaning. If it got on the pads, they may need replaced. If it got on the springs, they should be cleaned too.
The coloring could be from the caramel in the cola or general dirt as suggested by the others. It could also be some of the dye from the wood if your instrument is one of the many that were dyed for consistency of color. I think most soft drinks are mildly acidic and it could leach a little of the dye out of the wood.
Basically if you get it cleaned off really well, it should be ok even if you have to replace a few pads.
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Author: paul
Date: 1999-06-02 16:14
I have to echo Dee's comments and emphasize the need to make sure the pads and springs are okay. The sugar and carbonic acid (carbonated water) can mess up pads and springs.
In addition, you may need to have your maintenance tech take the time to disassemble the horn and rinse/clean and lightly oil (with key oil, of course) all of the affected rods, too. The sugar and acid could eventually cause the rods to stick a lot, which would affect the horn's performance eventually.
Personally, if someone spilled a drink on my own horn, I'd take it back for a complete light overhaul to make sure everything works up to 100%. But, keep in mind that I have a premium pro-grade horn that's worth a couple thousand dollars. So, the $125 or so investment in a complete light overhaul would be worth it to me.
There is another reason why I'd opt for the light overhaul for my horn in this situation. I have the blue steel springs (instead of the more common stainless steel ones). In exchange for the better feel and key response, the blue steel spring has almost no corrosion protection. Stainless steel has some rust protection, but it has its limits.
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Author: Derek
Date: 1999-06-03 22:32
Hi. You do you have a wood clarinet, right? Well you might want to get it check out because sometimes too much water will cause the clarinet to expaned, therefore changing the pitch. However, chances are, it will be fine. Hope this helps!
Derek. :):)
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Author: William Fuller
Date: 1999-06-04 02:20
Blow into it--if it plays like it used to, don't worry about it. We musicians sometimes tend to get a little paranoid about our precious instruments and start to worry about every little thing rather than how it actually is playing and sounding. These instruments tend to be much more durable than we give them credit for. Given proper and reasonable care, they should last a lifetime. If all of this wonderful advice doesn't comfort you, then ease your mind and take it to a competent repair person for a check-up. Usually, everything is repairable--but you probable have nothing to worry about, except your next audition.
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