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how do u swab?

Author: Tam Ngo
Date: 2001-10-24 16:25

hi..when u guys swab, do you insert it from the bell or the top joint? i read that swabbing from the top to the bottom is better for R13s or something.

also, do u swab with the barrel on or off? if off, how do you clean the barrel?????

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RE: how do u swab?

Author: Tam Ngo
Date: 2001-10-24 16:30

also, what are your favorite brands of swabs?

i don't really like home-made ones much.

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RE: how do u swab?

Author: William
Date: 2001-10-24 16:48

Handkerchief swabs (silk customs), pulled from the bell through the barrel (twice is enough) while the clarinet is fully assembled (without the mpc--never swab that!!) After swabbing, be sure to dry the tendon sockets and wipe off your keys with another dry, soft cloth. See the thread about stuck pads, also. I do not believe the theory about "swabbing and clarinet to death." People who believe they have done that to their instruments are discounting inevitable changes that occure in their own playing habits and technique over the years. Good Clarineting.

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RE: how do u swab?

Author: GBK
Date: 2001-10-24 19:05

Time for true confessions:

We all agree that clarinetists are fussy, detail oriented, anal retentive, some have obsessive compulsive disorder, etc...

That being said, for my entire playing career (too many years to remember), I've been very superstitious about ONLY swabbing the clarinet from top to bottom. - (ok, you can stop laughing). In my fussy, detail oriented, anal retentive way, I would like the swab to follow the path of the sound, not go against it. How weird is that?

Anyone know a good shrink??

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RE: how do u swab?

Author: beejay
Date: 2001-10-24 22:11

If you are on the bandstand or in the orchestra pit, always swab from the top to the bell, since you can always get the darned thing out if it gets stuck.

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RE: how do u swab?

Author: Sandra Franklin Habekost
Date: 2001-10-24 22:35

I vote for and was taught bell to barrel. That way you follow the reverse path of the condensation. I was also taught for wooden instruments to always line up the logos on the barrel, joints, and bell, so that any condensation collecting in a new instrument will follow a straight line path, i.e. the condensation path will "train" to the back of the clarinet and not into the pads. I found this to be helpful information when I purchased new instruments and was "breaking them in". Good luck!

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RE: how do u swab?

Author: Eoin McAuley
Date: 2001-10-25 07:17

For a quick swab in the middle of playing, leave the clarinet assembled and swab from barrel to bell. This is less likely to jam the swab in the narrowest part, which is around the speaker tube. When finished playing, disassemble, dry each tenon and socket with tissue and swab the joint. Shake out the mouthpiece or dab it lightly with tissue but don't swab it. Leave clarinet in case with lid open for a while to finish the drying process if possible.

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RE: how do u swab?

Author: jlt
Date: 2001-10-31 00:56

i'm just a high school student, but why don't you swab out the mouthpiece? do you just leave it all spitty and put it back in the case?

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