 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Josh Schultze
Date: 2001-11-26 19:26
How long does a clarinet usually last?
I know that violins, cellos and violas have a lifespan of about 350 years. During the first 50 years the sound of the string instrument improves. The next 250 the instrument has its stable peak period. The last 50 years the stringed instrument goes through a gradual decline where the wood no longer is resonant.
Does the clarinet go through a similar process during its lifespan?
Thanks
Josh
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Author: Mario
Date: 2001-11-26 19:44
Stoltzman, on Public TV a few years back, said that a clarinet that is professionally used lasts about 10 years... I am quite interested in learning too about this interesting question.
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Author: Alyson
Date: 2001-11-26 20:36
So if the clarinet is not "used" daily, does this mean it will last longer?
( no I am not trying to get out of practising, just curious )
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Author: David Spiegelthal
Date: 2001-11-26 20:44
It's feasible to restore an old clarinet to near-new condition and continue playing it indefinitely, with proper care. Since the current U.S.-standard Boehm-system clarinet has really only existed since around 1900 or so, there's probably not much experience with the longevity of instruments older than that (in terms of continued daily use). But many of us play on clarinets made in the 20's or 30's that are perfectly fine, and should be usable for many decades to come. Time will tell if any of these last into another century like some string instruments have.
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Author: Mark Pinner
Date: 2001-11-26 21:05
I have clarinets dating from 1860, 1870, 1920 (approx) and a pair from 1931 all of which play perfectly well and have been overhauled many times. These instruments play perfectly well for what they are 2 Baermann system (Bb and D) both Bohemian (Czech), a Henri Farny Albert Bb and a pair, Bb and A, of Barrett Action Clinton systems which are true works of art with slevved tuning mechanism and tenons. These instruments have really been used a lot and still play well because they have been looked after properly and oiled regularly. There is no "softening" of the tone holes and the key mechanisms have been adjusted correctly.
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Author: ron b
Date: 2001-11-26 21:35
Perhaps a 'good' clarinet could go ten years before needing a complete overhaul. Pretty much like old cars (as long as they're maintained), they just keep going and going and going .... >8)
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Author: joevacc
Date: 2001-11-26 21:54
I have a 1947 Chevy Fleetmaster Coupe that runs perfectly and... er,, I mean a 1947 Leblanc and it to is a beautiful instrument. The key work is a work of art! I hope to keep it going long after I am dead. ;~)
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Author: Wes
Date: 2001-11-27 07:10
Yes, I have a 1912 Buffet Bb and a 1921 Buffet A that are still fine. Yet, some persons think that the wood loses something over many years of use and say their instrument is played out. One oboe maker said that, in that case, the wood crumbles when carved in a lathe while new wood carves into shavings.
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Author: t
Date: 2001-11-27 10:22
My instructor went to the Buffet factory last year, play tested
and then bought the top of the line matched R13s. Despite
following all the advice I have ever heard, including two
dampits, etc. they cracked in less than one year.
In contrast, my 1963 Selmer Series 9, 1953 Buffet R13, and
matched 1929(circa) Hermann Todts all have no cracks,
tighter grain, and better tone than the new R13s (not my
opinion, that of the university music staff.) To be honest,
the older the nicer, once rehabbed. The Buffet has had
"organic oil immersion" by Larry Naylor
http://naylors-woodwind-repair.com
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Author: liz
Date: 2001-11-27 23:52
wow, this is great news. i'm a high school junior, and i got my r-13 the summer before my freshman year, and i didn't know how long it was going to last. i know two other high school clarinet players who are both seniors who have both gone through one Bb r-13 (each) and both got new ones after about 4 or 5 years because they both said that their first ones were blown out. it's reassuring that my clarinet won't have to be replaced any time soon.
liz
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Author: Eoin
Date: 2001-11-28 08:27
Clarinets are very different from violins. In Violins, it is the quality of the wood that counts. The sound is produced by resonance in the body of the violin, so the characteristics of the wood are very important. These change over the years as the wood dries out.
In clarinets, the body of the clarinet acts only as a container for the air which makes the sound, so it is the shape of the clarinet which counts, not the constructional material. If the wood of the clarinet is treated well so that it does not shrink or expand, the sound will never change with time.
What does change in clarinets is the pads and corks. These degrade over time, and the more you play the more moisture will attack them. So these have to be replaced regularly. The mechanical levers may get out of alignment over time as well, so they will have to be overhauled. There is no reason why an old clarinet with new pads and carefully overhauled mechanism should sound any different from its original sound.
A trumpet was found in the tomb of Tutankhamen, dating from 1800 BC approx. It was played once in the 1950s and was found to sound good. Unfortunately, the metal had become brittle over the millennia and the trumpet shattered. It has been restored but will not be played again.
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Author: JMcAulay
Date: 2001-11-28 16:17
To anyone who has the belief that your professional-level clarinet which has no mechanical damage has "blown out": please accept my offer of a $25 salvage fee to take that old, no-good, worthless instrument off your hands. Reasonable shipping charges will be added, as well. What a deal, eh?
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Author: RA
Date: 2001-12-01 03:08
This is a good question. I would like to know as i am a fairly new player but not too new. four years in jan.
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