 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Jas
Date: 2002-02-02 16:37
A fellow clarinetist in my local community band purchased a brand new, top of the line clarinet only 11 months ago. I won't mention the brand (suffice to say it IS a professional model from a reputable maker) but he paid well over $3,000 (Cndn) for it. Now, 11 months later, it has three cracks; two in the barrel and one on the upper joint. I tried to talk him into sending it back to the manufacturer, but he says there is nothing he can do about it but get it fixed; that cracking of a new clarinet is not uncommon; it's a chance you take and seller will only repair the crack and get the instrument playable again.
My question here is..... Someday, I plan on replacing my resonite model with a top of the line wooden clarinet. Is it indeed "normal" for some new wooden clarinets to crack from playing? If so, is there a way to "break it in" to reduce the chances of damage? Are certain brands less prone to this?
Thanks for your help,
Jas... fellow player.
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Author: Dee
Date: 2002-02-02 18:01
At 11 months, his clarinet should still be under warranty and they should replace the cracked joints.
No it is not "normal" for a wooden clarinet to crack although a noticeable percentage do. Unfortunately there is no way to detect in advance which ones my be prone to cracking. No particular brand is more resistant than any other.
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Author: Dan Borlawsky
Date: 2002-02-02 22:09
Although oiling the bore may be controversial, I have to wonder whether your friend did this, or followed other "new clarinet" cautionary advice during the first few weks and months. No matter now; it's cracked, but I agree that it should be replaced during the first year.
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Author: JMcAulay
Date: 2002-02-03 00:34
Please let me have your friend's name, as I have some land for sale which is extremely close to a large body of water in Florida. Perhaps he would be interested in purchasing it. I can think of no better buyer for my property.
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Author: Jamie Talbot
Date: 2002-02-03 11:04
I had a Buffett R13 for 8 years with no problems.I was using it frequently in all sorts
of conditions but I took on a west end show playing in a theatre pit 8 times a week
and after about 10 months, the top joint cracked.I had it pinned and then another crack appeared in a different place.Eventually,I got the top joint replaced wich cracked after just a few months.Finally I returned to my old B&H 1010 and have had no further problems.(I,m also really enjoying playing a larger bore instrument after years on french ones)
Repairers seem to agree that regular swabbing of the clarinet can help reduce the risk of cracking and especially keeping the tone-holes dry after use.
However,with the prices of clarinets these days one could be forgiven for expecting
better quality instruments made from longer seasoned wood.
The only other solution would seem to be 'composite' clarinets such as the Buffett Green Line range.This instruments will not crack since there is no grain in them.
Any thoughts?
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Author: Bob
Date: 2002-02-03 17:20
If the "greenline" won't crack then why isn't it guaranteed not to crack? My impression is that the "warranty" is 3 years. In my opinion that line of instruments is certainly less prone to crack than those made from any natural wood lumber. However, "plastic" will crack, fibre composites will crack, steel will crack, brass will crack.....under certain conditions. Ever know someone with a fibreglass boat that cracked? Ever seen a plastic storm door window that the burglar shattered with spray. I'm trying to think of a material that I haven't seen crack and I'm striking out so far. It would probably be hard to crack gold, silver or platinum.
Maybe ten years from now the marketer of "greenline" might warranty it for the life of the original owner. Understand, I am not knocking greenline as I think it's a great idea and the marketer should be congratulated for this innovation. There are other types of processes that have been experimented with in the past and currently that have some potential for diminishing crack sensitivity of lumber used for wood instruments and other products. and so on.....
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Author: Jim E.
Date: 2002-02-04 04:50
Bob,
Sure, you can crack most materials given enough force... The diference is that wood clarinets sometimes crack from moisture changes when being used normally and with gentle treatment.
As for fiberglass boats... a well designed and built boat that has not had the underlying wooden structure rotted away (most fiberglass boats are not ALL fiberglass) will not crack unless subjected to unusual stress from collision or abuse.
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Author: Bob
Date: 2002-02-04 15:23
Jim...thanks. My point was that there seems to be an inference that a greenline will not crack....period ...whereas, as far as I can tell ,the manufacturer/marketer is not really making any such guarantee. Also, I was attempting to clarify that force is not the only agent that causes cracking of some materials and you have rightly pointed out that h2o is one of them. As others have pointed out here even "good" wood clarinets can survive without cracking until one day they are exposed to a situation that results in cracking. imho... greenline has not been around long enough for anyone to claim "they won't crack".
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2002-02-05 11:51
I can see no reason why Greenline should not be guaranteed against longitudinal cracks, but I would EXPECT the centre tenon to crack and break off if the instrument is sat on whiule on a bed or couch.
Dee wrote "No particular brand is more resistant than any other."
I doubt that this is true. Dee do you have valid research evidence for this statement?
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