 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: R Simpson
Date: 2002-06-02 02:18
Does anyone have any advice on breaking in a new Bass Clarinet?
I am getting a new Buffet 1180 Bass Clarinet for the 2002-2003 school year.
Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks!
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Author: RS
Date: 2002-06-02 18:56
The same way you would any wooden horn. 5-10 minutes a day--maybe twice a day--for the first week. Then start adding 5 or 10 minutes a day until you are to an hour. You should be okay then. It's important not to lather up a new horn too quick as most cracks occur within the first 6 months. Go easy at first.
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Author: William
Date: 2002-06-02 20:05
Play it "at will" but be certain to swab it as carefully as you would your sopranos, clean the tendon sockets and also swab (with a Bb swab) the metal neck joint to keep it from gukking up. For swabbing the bass, I recommend a silk, handkerchief style. The "swab" that comes with the Buffet 1180s (gun barrel cleaner type) leaves a lot of lint in the tone holes and does not thoroughly remove moisture. Play your heart out and ENJOY. These new Buffet clarinets "rock." Good (Bass) Clarineting!!!
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Author: Pam
Date: 2002-06-02 22:25
I agree with RS's advice to break in any new wooden horn GRADUALLY. It only takes around a month to break in this way. My teacher also recommended to me to go with long tones, starting in the low end and adding a note up each day (or each session of 2 per day - memory fails right now).
Enjoy your new horn!
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Author: javier garcia
Date: 2002-06-03 01:01
I've also purchased a new 1180, a year and a half ago. I did the break-up period for a month, as RS says. Swab the clarinet gently each 20 or 30 minutes, to avoid the condensation of humidity in the bore.
The horn is in great condition, no cracks and I enjoy it now a lot.
good clarineting
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Author: HAT
Date: 2002-06-03 16:01
The other option is to just play it like crazy so that if it is going to crack, it will do so within the warranty period. I am not necessarily advising this, but as advice, it isn't totally wacky.
David Hattner, NYC
www.northbranchrecords.com
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Author: Robert S
Date: 2002-06-03 17:56
What if it cracks the day after the warranty expires? Maybe breaking in a clarinet is unnecessary (and William's post above is the first time in over 40 years of playing that I have heard someone make this claim) but it definitely can't hurt. I believe it's best to err on the side of caution.
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Author: Joe O'Kelly
Date: 2002-06-04 03:03
If an instrument is going to crack its going to crack. In the past I have tried the break in proceedures and ended up with cracked instruments. I decided to just play the heck out of my A clarinet when I got it and it has not yet cracked.
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Author: Robert S
Date: 2002-06-04 04:43
I have always taken care to break in my clarinets and have never had a crack.
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Author: graham
Date: 2002-06-05 08:44
The big thing is avoid temperature extremes and swings in humidity. Do not play it for a break in period of ten minutes and then take it to school through the snow in the following five minutes etc. Avoid moisture reducing environments like being near to central heating outlets.
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