 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: knoxville322
Date: 2011-03-25 22:12
I just bought a new Buffet R13 A clarinet. It has a beautiful, even sound, and I really love the instrument. As I've been breaking in the clarinet, water has been collecting in my register tube. Usually this happens about 15 minutes or so into playing. Does anyone know why this may be happening, how to fix it, how to prevent it, etc. I'd really appreciate some feedback.
Thanks so much,
MKW
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2011-03-25 22:48
Blow forcefully into it during a quiet flute or violin solo to clear it.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: BartHx
Date: 2011-03-25 22:53
It's not uncommon for water in the bore to find a path it likes and continually follow it. One thing that might help would be to put a light smear of cork grease in the bore above the register vent and angling out to each side. This would tend to divert water around the vent. However, I do like Chris' solution as well.
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Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2011-03-26 03:31
The whole point of the tube, it seems to me, is to keep water out. Still, I've had this happen, too, and it's not easy to get the water out. I suppose it happens when condensate builds up on the outside of the tube to the point that it flows over the edge and inside. Once in the tube, it flows downward toward the outside.
Swabbing soon after you've begun to play and then periodically as you continue might help. Once the water gets in there, I've found that it sometimes doesn't dry even overnight. You could let it sit for a few days without playing on it, or you can take the register key off and carefully run a soft pipe cleaner through it to absorb the water.
Or, you can "blow forcefully into it during a quiet flute or violin solo to clear it."
Karl
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2011-03-26 17:27
I've only heard of this problem on rare occasions. The problem could very well be that the tube is colder than the wood when you begin playing so condensation results in the tube. I can't see how it even possible for saliva to get up into the tube. The solution would be to blow warm air into the register tube for a minute or two before you begin to play to warm up the tube. That should take care of the problem. Then swab out the clarinet after you play about five minutes when the temperature of everything should be equal. I can't think of anything else that could cause that problem. At least try it but do it for a minute or two. ESP http://eddiesclarinet.com
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Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2011-03-27 02:56
Ed, wouldn't blowing 98 degree (more or less) moist air into the cold tube cause condensation immediately?
Karl
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Author: knoxville322
Date: 2011-03-29 04:06
Thanks for the suggestions. I'll try them out for sure. Flute/violin solos are highly overrated anyhow :-)
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Author: Paul Miller
Date: 2011-03-29 06:34
Have your local repair guy make a set of register tubes out of Delrin. It warms up a bit faster than grenadilla, so it shouldn't collect moisture as readily as the rest of the instrument.
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