 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Ben Shaffer
Date: 2014-08-09 21:46
well I just bought a blackwood LeBlance Noblet off eBay for $125.
The horn sounds excellent and the key action is very good as well.
The problem is the horn reeks of cigarette smoke.
For me this is a deal breaker.
I can return the Horn however for a full refund
Any thoughts on this or suggestions?
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Author: Steven Ocone
Date: 2014-08-09 21:53
An overhaul is the only sure way I know for getting rid of smoke odor. Even then there may be a residual smell for awhile.
Steve Ocone
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2014-08-09 21:57
Bin the case as that will harbour smoke smells.
The only real thing to do is have the clarinet completely stripped and repadded as all the soft materials will have absorbed the smoke.
The joints can be placed in a sealed container with something sweet smelling to help cover the smell such as dry scented blocks or oil based fragrance (but not in contact with the joints), or leave them to air somewhere for a few weeks that's not too hot, cold, dry, wet or light, wrapped loosely in paper with some dry scented blocks or whatever to draw away the smoky smell.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Ben Shaffer
Date: 2014-08-09 22:33
Ive actually taken the sections of the horn and wrapped them in newspaper and put them in plastic Bags.
I've found this to take the smell out of music books.... maybe it will work with the Clarinet as well.
Not sure I want to go to the expense of an overhaul
I'll leve them with the newsprint overnight and see if it works
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Author: jdbassplayer
Date: 2014-08-10 02:30
Many people use ozone generators to remove the smell of smoke from houses and cars. Of corse renting one can be expensive so this might not be an option.
IMO The best option would be to leave an air freshener in the case. This will give your clarinet a new car smell as well!
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Author: BobD
Date: 2014-08-10 02:56
Ben.....the good news is that nicotine kills moths and other buggers. Clean it up with soapy water and replace the pads yourself.....good experience. Keep it.
Bob Draznik
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Author: Tony F
Date: 2014-08-10 02:57
Many years ago I experimented with a chlorophyll-based air freshener product to deodorize a smelly clarinet. It was a messy process and sort-of worked, but even then the residual smell was detectable. I eventually repadded the clarinet, first oiling the bore with almond oil.
The case also smelled, so I stripped the internal material out, leaving only the shell. I sprayed that with Glen 20 and rebuilt the case with new materials. Probably not practical in your case, but it shows how persistent the smell can be. I suggest that if you can't live with the smell and can't justify the cost of the necessary work then send it back. There are lots of good used Noblets on that auction site.
Tony F.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2014-08-10 03:13
I had a Yamaha tenor sax that belonged to a heavy smoker before I bought it so the case and the instrument stunk of fag ash. I left the case open for around a couple of weeks and the smell soon went, but Yamaha use polystyrene and synthetic fabrics so they don't tend to absorb smells for too long.
I took the sax all apart and washed it thoroughly and kept it wrapped in a blanket while not in use while the case was airing to keep the dust off it. The smell soon died down but it wasn't completely gone until I repadded it.
You can use Febreeze or any other kind of fabric deodoriser in the case but let it dry out thoroughly before using it, so leave it standing open somewhere to dry once sprayed. I'd repeat spraying/drying over a week or so if the smell is really bad and give the case a good going over with a vacuum cleaner too.
Another thing that absorbs fabric smells is liberally sprinkling it with bicarbonate of soda and leaving it for a couple of days, or use Shake'n'vac which is probably bicarb with added perfume and then vacuum it all up.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: timg
Date: 2014-08-10 03:54
A while ago I bought a rather smokey bass. It wasn't overpowering, so I thought it would fade fairly soon.
However it remained stinky even after a complete overhaul, and two years later it still smells a bit. If I'd known the smell would take so long to dissipate I'd have offered a much lower price, or even skipped it completely.
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2014-08-10 04:22
re "smoky smell" - I've had a couple of mouthpieces that smelled of burned rubber...you sure it's the instrument that stinks and not the beak?
--
Ben
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2014-08-10 16:39
So you'd rather put up with the stink of fag ash as opposed to Febreeze?
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: pewd
Date: 2014-08-10 17:06
I'd return it.
The smoke is not just on the soft parts - e.g., its not just on the pads, corks, and in the case. Its everywhere...
If you keep it:
Remove all the keys
Scrub it with soft brushes using Murphy's oil soap, approx. a 20% solution.
Rinse in fresh water.
Blow out the water from around the posts,springs,etc.
Wipe dry / swab, let it dry overnight, wrapped in a cotton cloth.
Put some key oil on a qtip, wipe it on the springs, countersunk screw heads, etc., all the steel parts.
Oil the wood - inside and out - Doctor's products ('Bore Doctor').
Polish the keys with a polish cloth designed for instruments.
Oil the keys , & screw rod tubes when reassembling.
Throw the case away, get a new one.
Replace any bad pads/key corks/tenon corks while you have the keys off.
I went through this process once, and it solved the problem, but it was a really good R13 so worth the time - I don't think I'd take the time (and cost: new case) on a Noblet.
- Paul Dods
Dallas, Texas
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Author: Ben Shaffer
Date: 2014-08-10 20:39
Thanks Everyone for the suggestions....
I'd like to see if I can at least significantly lessen the smell.
I wrapped it last night in newspaper and put paper in the bore as well.... this actually seemed to help....
I currently have wrapped it with scentless dryer sheets,,
so we'll see if that helps
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