 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: clarijen
Date: 2008-02-08 15:59
I've noticed recently that in many cases - especially the combination ones - the layout of the instrument(s) inside the case is such that the bell stays attached to the lower body the whole time. How bad is this? Is the potential compression of cork outweighed by the reduced risk of bending keywork when assembling/disassembling?
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2008-02-08 16:13
Assuming the bell tenon cork gets greased periodically, one would have to be a real klutz to damage keywork while removing or installing the bell. In the grand scheme of things, it makes little difference either way.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2008-02-08 16:42
Provided you dry the bell socket after playing (and NOT with the same pullthrough used for the bore - use a piece of kitchen towel for this purpose) and before putting the clarinet back in the case you should have no problem. Maintaining the tenons and sockets should be part of your normal routine. If you don't have the time to do this immediately (eg. if you have to pack up in a hurry to catch the last train), then do it as soon as you can (while you're ON the train) and no later.
Probelms arise when the bell is never removed, the cork isn't greased and the lot put away still wet. I just had a pair of B&H 926 clarinets where the bells on both remained on while still in the case and had stuck fast to their tenons, which took a LOT of time and effort to remove. The cork had stuck to the inside of the bell socket and the wood was pale, not to mention once removed, the bells were a loose fit as the cork was dried, hardened and compressed.
Buffet double cases are like this as are some other doubles. My Selmer single case has the barrel still on the top joint while it's in there, but I do take it off after playing to dry the socket and grease the cork before putting it back in, no matter how much it annoys the brass players that are waiting for me (and no doubt still gassing on about how they played higher, louder and faster) that aren't as meticulous by a long way in their general maintainance routine, and don't understand that these steps taken now prevent heartache later on.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
Post Edited (2008-02-08 16:43)
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2008-02-08 17:53
The pre-R-13 Buffet compact double cases, and most cases that require the bell "on," have extra length in the lower joint/bell slot so that you can leave about half the tenon exposed. In fact, keeping the extra length occupied keeps the joint and bell from moving around. Given the slight cone shape of the bell socket, the cork doesn't get compressed. Cases with separate bell slots are better in theory, but the case itself is noticeably larger and heavier.
Ken Shaw
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2008-02-08 19:33
Yamaha double cases have all the joints seperated, room for two mouthpieces and four barrels, a reed/bits compartment, a slot for a tube of cork grease and lid storage for some sheet music are much more compact than the Buffet (Winter) ones.
It's all to do with how well laid out they are inside. I've only had to make a couple of alterations to my otherwise standard Yamaha double case to carry my set of Series 9 full Boehms in - there's still room left for three barrels as I sacrificed one of the barrel holes to fit the extra length of the lower joint of the Bb, and lost the cork grease slot to fit the A bottom joint, though I keep a tub of La Tromba cork grease in one of the barrel holes as I only have the two barrels anyway, so I still have everything I need in the one case (as well as a case cover to keep it all cozy, and with a large pocket on top where a double peg fits).
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: ChrisArcand
Date: 2008-02-08 20:55
Ken is right.
If you have case which requires the bell on the joint (as I do), make sure you remove and clean your bell after use (really I've never consciously thought about it, it's just something you should do...) and then put the bell on about half way (it shouldn't feel really tight at all) and put it in the case. Works fine, no worries.
CA
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Author: C2thew
Date: 2008-02-09 00:01
never had any issues with my bell on. neither have other people i know that have double cases. YMMV (your mileage may vary)
Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. they are but improved means to an unimproved end, an end which was already but too easy to arrive as railroads lead to Boston to New York
-Walden; Henry Thoreau
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2008-02-09 04:22
> Provided you dry the bell socket after playing (and
> NOT with the same pullthrough used for the bore -
> use a piece of kitchen towel for this purpose)
Why? What is wrong with doing this? I have been using the same pullthrough for everything since I've playing, and never had any problems because of that.
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Author: skygardener
Date: 2008-02-09 04:35
The danger in this case design is that you never take off the bell. Aside from drying it as Chris P mentions you should move the bell every day- even if you don't play that clarinet that day. If the case has the extra space you should leave the bell on only half way. In school I knew people that went days without playing their A; when they DID finally play it and they tried to separate the bell for cleaning they had a really hard time.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2008-02-09 07:45
"Why? What is wrong with doing this? I have been using the same pullthrough for everything since I've playing, and never had any problems because of that."
You'll be getting cork grease on the pullthrough which in turn will be used in the bore, and grease and fibres will build up whee the toneholes enter the bore. I've worked on so many clarinets where the players have done this, and the bore had a build-up of grease at the lowest tenon where it flares out and the toneholes have become occluded.
The most obvious example was a player that used a bright red cotton pullthrough which was filthy (as it was used to wipe sockets with), the build-up in the toneholes was also bright red. Fortunately it was a plastic clarinet and was easy to clean. It's not so easy on a wooden clarinet due to the end grain in the toneholes which holds onto the build-up.
By using a seperate piece of kitchen towel (such as Bounty), you'll keep your pullthrough clean. I usually use the pullthrough a couple of times after playing to get the bore dry (going in from the bell), then take it apart and dry the sockets and tenons with the kitchen towel.
But this topic has already been covered several times.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: clarijen
Date: 2008-02-09 13:44
Thanks everybody for your thoughts.
My Selmer Signature came in a case that requires it to have the bell on, and even after proper care as you list, it feels as though the bell is looser than it should be. The instrument is only a couple of years old. Unfortunately the case doesn't leave space for the bell to be only halfway on...
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2008-02-09 15:52
Thanks Chris. I guess this is not really a problem for me because of how little cork grease I use, and I wash the swab when it gets really dirty (which is once in a very long time). In the (about) three years I have my main clarinet and have been using just one swab for everything there is no problem at all.
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