 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: JIllinoisBass13
Date: 2017-02-21 10:02
Hello All! I'm new to the forum and this is my first post but I have been having constant issues (arising 1-2 month break in between issues usually) with my instrument.
I'm in high school and I've been playing a Buffet Bass Clarinet (wooden) from my band's supply since September of 2015 and have had multiple issues with my instrument. The instrument seems to be from anywhere from the 70's-90's (I have no clue and I'm pretty sure my band director doesn't either because he started off the same year that I started school there). I have had it sent in once already since January and it is getting sent in tomorrow again because I found 3 large cracks on the instrument. Could these issues be related to me not handling it correctly or is it possibly because of the case? The case is old and it doesn't seem to fit the instrument snugly. I have informed my director of the case possibly contributing to the problem but I would love to not have to send the instrument back in again until next school year.
Thanks,
JIllinoisBass13
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Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2017-02-21 19:37
It's surprising that an instrument that old would develop fresh cracks. Where are they on the instrument?
It seems to me that rattling around loose in the case would be more likely to cause bent keys than cracks. Is this the first time you've had to have cracks repaired? What have the other issues been that have been coming up at 1 to 2 month intervals (if I've read the beginning of your post correctly)?
Are you playing this clarinet outdoors for marching band? Are you storing it in an especially cool place or a place that's very dry (low relative humidity)? Wood instruments crack most often when they expand suddenly from the inside, stressing weak areas of the grain as warm expanding wood in the bore presses out against the outer wood that's still cool. Dryness in the wood can reduce its flexibility and encourage cracking. So if you play the clarinet in a cool or cold environment (like a football field or a parade route in cold weather) you might encourage cracking.
Karl
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Author: JIllinoisBass13
Date: 2017-04-01 11:29
Karl,
Sorry it took me so long to reply, spring is a busy season for me! The cracks are on the upper joint on the top around the register key and the a-a flat key. My sister used the instrument before me and she had cracks repaired on the instrument also. I only play this instrument inside and it usually stays at school for the issue of transportation and temperature changing risks. It stays in my room during the summer and is only transported a few miles at the most. The only issue with that may arise with temperature fluctuations is that our lockers are in the same area as the heater. My instrument is not directly above the heater but farther away than most other instuments which may be causing the cracks to form. Before the cracks were discovered it had just been brought back from our repair guy for something falling off and causing a key to not cover properly, making the instrument not operate correctly. another time it was sent in for the lower joint for the most part not even playing, and I think the instrument was cleaned and repaired (obviously) to fix that situation. Unfortunately the instrument has not been sent in yet because it needs to be fixed at a specific place the company our repair guy works with has in Indiana because the store our repair guy works at doesn't fix cracks on bass clarinets for some reason, which meant that I didn't get to use the instrument for my senior placement auditions which was a bummer.
Thank you,
Juliana
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Author: LarryBocaner ★2017
Date: 2017-04-10 22:51
An older instrument developing cracks is not at all unusual; especially one that has not been played for an extended amount of time. My 1897 Thibouville clarinet developed a crack when I crammed practicing for a recording session. Introducing a lot of moisture into a dried-out instrument is dangerous, whether you are breaking in a new horn or overusing one that's been idle for a while.
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2017-04-11 17:02
Once you get it repaired again I suggest the following. Keep moisture in the case during the low humifity seasons, I've done that all my playing life. You can get what's called a Dampit, they are used by string players to keep moisture inside their instruments. Get a large one, the one made for a cello, keep it damp inside the case. The other thing you should do to avoid the instrument moving around so much is to line the inside with a cloth. I use a chamois, the kind they sell to auto parts stores and other places. I just tack it into the case to fit snug to avoid movement. Of course the obvious, don't play a very cold horn until it's become close to room temperature, don't store it near a radiator or heater and don't play it in extreme cold. Good luck.
ESP eddiesclarinet.com
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