 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: GenEric
Date: 2017-04-09 21:16
I have a Moba Barrel. I've used it for about a year now and it's sort of wearing down. It's lost it's shine and it wiggles a bit on my instrument. Is there a guide on how to maintain and polish wood barrels?
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Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2017-04-09 21:32
It probably doesn't wiggle because of anything that's happened to the barrel. Something on the tenon has worn down - either the cork or the wood itself.
As to polishing the barrel, I imagine a good non-abrasive furniture polishing cloth impregnated with lemon oil or something similar should work. Or try just a buffing with a soft cloth first with just a little moisture to see if the dullness is just dirt and oil from your hands and, if that doesn't being the luster back, try using a little lemon oil on the cloth.
You can certainly buy bore oil and rub that on, then buff with a soft cloth after the liquid oil has either sunk in or evaporated, but IMO that's overkill if you just want to restore a polished look.
There's really no reason I can think of why a MOBA barrel would need any more attention than any other barrel.
Karl
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Author: TomS
Date: 2017-04-10 08:48
I don't know if Backun waxes, seals or finishes the exterior or interior (bore). I use his ring-less barrels and just oil the bores (and the part of the sockets that get wet) lightly about every 3 months with some of The Doctor's bore oil. Don't mess with the exteriors other than buffing it with a dry, soft cloth ...
Your cork on the clarinet may be worn or compressed. You can clean it with alcohol and then wet it with spit. Then, a hot butter knife can then be applied to the cork and it will make it swell up (the cork, not the butter knife). This may be risky on the cork's lifespan ... but I have done it on cheap clarinets.
Also, another good reason for tuning rings is that it takes some of the wobble out of the barrel-top joint junction.
Might have to bite on a new MoBa barrel in cocobolo ... despite the problem with real wood, I like the sound of this material, when it's not misbehaving.
Tom
Post Edited (2017-04-10 17:52)
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Author: jonathan.wallaceadams
Date: 2017-04-10 17:24
I just bought some of the Doctor's woodwind wax from Amazon for like $8 including shipping. Try that. As for the wiggle, Backun claims that any wiggle from their products is due to your cork. I bought a protege barrel from them that wiggled from day 1 on both of my clarinets (one of which is BRAND NEW and untampered with) and whenever I asked them about it, they claim that I has to be my cork.
In short, buy the doctor's wax and check your cork.
Just an aspiring student.
Buffet Tradition
Mpc.: Hawkins "G", Barrel: Moba, Reeds: Reserve 3.5+
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Author: TomS
Date: 2017-04-10 18:03
On my wooden clarinets with wooden barrels, from time to time, especially if the humidity is high or low, I have problems with barrels fitting tight or loose.
That is why I like clarinets made of composites or hard rubber ... I can tolerate wooden barrels more than the rest of the instrument ... I think you really need to take special care of your barrels and possibly replace them from time to time, as they get the bulk of the abuse.
Backun's barrels vary a bit and fit and performance ... but once you find one you like, IMHO especially in cocobolo, it seems to add something nice ...
I suspect hard rubber may prove to be the best material for everything. Take a look at Brad Behn's stuff ... he seems to really favor his flavor of hard rubber for MPs, barrels and bells. Just a matter of time before one of the "big boys" offer an entire clarinet in rubber. A Buffet Festival, Tradition or Backun MoBa in rubber? Would be cool.
Tom
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Author: LFabian
Date: 2017-04-23 02:24
My Gaia 4 fits fine on Moba 65 Barrel but wiggles on Moba 66 mm barrel but doesn't wiggle on FObes 66mm barrel. Should I just change the cork on the Gaia?
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Author: TomS
Date: 2017-04-23 06:44
If you are playing an R13, give the Robert Scott AA2 barrel a test. Only 65 bucks. Just received another one (sold my last one years ago with older Buffet). This barrel is like an old close friend ... it seems to make as big improvement over my Backun ringless barrels (in cocobolo and blackwood) as the Backun barrels do over the stock Buffet barrel.
I know the ringless are not recommended by Backun for the R13 ... but, they do a good job and fit just fine ...
Scott is in his 90's ... so his stuff will not be available forever ... I plan on buying at least one more ... I know several world-class professionals that use these on Buffets ...
Tom
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