Author: Fuzzy
Date: 2018-11-11 22:18
Hi Greg!
For the past ten years or so, I've played on pre/early 20th century Alberts. Every one of the clarinets I play has the problem with occasional water in the thumb, and rare moisture in the register vent.
Over the years, I've tried various things, but I've found that I always resort back to the easiest/fastest/most-sure-fired solution: I simply cup my hand around the affected tone hole/vent (to prevent moisture from flying across the room) and blow across the hole (perpendicular to the instrument) with a quick blast of air. I realize this is a non-technical solution, but it is the one I that always end up using. I tried using a swab to put a small amount of oil above (and down the sides of) the two effected vents, but the positive results were short-lived.
In my experience, when the problem shows itself, I do the above process one time, and it usually cures the problem for the entire rest of the practice/performance. Rarely, I must do the process twice. For me, the problem almost always shows itself (if it is going to) in the first few minutes of playing, or if the instrument has been played, set on a stand, then picked back up to play a short time later.
And yes - occasionally, on longer performances, sometimes the thumb hole will steadily drain small amounts of water onto your thumb (but without affecting tone/sound quality). I've always just chalked this up to being "the way things are" and I quit worrying about it.
Fuzzy
Post Edited (2018-11-11 22:18)
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The Clarinet BBoard
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