 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: 2cekce ★2017
Date: 2025-04-23 20:37
Afternoon everyone, I've tried searching for any info on this but could not find any. In need of some advice on what is causing a brownish color inside the bore of my clarinet. In looking thru some of the ring key holes its brownish with what looks like little cracks in it as best I can describe. The instrument plays just fine no leaks. I swab it out after every rehearsal. I have noticed while at rehearsal, more than usual condensation collects inside even to the point its logging my throat A key hole which its never done before. I keep the clarinet upright most of the time, other times its laying on the backside. Any ideas what is going on with the brownish color and/or usually high condensation. My setup is Professional Model Amati Full Boehm Bb( hard to find someone here in Atlanta to service full boehms) 5RV mp bluebox vandorens 3 and Rovner lig. Has been a great clarinet for years with no problems intonation or keywork wise. thanks in advance for your thoughts.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2025-04-23 21:16
It's just the exposed natural colour of the wood where the colour has been leeched out through constantly being wet and then drying out. Cleaning and oiling the wood will restore the colour where the wood looks bleached. Amati clarinets usually have a highly polished finish which makes the surface look uniformly shiny and much darker than it normally is as well as hiding the surface vessels.
The little cracks you can see on the surface are the vessels in the wood that are like our blood vessels in they move water, sap, nutrients and waste products around the tree when it was still alive.
Condensation is down to the temperature and conditions you're playing under and isn't a result of the types of pads used - there's a myth doing the rounds that cork pads create more water when it's the same amount of condensation and isn't being absorbed by soft porous leather pads or torn skin pads.
After playing, wipe the sockets dry with a piece of paper towel and not your pullthrough as using your pullthrough to do that will only cause it to get greasy, then that grease and dust will accumulate in the toneholes which will in time make the top joint notes stuffy and resistant due to their smaller diameters compared to the lower joint tonehole diameters.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
Post Edited (2025-04-23 21:21)
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2025-04-26 16:13
Is there an echo in here or what?
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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