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Usage precautions |
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Some clarinet bodies are made from Grenadilla (natural wood). Such bodies can crack or become more difficult to connect together when subjected to sudden changes in temperature or humidity. Therefore the following precautions should be taken.
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- In winter, wait for the entire instrument to adjust to room temperature before playing it.
Rapid changes in the temperature of the instrument can cause the keys to stop moving or crack the body.
- New instruments should not be played continuously for extended periods of time.
For the first two weeks, limit playing to about 20 or 30 minutes a day.
- When you finish playing the instrument, thoroughly dry the body interior with a swab.
- Also thoroughly dry the joint ends, then apply a small amount of cork grease to the ends as a moisture blocker.
- Whenever possible, use a cleaning swab to dry the body interior during rests in playing sessions as well.
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Caring for the mouthpiece |
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After playing your clarinet, be sure to remove the reed, thoroughly dry it and then store it in a safe location.
To clean the mouthpiece, insert a small cleaning swab through the joint cork end to remove moisture and dirt.
When doing this, be careful not to scratch the tip of the mouthpiece. |
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Drying the body |
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Pass a medium cleaning swab (or a large swab for a bass clarinet) through the body to thoroughly dry the interior.
If the swab catches inside, carefully pull it through a small amount at a time, without forcing it. (Be especially careful when working on the upper joint.)
Moisture is likely to collect in the joints. This can cause cracking, so dry the joints carefully using a polishing gauze cloth, etc.
Even during playing sessions, make an effort to dry the interior and joints if moisture builds up. |
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Drying the pads |
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Stick a piece of cleaning paper between each pad and tone hole. Fully dry the pad with the paper.
Be careful not to move the paper while the key is pressed, as this may damage the pad. |
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Cleaning the surface |
- Using a polishing cloth, wipe the length of the body, taking care not to apply stress to the keys. Be careful not to damage the pads in the key areas.
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Cleaning small spaces |
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| When you clean the body, also use the tone hole cleaner to clean small spaces such as the undersides of keys or the spaces between keys. |
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Key check |
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| Screws may loosen naturally. Therefore, keys should be checked once a month. Tighten the screws if necessary. |
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Oiling the keys |
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Add a small amount of medium key oil at the spots where the keys move.
Be careful not to add too much oil.
When you are finished, move the keys so that the oil works in thoroughly.
If oil ends up on the front sides of the keys, thoroughly wipe the keys to remove the oil. |
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Cleaning the register key hole |
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| Also clean the register key hole using the tone hole cleaner. |
| Caution
The surface of plated wind instruments may change color over time due to the properties of the plating. This has no effect on how the instrument plays.
You can easily restore the original color of the plating through proper care.
*Only use special cleaning products that are designed for the particular type of plating on your instrument.
*Be careful not to allow the metal part at the tip of the tone hole cleaner to scratch the tone holes, etc. |
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