Crack Prevention

The main reason why clarinets crack is carelessness. That’s right! YOU WERE CARELESS!! So…..Don’t blow into a cold clarinet. Especially in cold weather or in an air conditioned room. By following the precautions listed below, you can greatly lessen the chance of cracking your instrument.

1. Never play a clarinet when the temperature is below 60 degrees.

2. Never blow into the bore of a cold clarinet to warm it up.

3. Before playing check the rings to ensure that they are tight. Loose rings are an indication that the wood is drying out. If they are loose, tighten them with paper before you assemble the clarinet.

4. Grease the tenon corks. The best grease to use is “la Tromba”, the grease used in manufacturing at Buffet-Crampon.

5. Put the barrel and upper joint together. Place barrel and upper joint under your armpit for five minutes to warm them up.

6. Assemble upper and lower joint. Play slowly starting with long low notes for about five minutes.

7. After playing, swab the bore of the clarinet. Draw the swab through the clarinet 2 or 3 times. The mixture of condensation and saliva is harmful to the wood, pads, and springs.

8. Take the clarinet apart, Dry and wipe out the sockets.

9. Blow water out of the tone holes. Blot tone holes/pads with cigarette paper.

10. Grease corks and put the clarinet away in its case. Do this every day when you are finished playing. Otherwise the corks will compress and cause emission problems.

11. Do not leave the clarinet out on a stand over night. Put it away in a humidified case. Around 45/50% should be fine.