Care and Feeding of a Rosewood Clarinet

[I. Fallon]

I purchased a rosewood Conn (Pan American) Bb clarinet a while back from someone at this site (I thought that I was getting a plastic core model with a stained wood laminate, but it arrived as solid rosewood).

It looked in almost unplayed condition, but it spent a lot of time at my friend the tech. Some of the springs were too weak, a post was adjusted and a key was resoldered so that it would not interfere with the others.

He did not offer much hope for a nice playing horn (his initial advice was pretty but not likely to be a good player) until the final shims were in place. He likes his Buffet stencil better, but he said that the Pan American played extremely well. It certainly sounded beautiful when he played it.

I have never played on a clarinet or wood instrument before. Can anyone offer me any suggestions other than brushing my teeth before use and swabbing after use? The tech wanted me to stay clear of bore oil and use lubrication oil very sparingly to avoid darkening the wood.

The tech also gave me a nice Buffet clarinet case since he thought that the original Conn fiberglass case did not offer enough protection.

I took a lot of kidding here over this clarinet, but I am very happy with it. Now if I could only play it!

[Gordon (NZ)]

For clarinet care products you can definitely trust those offered by Omar Henderson.

http://www.doctorsprod.com/DrsProduct.html

He would know far more about timber and its preservation than probably any technician.

[I. Fallon]

As always, thank you Gordon!

[Bootman]

Irv,
Just keep the horn in a well ventilated, as close to a constant temperature storage area as possible. As for the darkening of the wood, you could try some natural oils like cold Press Almond oil which is a fantastic oil for oiling the bore of a wooden instrument.

[Anji]

These are quite handsome to hold, and view but aren't really a modern accoustic design. If you want a beautiful sounding instrument for not too much money, the older Noblet clarinets are a bargain.

[soreliprick]

I seem to remember someone telling me that the Pan Am rosewood models came about during WWII, that was the big one, because the war effort needed the wood and the 'rosewood' really wasn't that at all but a laminated product which had the tendency to unlaminate. Be that as it may, I had GAS last night and BIN'd a 'one owner' from a guy who bought it new in 1950 when he was in 7th grade. It sure looks pretty, hope it will sound as good as my other Pan Am.

[rwilliams]

Considering the horn's age, the wood is probably quite stable by now but if the person you bought it from was in another region of the country it might re-adjust to the humidity changes.

Main thing with wood instruments is to keep them from temperature extremes, in other words don't leave them in cars. Don't play them outside when it is cold etc. Also make sure you swab them out well and don't forget the joints and don't leave them assembled.