The World's Best Bass Clarinet Swab
The World's Best Bass Clarinet Swab
Bass Clarinet swabs. I think I've tried them all. Silk bass clarinet swabs are way too thin for my liking, and require I pull the swab through the instrument a million times before it looks like it's dry. I've seen (and bought, unfortunately) cotton clarinet and bass clarinet swabs that are just a joke. I've used really nice chamois and microfiber swabs, and they're insanely expensive. I've seen students work with socks attached to shoelaces. No I'm not kidding. As they say in TV infomercials, "There's got to be a better way!"
DO I HAVE TO DO THIS MYSELF? I ASKED.
"Okay," I said to myself. Or rather, I said to myself, "I'll buy the materials and pay my 18 year old daughter who is amazing with a sewing machine to do this." Yes, child labor made these swabs—but they're impeccably sewn (she's really good) by hand. (Well, by hand and machine.)
And, let's talk about the weight for a second. How many of you have seen bass clarinet swabs where the swab was half-way decent, but the pull-weight was too light for the swab, so it just pulled back out the top of the instrument when you let go? I bet a few of you.
So we made this swab with a fantastically soft, thick, absorbent, custom-made Korean microfiber that's 12" x 16" (30cm x 40cm), ruggedly sewn to a thick, 4-foot (1.25m) lace tube — it fits through the entire instrument without taking it apart! — inside which is a 2" (5cm) stainless steel weight.
You will love this swab. I swear.
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I bought this swab after purchasing a new bass clarinet from Earspam, and it truly is "The Worl'd Best Bass Swab." The material is light, sturdy, does not get caught on itself or inside the bass, and absorbs moisture (aka spit) effectively without becoming waterlogged like some other swabs. My favorite thing is that it is able to fit through the top and bottom joints without needing to be taken apart. This was extremely helpful as I was breaking the bass in because I was spending less time taking the bass apart and putting it together, and more time playing! Thanks for a wonderful product :)
...because they are even better now than the first version.
They were the best when I bought two of 'em 20 years ago, and the first one lasted that long, so I just bought a new spare!
You cannot BELIEVE how safe it made me feel during the break-in period on my new Backun Series Q Cocobolo bass. Not a DROP of moisture left inside, ever. Never tangles on the register vent tube, despite its amazing firm full contact with the bore.
You don't have to buy a Backun bass (although you SHOULD) to love this swab as much as it loves your instrument.
This swab is a little too thick for my bass neck, but it works great for the joints! Soaks up a lot more than my previous swab and seems very sturdy.
It works so much better than any other swab I've tried and honestly makes me enjoy swabbing to an extent.
Good smooth quality. Soaks up moisture in between 1 to 2 swipes. Peg makes it easier to push it down out. Must buy.