Just venting here, the two clarinets I'm working on are were absolutely encrusted with tobacco residue. Just absolutely terrible, and it's just discouraging to work on these back-to-back. I stopped work after a horrific time with one, only to realize the other was almost as bad... Anyway, post any tips you have for cleaning something like this. I know it's probably a bad idea, but I broke out the denatured alcohol again for these, especially to clean the tone holes and beds with Q tips. Probably used about 30, or maybe more on the second. The first one, well, was a horror of which we will not speak.
. Let's just say the size of the tone holes was visibly and significantly changed. Strangely enough, after cleaning, the body and keys look practically brand new, even though it's from probably the 30s or 40s. Layer of crud was protecting it, I guess? How did they gunk this up so badly when it looks practically unplayed? Virtually no signs of wear whatsoever.
