Klarinet Archive - Posting 000148.txt from 1995/10

From: "B. Keplinger" <Caslinger@-----.COM>
Subj: Undertones
Date: Sat, 7 Oct 1995 20:02:26 -0400

What a wealth of comments one can find on this board! I am quite behind on
my lists, so pardon me if this has already been mentioned>>>

I have never had problems with undertones while tonguing in the high clarion
on my Bb (except when I know I am being lazy), but it is QUITE another story
on my A. one list member mentioned that a short register tube can create
this undesired sound, and my A does have a short tube. I found the greatest
improvement came when I started using a Moenig (sp?) barrel, the same one as
I use on my Bb (unusual, I know, but it works for me and intonation is true
on both horns). I use a Gigliotti mouthpiece with a refacing by a Korean
clarinetist (sorry, I won't venture to spell his name, but those of you
familiar with his work will know of him -- he has left this country to return
to Korea, so I don't if his refacings are still available). This setup
(reeds are still a variable...) has worked VERY well for me, particularly
with my A (a used inst. with 25 years of symph. playing), but, I still have
the problem of undertones. Many of the suggestions I have read so far I have
discoverd by my own exparimentaion, but my A still gives me problems, unless
my airstream and embouchure are EXTREMELY focused and almost tense.

In all fairness, I must say that practice time is something quite scarce for
me right now, so I'll admit to my own lack of good, clean focus, but I
wonder if anyone else has found these sorts of differences in their
instruments.

Thanks (in advance) for your insights.

Bruce