Klarinet Archive - Posting 000470.txt from 1996/05

From: Josias Associates <josassoc@-----.COM>
Subj: Re: Register key tube
Date: Mon, 20 May 1996 18:12:12 -0400

On Sun, 19 May 1996, Cynthia K Harris wrote:

> On Sun, 19 May 1996, Karl Krelove wrote:
>
> > Here's a question I haven't seen on the list since I joined it. Does anyone
> > know why the register key tube needs to jut into the bore. Why can't it be
> > flush on the inside like all the other tone holes (some of which double as
> > vents for forcing harmonics)? I wonder about this (in less polite terms)
> > every time my swab gets wrapped around it. Anybody know?
> >
>
> I always *assumed* that it would be less likely to get blocked with
> moisture -- more of a problem since it's on the bottom side (in the path
> of a drip), and because blocking this hole could cause loads of trouble.
>
> Cyndie....

There was an interesting thread on the subject of subharmonics on
the list perhaps about a year ago. My personal interest resulted from my
A clarinet occasionally producing subharmonics -- something like a brief
buzz -- just after the tonguing attack.

As I recall it, a message from Jonathan Cohler attributed the
subharmonics to an overly long register tube protruding within the bore.
He also suggested that shortening of the tube might help.

Owing to frequent snags of my swab onto the register tube, I had
been speculating about shortening the tube if only for that reason. Now I
had a second reason.

The last time I brought my instruments in for checkups, I asked the
repair man, a local studio musician, about whether he had any experience
in shortening the tube. He said he had already shortened the tubes on 50 A
clarinets with generally salutary effects.

At my request, he shortened my A tube a small amount, which almost
eliminated the subharmonic buzz. I would be particularly interested in
knowing other people's experiences, especially the list's repair experts,
including those at the Universities of Indiana and Arizona.

Connie

Conrad Josias
La Canada, California