Klarinet Archive - Posting 000996.txt from 1997/02

From: Nathaniel F Johnson <clarinat@-----.com>
Subj: Re: leaking pads?
Date: Thu, 27 Feb 1997 22:52:07 -0500

The only key that should blow open is the Eb/Ab key under the R pinky,
and this takes a good deal of pressure. Any other "false positive"
really wouldn't be false in my opinion, as it would indicate VERY weak
springs, which could be a problem in itself.
Regarding the other test: don't inhale. Simply suck the air out of the
instrument. If the suction holds for more than a few seconds, you have a
good seal. when testing the lower portion of the instrument, it will be
necessary to release the E/B pinky key that you were depressing, once the
vacuum is established.

Nathaniel Johnson
Conductor / Clarinettist
All-Around Good Guy
University of Northern Colorado

On Thu, 27 Feb 1997 17:25:10 CST "Diane Karius, Ph.D."
<dikarius@-----.EDU> writes:
>Regarding this:
>> A quick and dirty way to see if you have any leaks, is to take
>each
>> section by itself, plug up one end, close all the keys using normal
>> fingering, and blow into the other end. You will hear or feel any
>leaks.
>> etc...
>>
>I was told that you did not want to blow through the clarinet since
>that could blow open a normally closed pad and lead to a "false
>Positive" - appear as a leak when you didn't really have one. As it
>was described to me, you closed all the opening as described, but then
>tried to breathe IN through the (supposedly) sealed section - if
>there
>was a leak you would be able to inspire some air or hear the whistle
>as the air flows through the high resistance.
>Diane R. Karius, Ph.D.
>Department of Physiology
>University of Health Sciences
>2105 Independence Ave.
>Kansas City, MO 64124
>email: dikarius@-----.EDU
>