Klarinet Archive - Posting 000003.txt from 1997/11

From: Geoff Chadwick <geoff.chadwick@-----.uk>
Subj: Re: Prestige bass register mechanism
Date: Sat, 1 Nov 1997 07:48:10 -0500

The message <34541A6B.6836@-----.net>
from ROBERT HOWE <arehow@-----.net> contains these words:

> The register key on the neck of my Prestige bass is opened by a rod that
> reaches from the top joint. This rod is very loosely sprung and
> generates little force. The key (on the neck) is too short, it has a
> pivot in the center rather than on one end and so has little mechanical
> advantage. The touch point of the rod onto the key on the neck is too
> close to the pivot. So the neck register key does not open if the neck
> is in all the way. I do most of my own repairs, and all sorts of
> oiling, respringing etc. have not done the trick.

> What does, however, is simple physics. Moving the neck out a wee bit
> causes the rod from the top jopint to contact the touch on the neck key
> farhter fromn the fulcrum, less force is needed to overcome the spring,
> voila!, it opens 100%. Since the horn is pitched a wee sharp, I always
> have the neck out just a bit, so all is well.

> But were I to play in a band at A442, I'd be f---ed. So it is a design
> flaw, attributable to a 2 mm carelessness in placing a rod.

I do not have this problem on my Prestige Bass, but have often
wondered if that top register key and its weak spring would do the
job for ever.

However, I have just got the bass out, and I see that my key is not
pivoted at the centre, but closer to the top joint. The arm also has
a small cut to prevent the rod catching it when the top joint is
fully in. This is a recent purchase so maybe Buffet have sorted it out.

How much is a new neck? Maybe that is the answer.

Chad