Klarinet Archive - Posting 000151.txt from 1997/11

From: "Lorne G. Buick" <lgbuick@-----.net>
Subj: Re: Leblanc Throat mechanism
Date: Wed, 5 Nov 1997 10:37:03 -0500

>
> It's one of those mechanisms that switches the vent hole for the throat
> b-flat. I have seen similar devices on the Rossi clarinets. It was custom
> made for his clarinet, though I suspect it may become an option on the Opus
> line. >>
>
>
> Now why can't you have that done to other clarinets later? Or CAN you?
> Chris

I suppose it's possible but it would involve major surgery to the
instrument. You'd have to drill the extra tone-hole (which would affect the
intonation, especially in the left-hand notes) and add a key. Also, the
other advantage (on the Rossi clarinets, I don't know about the Leblanc) is
that they use a smaller register vent, placed higher on the tube, which
gives better twelfths and more even intonation in the clarion register. So
that would mean drilling another hole, filling the old one, and replacing
the register key... I saw the old B&H 1010 that Luis Rossi was
experimenting on in 1980, it was pretty scary! (Franken-clarinet would be
only a slight exaggeration!)

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
LGB Lorne G Buick St. John's
lgbuick@-----.net Newfoundland
Canada