Klarinet Archive - Posting 000654.txt from 1998/07

From: ROBERT HOWE <arehow@-----.net>
Subj: [kl] Re: klarinet improvements
Date: Tue, 21 Jul 1998 08:15:57 -0400

Ed Maurey's point about a hole in the bell is very well taken. Many
Eastern European clarients have this feature. The extra bell length, as
on a shawm or baroque oboe, stabilizes the lowest notes sounded by the
tube and more importantly, allows their venting to be more like that of
the notes above them, ie, thru a tone hole rather than thru the bell..
Result, a more matching tone.

"Logical" clarinet design is often not so; rather, cheapness and the
need to meet market demands can dictate the perpetuation of poor design
features (like the hunk of metal that sticks a third of the way into the
bore at the register key; or the loss of the inner bell rim on the oboe,
which eliminates the need for costly hand-cutting but disturbs the
lowest register of that instrument). A clarinet can be voiced very
nicely with a little sweat, patience and....daring.

Nice work Ed, I will keep this post!

Robert Howe

Ed Maurey wrote:
"Firstly, somebody asked if filling the sliver key hole with epoxy flush
with the bore effected intonation or tone: Not on straight tone holed
Selmers. Perhaps, on undercut holes it would, but I rather doubt it.
Secondly, I have another accoustical improvement I think is worthy.
Years ago I was retuning an old C clarinet that was hideously flat. I
was able to sharpen all the notes but the bottom E/B. After scratching
my head I remembered seeing an old clarinet with a hole drilled in the
bell. Being a machinist figured I could manage the surgery. After a
little experimentation a 1/4" hole down about 1 1/4" from the top of
the bell seemed to sharpen the note just right. HOWEVER, the tone of
both E and particularly B was greatly improved. That was years ago. I
have since developed a variation on that theme. On other C clarinets
that are in tune I use a standard Bb/A bell with a 5/16" hole drilled
1 1/4" from the top. It's a real improvement for the bottom three notes
in both registers. That's [count them] a six note improvement.
Now, I ask you, my fellow Sneezyists, why don't clarinet manufactuers
put longer bells on their Bb/A instruments with appropriate vent holes?
I know damned well you'd love the results?
In passing, perhaps some of us old farts remember playing "Full
Boehms". That low Eb really helped the middle B. Bottom notes love
venting.
Ed Maurey

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