Klarinet Archive - Posting 000444.txt from 1998/11

From: Roger Shilcock <roger.shilcock@-----.uk>
Subj: Re: [kl] wolf tones
Date: Thu, 12 Nov 1998 04:38:27 -0500

Silver plating is a stupid thing to do on an ebonite instrument.
The sulphur in the rubber reacts with silver; this is removeable, no
doubt, but in removing it some of the plating goes too.
Roger Shilcock

On Wed, 11 Nov 1998 LeliaLoban@-----.com wrote:

> Date: Wed, 11 Nov 1998 13:35:40 EST
> From: LeliaLoban@-----.com
> Reply-To: klarinet@-----.org
> To: klarinet@-----.org
> Subject: [kl] wolf tones
>
> I've just finished overhauling the old (probably 1950-ish) hard rubber
> clarinet I asked about awhile ago. (It's a stencil horn, manufacturer still
> unknown, with a "Carl Fischer" logo.) At least I'd be finished if the dad-
> ratted thing didn't give me a soft but annoying wolf tone on the first B and C
> above the staff (the C that's fingered with the left thumb alone and the B
> that's thumb and first finger). The true tone sounds normal, but under it, I
> hear a wolf tone pitched an octave (not a 12th) lower than the true tone. I'm
> reasonably sure the register key isn't leaking and I'm certain the tube isn't
> dirty. Any suggestions on what could be causing this noise and how to get rid
> of it? The overhaul included all the corks, all the pads, two of the springs
> and washing inside and out.
>
> BTW, when I asked if anyone could help identify the manufacturer, I said the
> horn had nickel keys. They had dulled to a grey color I associate with old
> nickel, but when I took them off, I found black tarnish in the tight places
> and soon discovered that the keys are silver-plated, something that surprises
> me in a rubber student-quality horn. Except for the wolf tones, it doesn't
> sound bad (right hand in the chalumeau is consistently a bit flat), although
> it wouldn't pass for a pro-quality instrument. Thanks for any help!
>
> Lelia
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> "There's no music when a woman's in the choir."
> --Thomas Dekker, _The Honest Whore_, Part I:2 (1602)
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>
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