Klarinet Archive - Posting 001379.txt from 1999/01

From: TOM RIDENOUR <klarinet@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] selmer centered tone
Date: Thu, 28 Jan 1999 10:45:47 -0500

The center tone Selmer is , as many have said, a large bore clarinet. If
one wants to play jazz or play in situations where tuning standards are not
so critical, it might be a viable instrument.
However, if one cares to play in more ligit settings: concert band,
piano/chamber music, classical music ensemble, or situations where you have
to play with others the CT can create real serious tuning problems.
The problem with the CT is right hand low register sharpness, and this is
common to all large bore clarinets
The whole reason players switched to the small bore clarinet in the middle
of this century, and switched in such large numbers, was not because of
tone, or even response, but because of tuning.
The larger the bore the sharper the right hand low register will be in
relation to the clarion tones which come from the same tone hole: A/e,
Bb/f, B/f# etc.
Sometimes these low register tones will sail as much as 25 or more cents
sharper than their second register corolaries. While this was something
players struggled with in the earlier part of the century, as evidenced by
recordings, tuning standards for clarinets have grown much more strick.
I'm not saying don't buy the CT.....just make sure you know what you're
buying, and once you buy it, if you find it is impossible to play in the
local band with other (small bore) clarinets, don't be surprised.
I've had so many customers over the years come to me to "fix"their clarinet
because of sharpness in the low register, having already invested in a
large bore clarinet. The sad news I invariably have to give them is the
tuning ratio problems of large bore clarinets is unfixable, because the
lower tone is sharp and the second register tone is relatively in tune.
Be wary of clarinets of bore dimensions over 14.7 if you want to give
yourself a fair chance at playing in tune with anyone else.....except a
dixieland band.
tom

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