Klarinet Archive - Posting 001346.txt from 1999/05

From: "Dee D. Hays" <deehays@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Spring tension
Date: Sat, 29 May 1999 10:43:46 -0400

-----Original Message-----
From: Roger Garrett <rgarrett@-----.edu>
Date: Saturday, May 29, 1999 6:56 AM
Subject: Re: [kl] Mr. Swiney's post

>On Sat, 29 May 1999, Jim Lande & Joyce Mason wrote:
>> Fortunately, I have
>> hands like a gorilla, don't practice too much and don't play technical
>> passages, so having my clarinets set up like a piece of nautalus
>> exercise equipment isn't a problem.
>
>I have always preferred the heavier spring action....except on my Model 33
>Selmer Bass Clarinet - the left hand keys pinky keys were just too darn
>hard to use sometimes! The new Buffet Bass doesn't have that problem
>though.
>
>When Brannen set up my Buffet Bb and A, he really lightened the spring
>tension. It is very smooth, but I have gone back to him several times and
>had the spring tension readjusted to the heavier side. I like the quick
>reponse back from the key use. I liked the work he did not the bass
>clarinet and basset horn though - good spring tension there.

I too agree that it is critical to get spring tension correct. Of course
that will vary from individual to individual. My repair techs have always
had the gorilla hands and so I always have to check before I leave to see if
they have got it right for me. I need a very light spring tension as my
fingers are rather weak (too many sprained fingers from martial arts). I
have also found in some of the community bands in which I have played that
the smaller people (especially but not limited to women) have had problems
with leaks due to spring tension. Once I pointed this out to them and they
got it readjusted, the problems disappeared.

Dee Hays
Canton, SD

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