Klarinet Archive - Posting 000660.txt from 2000/02

From: Sfdr@-----.com
Subj: Re: [kl] Removing fuzzy notes from the clarinet.
Date: Wed, 16 Feb 2000 19:11:17 -0500

The Fuzzy C# is a very common problem on the Clarinet. Since the tone
hole is drilled near the water track, the undercutting has to be reduced in
order to prevent water gurgles. The less undercutting you have, the stuffier
the tone of the note. If the C# has just recently become stuffy, The problem
is probably in the pad skin and not the pad seat. As pads age, they have a
tendency to swell due to water exposure and absorption. After a period of
time pads which are normally closed suffer the most from the expansion of the
bladder skin. When the skin stretches too much it will hang into the tone
hole and rattle when the given note is played. If you replace the pad the
will temporarily correct the problem but the new pad will swell too in time.
I would suggest that you have the pad ironed. Pad Ironing removes
wrinkle and tightens up the bladder skin. In many cases the skin is in great
shape but merely loose. One should not change a pad if possible as the felts
of older pads are more stable as compression has already occurred
1. SIMPLY REMOVE THE KEY AND WET THE PAD WITH A FEW DROPS OF WATER.

2. TAKE A PAD SLICK OR FLAT OBOE PLAQUE AND PLACE A DROP OF WATER ON IT.

3. Heat the pad slick until the water evaporates. This will help you gauge
the temperature of the metal.

4. Place the hot metal slick against the moisten pad and listen for a sizzle.

Repeat this procedure until the pad is wrinkle Free!

Feel free to contact me if you have any trouble with this process.

Thanks,
Alvin L. Swiney
Affordable Music Co.
website www.corkpad.com

In a message dated 2/16/00 10:56:25 AM EST, nebuckman@-----.us
writes:

<<
[Buckman, Nancy] Concerning the C# - the height of the pad over the
tone hole is possibly the problem. This is something for a competent repair
person to do. If the height is changed then the pad has to be reseated. >>

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