Klarinet Archive - Posting 000234.txt from 2001/11

From: Clarguy3@-----.com
Subj: Re: [kl] Intonation issue with bass clarinet
Date: Tue, 6 Nov 2001 07:47:24 -0500

Another possibility does exist, Donnna. My Buffet Prestige bass was fitted
with another lefthand thumb key below the touchpiece for the thumb which
renders a much lower B-natural. That's a major alteration of the horn, but
I've come to like it for B's I have to hold for a long time or which are
exposed. The person who owned the instrument before me had it done--, so I'm
not sure who did the work. The hole was drilled considerably lower than the
register key and is considerably larger.

The problem has been an endemic one with extended basses and is acoustic and
not mechanical in origin.

Good luck.

Chuck

<<
Donna,
in addition to the suggestions you have already received regarding your
sharp b'' on your bass clarinet,you can almost close the register key
and this will help to flatten the pitch.
It's a bit tricky at first but you get used to it.Also,if you have the
older model Selmer,you can close the low d key on the back of the
clarinet and that helps a bit also.
The two techniques in combination especially will allow you to bring it
right down to 440.
If it's a more recent Selmer you can't use the low d to help lower the
pitch,but the almost closed register key will help a lot.

Floyd

Donna Higgins wrote:
>
> I recently purchased a used low-C bass clarinet, which plays beautifully
> except for a couple of intonation issues. The most serious problem is
> that the long B natural (one step above throat A) is *extremely* sharp
> (corresponding low E seems fine). I have two performances in the next
> month, so I doubt I'll be able to get it to my repair person until after
> they're over. Is there anything I can do as a temporary fix in the
> meantime?
>
> Thanks! >>

---------------------------------------------------------------------