Klarinet Archive - Posting 000236.txt from 2002/02

From: George Kidder <gkidder@-----.org>
Subj: [kl] Bass clarinet problems
Date: Fri, 15 Feb 2002 08:13:20 -0500

I have just been acquired by a bass clarinet, which has always wanted to
fool around with me and see how I would sound. Or vice versa. It is a
Werlitzer, which I am told is a Vito knock-off.

Anyway, having straightened out a lot of adjustment, mouthpiece, reed and
general maintenance problems, I am stuck (for the moment) on the following
two problems, and seek input from bass players on the list:

1) When I finger throat G or C above the staff, (only the thumb on the
horn) how do I keep the instrument from moving away from me? I use a peg
and a neck strap, but the latter is very restrictive, and it seems that
there should be a better way. Multiple-strap system? (There is only one
strap hook on the instrument.

2) This same C is very hard to make speak reliably. It wants to start
with the G below, or break into altissimo. Is this a common problem which
I should attack by practice and reeds, or does it signal an undetected
mechanical problem which I should find and fix?

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