Klarinet Archive - Posting 000198.txt from 2002/04

From: "Shaw, Kenneth" <KShaw@-----.com>
Subj: [kl] Stubbins SK Mechanism
Date: Thu, 4 Apr 2002 12:34:37 -0500

There have been a number of mechanisms to improve the throat Bb. They fall
into two groups:

(1) separate holes for Bb and the register vent; and

(2) an extra hole that opens along with the register vent.

The 1950s Selmer Omega, the Mazzeo system and one of Steve Fox's designs use
type (1).

The Stubbins SK mechanism, Luis Rossi and another of Steve Fox's mechanisms
use type (2). I think it's also used on many German system instruments.

Type (2) has been around for over 100 years. Stubbins' patent (which ran out
long ago) involves both the mechanism and calculations on the best place to
put the vent.

Type (1) is the best acoustically but requires more hardware than type (2).
Also, the type (1) mechanism requires that the register vent be completely
closed for Bb, which means that the key that activates it has to be pushed
all the way down. I played a Selmer Omega for several years. The mechanism
was linked to the left thumb ring, which meant your thumb had to be all the
way off it for the Bb. This was a major interference in passages that to
back and forth over the break -- for example, the Bb-B-Bb-B sequences in the
Debussy Premiere Rapsodie. Steve Fox's design solves the problem, though, by
linking it to the throat A key rather than the thumb ring.

Best regards.

Ken Shaw

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