Klarinet Archive - Posting 001216.txt from 2003/03

From: "Forest E. Aten Jr." <forestaten@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] flat R-13
Date: Sat, 29 Mar 2003 12:40:21 -0500

Dave,

I would first suspect your mouthpiece/instrument combination or something
unique about your playing method. I've never played an R-13 with such an
extreme intonation issues throughout the instrument. Individual notes
yes.....
I would have a third opinion rendered. Find a professional player in your
area and let them have a go at the problem.
Of course....it could be a really fluke instrument and in that case, I have
to ask, did you play and evaluate the clarinet before you made the
"acquisition"? If so...what motivated you to "acquire" such a clarinet?
Did someone recommend that you "cut" down your 66 mm barrel? I would not cut
the barrel further until you've had a professional play the instrument and
perhaps make alternate recommendations. I can't imagine an R-13 with a 62 mm
barrel playing anywhere close to the A440 tuning standard????? How are you
checking your intonation? If with a tuning device, are you sure it is
calibrated correctly? I have witnessed, on more than one occasion, players
fussing with intonation problems.....only to find that the tuner that they
were using was not properly calibrated.
And finally....
It seems that this clarinet is a recent acquisition. What clarinet did you
move from? Was it a student instrument? Most student clarinets play very
sharp and your embouchure may be set to adjust tuning to accommodate for
this higher pitch. It may take your embouchure a period of time to adjust to
the new (different) clarinet's pitch center. Your perception may in fact be
that you are having to use excessive force to "lip" the pitch up...but after
you become accustomed to playing the new clarinet, your embouchure will
probably feel just fine.

Just a few ideas and observations.

Good luck,

Forest Aten

----- Original Message -----
From: "Dave Gilbert" <dgilbert@-----.com>
Subject: [kl] flat R-13

> I have acquired an R-13 ,serial # 176,xxx that just simply plays flat.
>
> With the full length barrel( 66 mm I believe), the horn seemed about
> 20-25 cents down across the entire range. I've shortened the barrel 2 mm
> and had the horn given a top quality set of cork pad uppers and double
> skin lowers. The instrument plays well , but is still a solid 10 cents
> low-including the throat tones. I can "lip it up" but don't really like
> to play that tight as the tone suffers. Another player on a different
> mpc also has similar results.( we have tested with Vandoren and Clark
> Fobes)
>
> My questions; Has anyone run into this before? Is it safe to shorten
> the barrel even further ?( now about 64 mm) . Other thoughts and ideas
> appreciated.
>
> Thanks.
>
>
> Dave G
> Ann Arbor, MI
>
>
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>
>

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