Klarinet Archive - Posting 001206.txt from 2003/04

From: GrabnerWG@-----.com
Subj: [kl] Bass clarinet extensions, was: basset clarinet/extensions
Date: Sat, 26 Apr 2003 00:49:02 -0400

Speaking of extensions (no not THAT kind), I'm having fun with an interesting project this week that's right in line with the discussion we're having.

A client sent me a lovely old Selmer bass clarinet. It's a very nice instrument with a distinctive tone, and responds very well in all registers. (Plays "On the Trail" very well). This bass has the old German Silver keys and nice wood.

The problem with the instrument is that it stops at low E - no Eb. Well, you can't get along without an Eb anymore, many parts now demand D, Db, C.

So I just got done turning and boring an extension. This extension goes between the lower joint and the bell. It's about 4 1/4 inch long including the tenon. In many ways it's like a long barrel, but with a tenon socket on top and a tenon on the bottom.

I need to cut one tone hole in the extension, and that will vent F/C when open. When that is closed, the tone hole on the bell, which used to vent F/C when open, will now vent E/B, and of course, when the tone hole on the bell is closed, the low Eb sounds.

We were talking about the additional resonance that an extension can add. Just trying out notes for intonation before I make my final length adjustments, I hear a big difference in low E and also the long B and their close neighbors. More resonance, a "bigger" sound, somehow.

Of couse, the other opportunity here is to tune the B, which, predictably on this bass, was about 20 cents sharp.

Anyway, it is very interesting to experiment with these things and find out what really happens.

I'll put some pics on my website when I get this all done.

Cheers,
Walter Grabner
www.clarinetXpress.com
mouthpieces, repairs, restorations, and extensions

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