Klarinet Archive - Posting 000361.txt from 2003/11

From: Bill Hausmann <bhausmann1@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Buffet with articulated C#/G#
Date: Thu, 20 Nov 2003 23:43:02 -0500

At 11:10 PM 11/20/2003 -0500, you wrote:
>Several months ago I purchased a 1926 Bb Buffet which (I believe) is=20
>referred to as having an articulated C#/G#. I am not certain of the=20
>terminology, but I have a picture of this clarinet below.
>
>http://www.eldobrghm.com/clarinet/images/1926_buffet.jpg
>
>It has a ring on L3 finger which operates a small tone hole pad just above=
=20
>and to the it's right. I have a couple of questions on it,]:
>
>1. What is supposed to happen mechanically?
>2. What is the mechanical difference between this and a standard Boehm?
>3. Under what conditions will this prove to be beneficial?
>
>Although the clarinet works fine, I find no difference between this and my=
=20
>standard Buffets. Maybe my mechanism is broken=85but I can=92t tell since I=
=20
>don=92t know what suppose to happen.

Your clarinet does NOT have an articulated C#/G#. IT DOES have the extra=20
ring on L3. As far as I can determine, the only thing is is useful for is=
=20
providing another alternate fingering for Eb/Bb by raising L2 while holding=
=20
down L3 (good tremolo from C to Eb or G to Bb).

The articulated C#/G# generally places that pad on the top (front) of the=20
LOWER joint, on the tenon socket, instead of the lower back of the upper=20
joint, with a hole drilled through the tenon to meet it. In effect, it=20
then works like the G# key on a sax, which is allowed to open by spring=20
tension when the key is pressed, but will be overridden and closed by=20
holding down lower keys (on clarinet, the ring keys). It simplifies a lot=
=20
of fingerings, and makes easier trills possible using the right hand (often=
=20
with a separate sliver key) instead of the relatively weak left=20
pinkie. The downside is that it weakens the tenon and the socket and=20
disallows some other alternate fingerings.

Bill Hausmann

If you have to mic a saxophone, the rest of the band is TOO LOUD!

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