Klarinet Archive - Posting 000040.txt from 2003/12

From: "John Hansken" <hanskenj@-----.net>
Subj: [kl] For the Techies
Date: Mon, 1 Dec 2003 20:06:33 -0500

Hello,
I've run across a solution to a problem that I have been having with my
Buffet A clarinet and I was wondering if any of you who do work on
instruments might be able to help me understand what, exactly, I did. The
problem that I was having with my A clarinet was that it played on the flat
side and was very congested (for lack of a better word) in the upper
register from G to C. The horn was hard to blow through and articulate
clearly while I was in that range (there are no leaks in the pads; the horn
is in tip top shape otherwise). What I noticed was that the register pip was
rather long (the fact that it kept grabing my swab was some indication). So
I took it out and compared it to one from a Bb clarinet and found that it
was about 1/8 inch longer and had a bigger bore/hole. Now just for kicks
and trial and error I put the Bb pip into my A clarinet to see what it would
do and well.... it solved the problem. The results were that the instrument
plays better in tune and I have no problem articulating from G to C anymore.

So if anyone knows 1) what the effect of the bore is on the pip, and 2) what
role the pip length has on the horn or 3) anything else I might be
missing.... I would really like to understand what I did other than swaping
parts.

Thanks all!!!

John

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