Klarinet Archive - Posting 000129.txt from 2004/08

From: GrabnerWG@-----.com
Subj: [kl] Suggestions?? - very out of tune A clarinet.
Date: Thu, 5 Aug 2004 19:58:41 -0400

I am working with an A clarinet owned by one of the local High Schools. It
is a Buffet E11 with the original Buffet 65 mm A barrel.

Tuning note C is relatively in tune. The D (space below the staff) is about
20 cents sharp. Going up, the E stops the needle, the F and F# are about 10
cents flat, the G is 25 cents flat, the G# is 30 cents flat, the A and the Bb
are 40 to 45 cents flat.

In this condition, the clarinet is really unplayable.

The problem is not the fault of the barrel. I tried the barrel on several
other clarinets and it actually tuned rather well.

I tried seven other barrels of various lengths and tapers and still came up
with very weird tuning anomalies.

The bore of the upper joint at the top measures 15 mm. The exit bore is
14.7. It seems to me the 15 mm is way too big. I can't tell how far down the 15
mm continues. I measured down to the register tube, and it's still 15.

I suspect the upper joint got reamed out too far, but that's just a guess
right now. I'll see if I can find published specs.

In the meantime, other than e-mail Francois, does anyone out there have any
suggestions?

Walter Grabner
www.clarinetXpress.com
World-class clarinet mouthpieces

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