Klarinet Archive - Posting 000815.txt from 2004/10

From: Bill Hausmann <bhausmann1@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Question about middle Bb (or: I think I'm in love)
Date: Tue, 26 Oct 2004 23:46:36 -0400

At 07:56 PM 10/26/2004 -0700, Michele Kaeder wrote:
>...Except for middle Bb. The standard fingering gives a thin, pasty, airy,
>sad little tone. The alternate fingering sounded superb, so with the parts
>that I have to play, I can easily work around it and will probably buy it
>tomorrow morning.
>
>My question is, do all clarinets have really stuffy, sub-par tones on the
>wide-open Bb, or is it just every clarinet I have ever played? Are there
>adjustments that can be done to improve that tone, or should I go ahead
>and get used to that alternate fingering? The tech at the store seemed to
>think there was nothing he could do about it, but he's also not a high-end
>tech, so I thought I'd get a wider opinion.

The throat Bb is the weakest note on the clarinet, due to the fact that the
register hole is attempting to do double duty as a tone hole, and it is
much to small to do the job effectively. It is a design flaw inherent in
all clarinets, except those with special mechanisms to work around it
(Stubbins, Mazzeo, etc.). A really good tech might be able to IMPROVE the
situation somewhat, but not cure it.

Bill Hausmann

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

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