Klarinet Archive - Posting 000569.txt from 2004/11

From: "Larisa Duffy and David Dow" <duffyl@-----.ca>
Subj: Re: [kl] Meaning of undercut tone holes?
Date: Fri, 19 Nov 2004 13:38:24 -0500

Most clarinet makers rely on undercutting the tone holes of the clarinet
toward the inner bore of the clarinet to achieve a more flexible and in tune
note. As to different makers they all have a "recipe" for this and allow
for certain tolerances. Generally, if less undercutting is done, then the
maker must rely on the bore and it's evasement(s) to allow for the tuning.

I would also reccommend the excellent article in the "The Clarinet" by
Geoffrey Rendall published in the Early 1950s in London. Undercutting can
be taken to an extreme and deystroy a very fine clarinet...so it is a topic
of much debate among artisans.

I had the great pleasure of visiting the Selmer factory in Paris and spoke a
good deal with some of the builders there on this issue.

A polycylindrical bore simply means the bore is fraised or "reamed" in many
places...a reverse taper bore means the bore flares out towards the bell,
and towards the barrel. etc.

David Dow
Symphony NB

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