Klarinet Archive - Posting 000087.txt from 2005/11

From: GrabnerWG@-----.com
Subj: Re: [kl] Bass Clarinet Tuning Question
Date: Mon, 07 Nov 2005 12:45:24 -0500

In a message dated 11/6/2005 3:11:47 PM Central Standard Time,
gary622@-----.com writes:
wanted to ask a repair question about Buffet 1193 Bass clarinets. Could a
> leak in the lower joint cause the right hand notes to become extremely
> sharp? I have checked with a leak light and all seems fine, but to tune to
> 440 or 441 I must be pulled out in the middle joint almost to the cork.
Any
> thoughts?>>

I am going to quote Clark Fobes here (my experiences are the same). Almost
all bass clarinets are built sharp. Almost any bass clarinet is much happier
tuning to 442 than 440. Getting a bass clarinet to play at 440 and be in tune
with itself usually involves many compromises.

On my bass clarinet I have a quarter inch washer between the upper and lower
joints. A gray plumbing washer, available at any hardware store fits very
well on the tenon. I use a second, with a portion cut out and placed inside the
tenon socket on the lower joint - to avoid the resulting gap inside the
tenon, and to minimize any possible wobble.

There are, of course, many other options available for tuning particular
notes, but this will help you address sharpness in the lower chalumeau.

And yes, leaks can cause havoc with your tuning........

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

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