Klarinet Archive - Posting 000151.txt from 2007/03

From: Simon Aldrich <simonaldrich@-----.ca>
Subj: [kl] re:Hole in bell to sharpen long B?
Date: Fri, 09 Mar 2007 10:58:57 -0500

Ted Casher wrote:
"I am really interested in this thread, because I have a Selmer
Series 9 that is lovely, except for the flat long B! I await the
postings with bated breath. I am about to send that clarinet to the
Backun atelier, to see what can be
done. I will await postings first."

The first reply I got over on the clarinet bboard regarding this
problem was from someone having the same problems on his Series 9 pair.
David Spiegelthal sent him a bell to try out with a resonance hole in
it.
He is currently altering the interior of the bell to make it more
like the Series 9.
To sharpen and clarify the long B I received quite a few suggestions
from repairmen to increase the inner diameter of the bell by grinding
it well into its outward curve, not near the ring.

If the amount of replies I got on the bboard is any indication, dead/
flat bell tones is a more common problem than I thought.
I imagine having the problem of dead/flat bell tones on one's main
instrument (Bb clarinet) is a lot more vexing than having the same
problem on an instrument chiefly intended to get me out of operatic
transposition jams (C clarinet). Luckily I only need to render the
two notes in tune, not necessarily render them as resonant as their
neighbours.
I have been referred to Morrie Backun and will call him in the next
few days. I will let you know what I learn.

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Simon Aldrich

Clarinet Faculty - McGill University
Principal Clarinet - Orchestre Metropolitain de Montreal
Principal Clarinet - Orchestre de l'Opera de Montreal
Clarinet - Nouvel Ensemble Moderne
Buffet-Crampon Artist/Clinician

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