Klarinet Archive - Posting 000196.txt from 2007/03

From: "David B. Niethamer" <dnietham@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: [kl] Hole in bell to sharpen long B?
Date: Tue, 13 Mar 2007 22:13:29 -0400


On Mar 7, 2007, at 7:53 PM, Simon Aldrich wrote:

> My C clarinet has good pitch overall but is conspicuously flat on the
> long B and C (and the low E and F).
> I hope this problem can be addressed by shortening the bell or
> enlarging the resonance hole already in the bell (24mm from the top of
> the bell).
> My C clarinet's bell is 92 mm (which does not seem overly long since
> my Eb clarinet's bell is 76mm and my D clarinet's bell is 81mm).
>
> Firstly, does anyone have any experience enlarging a resonance hole in
> the bell to raise the pitch of the nearby notes (long B and C)?
> Secondly does anyone have any experience with the more invasive notion
> of shortening the bell to raise those notes?
>
Sorry - I'm coming to this late, as I've been away.

Clark Fobes made me an insert which addresses this very problem. It is
placed between the lower joint and bell of my C clarinet It was
incredibly successful at fixing the pitch of both the F/C and the E/B,
since they now vent from a supplemental tone hole, and not from the end
of the bell. If there is a down side, it is that even such a short
insert seems to alter the sound character of the clarinet a bit. IMHO,
it isn't a serious problem, though - I'd contact Clark for help.

David

David B. Niethamer
dnietham@-----.edu
http://members.aol.com/dbnclar1/index.html

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