 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Karen
Date: 2000-03-22 20:16
Although I've heard of tuning rings, I know nothing about them. Are there different sizes, etc. for different horns, ot is it one size fits all? Are they easy to find in a retail music store, or best to order? Any info would be appreciated.
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Author: Drew
Date: 2000-03-22 20:31
Tuning rings are pretty much a "one size fits all" item.0 If you own a Selmer/Buffet/Leblanc/Yamaha, you can probably get a set of rings from the same manufacturer as your horn.
A set of rings usually consists of 2-4 rings of varying thicknesses, so using single or multiple rings you can pretty much get to any thickness you might need.
Interestingly, there doesn't seem to be any ring manufacturers for Eb soprano, Eb alto, bass clarinets, etc. Some people have successfully used rubber, plastic, or metal washers from a hardware store. I'd go to a good retail store to buy rings so you can make sure that they will fit OK before you make the purchase (TAKE YOU HORN WITH YOU!) Rings are cheap (shouldn't be more than $10.00 or so).
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Author: Ken Shaw
Date: 2000-03-23 18:19
Karen wrote:
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Although I've heard of tuning rings, I know nothing about them. Are there different sizes, etc. for different horns, ot is it one size fits all? Are they easy to find in a retail music store, or best to order? Any info would be appreciated.
Karen -
Tuning rings fit into the socket at the bottom of the barrel. Usually they come in a set of three thicknesses, 1 mm., 2 mm. and 3 mm. They have two uses: (1) if you always have to pull out, say, 2 mm. to play in tune with the band, the 2 mm. ring makes it easy to do the same thing every time; and (2) when you pull out, you create an extra "donut" of air in the gap between the top of the tenon and the bottom of the socket, which affects tone and intonation, and the ring fills the gap.
The rings can be made of metal, rubber or fiber. I prefer the fiber or rubber ones, since the metal ones are slippery and tend to drop out of the socket.
A ring has to fit the socket on the outside and the bore on the inside, so you will need different rings for different size instruments. However, the fit doesn't have to be really precise, so a set labelled "for Bb clarinet" should fit any brand.
They're available at almost any music store and are quite inexpensive - $2 or so. Most mail order places won't ship an order for less than about $25. If you can't find them locally, get together with some friends and make a big mail order purchase of reeds and get tuning rings at the same time.
Best regards.
Ken Shaw
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Author: Ray Swing
Date: 2000-03-24 03:20
I use black water hose washers for mine. One fits perfectly for my horn. since they have a slight tab at one point, I just cut it off flush with the outer diameter of the washer.
You can pick them up in any hardware store.
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