 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: atasic
Date: 2008-06-28 10:48
One of my students plays on Selmer Recital clarinets...B-flat is quite nice but he has a problem only with one note on his A clarinet, C3 note is very sharp, about 25 % on the tuner, though, rest of it is in tune....we tried changing barrel , bell even different mouthpieces but C3 is still sharp...
Is there a way to make this note flater and not afect others.....
Thanks in advance
Alex
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2008-06-28 13:58
Hi, it’s a falsehood to think that a bell or barrel with change just one note on a clarinet. It could change a register but not a single note, as you have discovered. This is a century old problem with any clarinet, that’s why I always tell my students to make sure the throat tone E, F etc. are not flat and the 12th above sharp. I had that problem years ago on one of my Buffets and went to the great Hans Moennig. He undercut the tone hole and put tape in the upper part of the hole, it didn’t work. The only solution I know is to put just enough tape in the tone hole, just the top half of the hole of course, to bring the C down without making the 12th below, the F, too flat. It’s a game of compromise. Also, on some clarinets depressing the break note B Key will make the high C a little lower, maybe. The last resort is to half hole the third finger in the LH while playing the high C but it takes a little practice to do that without going too flat. Obviously not for running passages. Also learning to voice it down somewhat. Good luck, ESP www.peabody.jhu.edu/457 (Listen to a little Mozart, Live recording)
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Author: Vytas
Date: 2008-06-28 16:58
Alex,
1. Does this clarinet have shorter replacement register tube? If it does, go back to the original one.
2. Check the clearance between the register key tube and the pad. It shouldn't be more than 2mm. Set the clearance as low as possible without the throat tones getting fuzzy. It can be set as low as 1.2 -1.5 mm but you have to reshape the register key pad (I'm assuming it's a cork pad).
3. Check the 12th bellow the C3. I'm certain it's a bit sharp. Forget the C3 and tune the 12th (F) below. Set it about 2-3 cents flat. A tape on the top of the E/B2 tone hole (towards the mouthpiece) will do it but it is just temporary and is not the best solution. Some undercutting or even relocation of the tone hole may be required.
Make sure you understand the procedure completely before you make any adjustments.
Vytas Krass
Clarinet Repair
Professional clarinet technician
Custom clarinet mouthpiece maker
Former professional clarinet player
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Author: atasic
Date: 2008-06-28 21:05
Vytas
I will try to lower the clearance between the register key tube and the pad ( yes, it is a cork one) because it is more that 2mm.......register key tube is original ....and F is not sharp at all....if lower clearence doesnt help I will try temporeraly with a tape and see what will happen.....
Thank you very much
Alex
................. also, Thanks to Ed as well
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Author: Vytas
Date: 2008-06-29 03:41
Alex,
Before you add thicker cork to the register key you can use some tape under the cork to lower the pad temporarily. Because the pad was set too high this procedure should lower the C3 as much as 7-10 cents. The twelfth (F) below will not be affected at all but it will lower A2-B2 a bit as well.
Vytas Krass
Clarinet Repair
Professional clarinet technician
Custom clarinet mouthpiece maker
Former professional clarinet player
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2008-06-29 13:49
Good ideas but what ever effects the C by lowering the register key will likely also effect the the B and A. Probably worth a try though. ESP
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Author: Vytas
Date: 2008-06-29 22:35
Ed Palanker wrote:
>"Good ideas but what ever effects the C by lowering the register key will likely also effect the the B and A. Probably worth a try though"<.
I guess you didn't read my last post.
Vytas Krass
Clarinet Repair
Professional clarinet technician
Custom clarinet mouthpiece maker
Former professional clarinet player
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