 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: 20sMusic
Date: 2020-02-27 04:27
Last fall I purchased a hard rubber Conn 14N Albert System clarinet. This was a former USN military clarinet in pretty good condition for it's age (made in 1917). We think the pads were the original ones at the time I bought it. Admittedly I have no experience playing an Albert system, this being my first one, but at purchase it was possible to play all the chalumeau and clarion notes easily. I took the clarinet to a local store that sells new instruments as well as works on them. The service man suggested that being in his estimation they were the original pads that it should have new pads installed to ensure there were no leaks. It made sense to me. When I got the clarinet back with the new pads I was no longer able to play any clarion notes. Not a single one. I took the instrument back to the repair business and they relooked everything and checked again for leaks and still it is not possible to play any clarion notes. It plays the chalumeau range OK (not great, although it could be me that's not too great) but when trying to move to the clarion range there is nothing at all. If you have any recommendations I would appreciate it. I live in a rural area not close to a major city. I'm admittedly not familiar with an Albert system and neither was the service man to worked on the Conn. Being that it did work for me when I bought it and it doesn't now makes me think that the fix should be something simple but it has alluded me and the technician so far. Thanks for your recommendations!
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Author: Fuzzy
Date: 2020-02-27 07:05
How many rings does the upper joint have? Does the upper joint play both registers if you remove the lower joint and bell?
I've had similar problems when either the register vent (a small hole on many of mine) is partially obstructed, or when one of the side (trill) keys isn't sealing properly. The instrument becomes very resistant, and notes sometimes don't speak.
Just as a "double-check" - the "reach" on most simple system clarinets is greater than on Boehm system clarinets. Meaning - your fingers must get used to stretching a bit to fully cover the tone holes - especially on the lower joint, and if there are no rings. I've found most thumb rests on simple system clarinets put my hand in the wrong position to cover the lower joint tone holes properly, so I usually modify the thumb rest. Also - depending on your hand position (and which keys appear on the lower joint) it can be quite easy to accidently touch a piece/accidently open a key partway.
Just a few ball-park thoughts based on your initial post.
Fuzzy
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Author: 20sMusic
Date: 2020-02-27 21:32
Thank you, Fuzzy, for your suggestions. My upper joint has 3 rings. The upper joint without the lower joint and bell only plays the chalumeau. It still won't play the clarion. I appreciate all your suggestions. I'll keep experimenting but so far I'm not having any success.
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Author: Fuzzy
Date: 2020-02-27 22:23
Thanks for the additional info.
I would still be suspicious of a partially obstructed register vent...or a leak somewhere near the top/middle of the upper joint.
How are the seals between the barrel/upper joint and mouthpiece/barrel? Are they nice and tight?
Have you tried a different mouthpiece/reed?
Other than that, I'm out of ideas. Most folks on the bboard are more knowledgeable than me - so perhaps some of them will chime in.
Fuzzy
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Author: jdbassplayer
Date: 2020-02-27 23:55
It’s definitely a leak. To be blunt, the real problem here is that your repair person sucks and you need to get your money back and find a new one. Regardless of what key system is, a suction test should be standard after a repad and likely would’ve revealed the problem.
It most likely needs a few pads leveled, although it could be a broken spring causing a key to open slightly. Hard to say what exactly it is without seeing it but someone familiar with working on clarinets should have no problem fixing it.
-JDbassplayer
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Author: m1964
Date: 2020-02-28 18:45
jdbassplayer wrote:
... Hard to say what
> exactly it is without seeing it but someone familiar with
> working on clarinets should have no problem fixing it.
>
> -JDbassplayer
Absolutely- it should not matter if it's Albert/German or French system clarinet.
The repair person most likely does not play clarinet...where I live there is a repair tech who works on clarinets but plays trombone...
I think OP's best option might be to send the clarinet out to someone who can play the instrument after fixing it.
On the other hand, the problem maybe easily fixable and not being worth the expense of postage.
To the OP: I wish you attached good quality pictures to your post- it could possibly reveal the problem.
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