 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: ken
Date: 2002-07-20 15:36
I have a clarinet setup that is very sharp. most of the notes are 20 cents sharp. I understand that a longer barrel will flatten the short notes only (for example open G or C3). Is it possible to get a mouthpiece and reed setup that will flatten all the notes?
Thanks
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Author: ken
Date: 2002-07-21 11:13
I play the french system, but I also own a german system (Top Sound 2000) which have this particular problem. Mouthpiece used is Hans-Zinner M95 (tip opening 0.95mm). reed is vandoren white master 2.5
I know most people in this forum will not have this setup. But is it really possible to flatten all the notes by changing the mouthpiece and reed setup rather than changing the barrel?
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2002-07-21 15:11
Ken - I have recently begun measuring the length of my several mouthpieces as well as the barrels, and tapeing the # of mm's on the piece for reference re: my tuning experiences. Most barrels seem to vary only about 1 mm from the usual 66-7, but mps varied from 69 to 73 mm. I've concluded [not very "elitely"] that, beyond matching bore dimensions, the total length of the pair is quite important. The total of 67 and 72 [139] for my Selmers and LeBlancs is OK for 440, about 1mm less for 442. Just a suggestion. Don
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Author: Mike Harrelson
Date: 2002-07-21 16:00
From what I understand about mouthpiece refacing(which is very little), you should only have your mouthpiece refaced two or three times because after that it tends to make it shorter and thereby sharper. So with that in mind I would think that a good refacer could make your mouthpiece play a little sharper (on purpose) if you told them that is what you wanted.
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Author: Mike Harrelson
Date: 2002-07-21 16:04
Sorry about the last post. You want it longer. Pull out if sharp, push in if flat... I'll write that on the blackboard 100 times...
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Author: Burt
Date: 2002-07-21 18:32
Ken, I agree with you that changing the length impacts the "short" notes much more than the "long" ones. Being off 20 cents is more than 1% or about 5Hz at A440. Short of stretching the clarinet, the only suggestions I have are pulling out between the joints and at the bell as well as at the barrel (a crude approximation to stretching the clarinet), lipping the "short" notes way down, or playing with ice cubes in your mouth.
Was your instrument designed for A=445?
Good luck.
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Author: Synonymous Botch
Date: 2002-07-21 21:30
May I recommend that you contact Stephen Fox, a sponsor of the board? He plays a modified German-system and favors this sort of mouthpiece.
He may be able to point you in the right direction.
If a mouthpiece works for you, changing it is a step toward
complicating your life. I would think that a proper barrel, with the appropriate taper SHOULD be attainable.
For a slight additional charge, anything is possible.
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Author: Ken Shaw
Date: 2002-07-22 15:34
A Google search for "Top Sound 2000" shows that it's a German system clarinet made by Kielwerth.
Orchestras in Germany seldom play below A-444, and in Vienna, the pitch is close to 450. If your instrument was made for use in Vienna, it's probably designed to play 20 cents above 440. In that case, there's nothing much you can do to bring the overall pitch down to 440.
Best regards.
Ken Shaw
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Author: Vytas
Date: 2002-09-30 20:59
Don Berger wrote:
>....but mps varied from 69 to 73 mm.<
Your given numbers are incorrect! Total length of a standard mouthpiece is + / - 90mm or 9cm (centimeters)
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