 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: sfalexi
Date: 2002-10-30 05:34
Also, I had a question on my clarinet's design. There's a small screw on the throat A lever. It touches the throat G# lever. I'm assuming that this screw's only purpose is to make sure that when the A lever is pressed, the G# lever comes up evenly with it. That correct? And what's an articulated G# key or C# key? I hear about some articulated key but don't know what it is or looks like. Thanks.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2002-10-30 10:51
The adjusting screw is so that the two pads BEGIN opening together. How far they open is adjusted by other means.
Articulated G#: When you have the G# key pressed down, the pad (in its key cup) can is RE-closed when you press down the right hand ring key, even though your left little finger is still pressing its lever down. This enables you to play G# and trill to F# or F, by moving only a right hand finger, while the left pinkie stays down. Some tremolos are also possible without lifting the G# finger. This can make some passages much easier to play cleanly, but some people would say it develops fingering laziness.
To enable this to happen several changes are needed to the clarinet.
1. A complicated alteration to the mechanism.
2. The G# tone hole is drilled through the middle joint (both tenon and socket) instead of above it.
3. The mounting of the G# key is moved to the lower section of the clarinet.
This is all expensive.
It is by far the most complicated mechanism commonly found on a clarinet, and can be quite challenging for some technicians to keep reliable.
On the standard clarinet the G# tone hole is moved up from its ideal position in order to keep it from interfering with the tenon joint. It therefore has to be made smaller to keep the tuning right. This affects the tone of the note...... the compromises just keep coming. An articulate G# means the keyword has to be on the lower section of the instrument, so the tone hole HAS to be through the tenon/socket joint. The positive side to this is that it can be in its ideal position and of the ideal diameter.
above the tenon joint.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: JMcAulay
Date: 2002-10-30 14:22
Gordon: Excellent posting. My only comment is that the C#/G# key could be placed in the ideal location (with a through-the-tenon hole) without any connection between this key and the lower rings. However, I have never seen this done.
Regards,
John
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Fred
Date: 2002-10-30 14:59
One additional comment about the A key adjusting screw:
Most people have at some point in the early years of their clarinet playing have noticed that there is a bit of "play" between the A key and the Ab bridge and have proudly eliminated the play by adjusting the screw. Then their clarinet wouldn't play.
The Ab key must close completely (not held open by the screw on the A key even the slightest bit). If it doesn't,the clarinet goes nowhere.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: AL
Date: 2002-10-30 15:03
The articulated G# also removes the possibility of playing a covered high F6. That's giving up quite a bit for a trill.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: sfalexi
Date: 2002-10-30 20:28
What about the alternate Eb lever? Would it once again be expensive to add that one on? The LH lever that is. To make it an 18 key clarinet. Thanks.
Alexi
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: JMcAulay
Date: 2002-10-30 21:39
The L4 G#/D# key is not an expensive addition. Patricola simply does not build a Clarinet without it (telling customers, "if you don't like it, it's easily removed"). The Amati ACL-601 becomes a -602 with the addition of that key, and the price difference is only a few dollars. I have an ACL-602, and after some months of occasional playing, I still now and then hit that key by mistake. Old dog, new tricks? I hope not....
Regards,
John
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
