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stuffy sound

Author: bassclarinetchicka88
Date: 2003-09-23 23:22

hi - im a high school clarinetist and i use a plastic selmer 1401 for marching and a buffet r13 for concert. i use a vandoren m13 mouthpiece, an optimum ligature, and vandoren v12 strength 4 reeds on both instruments. last friday my marching instrument got knocked off the bleachers at a game, and i didnt see it fall but luckily the person that knocked it over said that it fell so that only the mouthpiece chipped. i replaced the mouthpiece (same exact model) and tried to play it again, but i produced a horrible airy sound, which hadn't happened before. i figured "ok, the instrument did fall off the bleachers, so ill get it checked." i had it checked by 3 experienced technicians and they couldnt find anything major wrong with it. i got it back and still produced a terrible sound. i tried 4 different reeds, and that didnt help. i switched barrels. that didnt help. figuring maybe i was having problems adjusting to the mp, i played my buffet. it worked fine. i also tried out the school's wooden yamaha (im not sure what model), a buffet b12, and another selmer 1401, all of which worked fine.

i cant march with a wooden instrument and i need to have some sort of solution to finish the season. does anyone have any suggestions?

thanks
ali

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Re: stuffy sound

Author: marcia
Date: 2003-09-23 23:48

I always make a point, and my repair tech. also insists on it, of playing the instrument in the shop before I take it home. If you are still having a problem I would suggest taking it back, demonstrating the problem, and after it has been "repaired" that you check it before taking it away.

Marcia

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Re: stuffy sound

Author: Dan Shusta
Date: 2003-09-24 00:35

ali,

even though it was checked over by 3 techs, it still sounds to me as if a pad in the upper section is preventing the instrument from reaching resonance while playing.

May I suggest the following: remove the upper section and leave the barrel attached. Close all of the open holes with your left hand and place the palm of your right hand over the bottom. Gently blow into open barrel end. When you sense that it is pressurized, close off the air flow by lifting the back of your tongue. The upper section should be absolutely air tight. If, while trying to maintain pressure, your cheeks start to go inward...you have a leak.

How about giving it a try and let us know if it's air tight?

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