 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Bassie
Date: 2006-06-08 18:51
So I got me a squeak. It lives somewhere between clarion F and clarion G. All the pads on the top joint seem to seal just fine. It's driving me crazy. Any ideas?
It's worse with my usual mouthpiece - so have I just got mouthpiece fatigue? (it's not the mpc as I have two of them and they both do it to me!)Do I just need a rest from my usual to kick my lazy technique back into shape?
Which brings me to the crazy mouthpiece I'm playing as a substitute. It's a Runyon 22(4) in transparent blue plastic, and it's lovely. Has anyone ever heard of or even played this brand? I found it online and it was so reasonably priced I just had to get one. Or is it just an American thing that's only just surfaced this side of the pond? Certainly a talking point at rehearsals.
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Author: hans
Date: 2006-06-08 20:22
Bassie,
Here is a non-exhaustive list of things to check, in no particular order. You may find other possible causes by using the BB search feature.
You could also ask an experienced player to play-test your instrument.
Good luck.
Regards,
Hans
Causes of Squeaks
- a dry reed
- overblowing
- accidentally touching a key
- the middle joint in a clarinet is not properly aligned
- using a "wrong" fingering instead of a better alternate
- a finger not covering a hole
- a pad not seating properly
- a weak spring not holding a key closed
- keys out of adjustment (e.g., the A key)
- unco-ordinated fingering
- a leaking joint
- a cracked instrument (in a wood clarinet)
- too much mouthpiece in the mouth
- a burr on the mouthpiece top rail
- misapplied lip pressure
- a reed is split
- the reed is not perfectly sealed on the mouthpiece
- a reed is too thin at the center of the tip or is stiffer on one side than the other
- a poorly designed, worn, or warped mouthpiece (a warped mouthpiece can be refaced)
- the mouthpiece baffle (the slanted top inside the tip) is too high
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Author: stevensfo
Date: 2006-06-08 20:35
Shouldn't you be checking the top pad on the lower joint, i.e. clarion F? I've often found this to be a problem. I wonder if it's because your right index finger is stronger than the others and affects the pad more?
Fortunately, it's a small pad and easy to change.
I bought a Runyon from Ebay last year. A symphonic no.4 , so plays best with a soft reed. You're absolutely right. I was surprised at how well it sounds. A rather bright tone. I believe they sell metal baffles that fit inside the MP and increases the volume. Ever heard of them?
Re. the squeak. Definitely not the reed?
Steve
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Author: Bassie
Date: 2006-06-13 21:23
Thanks, hans, good list! Almost worth carrying round in the case. The likely culprit is 'overblowing' - I'm up against an eager brass section. But why has it come on now, and why those notes?
Basically I'm pretty sure I'm just blowing the thing wrong. But it's a subtle kind of error...
stevensfo - I think the top pad on the bottom joint is OK too - but yes, it's been troublesome in the past. And I can do it on all my reeds ;-D
It's more of a reed-mpc combination thing. The mpc in question is a B45 dot, which gives me real gumption but which has started to fight back! I need to learn to tame the beast. Any ideas?
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