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Pulling out in the joints

Author: SVClarinet09
Date: 2006-11-25 02:21

I know this might seem to some of you guys as a dumb question but, the other day I went into tuning. My upper joint notes were fine, throat notes were fine when i pulled me stock Selmer Paris 66.5mm out about 1 or 2 mm. i did notice though that that C5 and B4 were about 15 cents sharp when I pulled out, 20-25 when I didn't. Is it okay to pull out between the upper and lower joints? I did so and my notes sounded amazingly in tune. Somewhere down the line, I recall someone telling me not to pull out in the joint. I do only pull out just enough to stay in tune and for the bridge key to work.

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Re: Pulling out in the joints

Author: William
Date: 2006-11-25 14:32

You may have to adjust your bridge key, but pulling at the middle joint is an acceptable practice for lowering the notes of the lower joint. If the tuning problem is only with your C5/B4, you might try pulling only the bell instead. However, this will also make your low F/E notes flatter as well. I routinly pull the middle joint of my Concerto Bb and the bell of my Concerto A. Intonation is everything and the basic rule is: Whatever it takes, do it.

I seem to remember John Moses (NYC Pro Clarinetist Extraodinairissimo) saying he didn't pull the joints on any of his clarinets. He may just be lucky and have a set of "top drawer" instruments--most of us arn't so lucky. I do not ever recall anyone saying that you should not pull any of your joints if pulling will result in improved intonation.

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