The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: William
Date: 2008-04-25 16:44
Just finished practicing and disccovered something strange--when I assemble my clarinet with the middle joint fully inserted, my G# & A 5s are quite stuffy and none responsive. But when I pull the middle joint about the width of a fat nickle, they pop right out with ease. Neither the Bb/Eb jumper key nor the double octave mechanizm is affected by this assembly shift and I can't see of any other reason for pads not to seat properly. I am just wondering if anyone else has tried/noticed this--or is it just an accoustical quirk re my bass, a Buffett Prestige low C 1193-2 model.
[BTW, I normally assemble and play my bass clarinet with the middle joint pulled to help tune the C 5 & B 4 notes which tend on the sharp side]
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2008-04-25 16:58
That's odd as G# and A both issue mainly from toneholes on the top joint (though some air will still travel down the rest of the instrument), so maybe the void in the bore at the middle socket does something to the airflow.
How well do F and F# respond (played as repeated staccato notes) with the middle tenon pulled out?
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: William
Date: 2008-04-25 19:15
F, F# & G 5 all remain unaffected either way--pulled or all together. Bb, B 5s & C6 same thing. The mystery is just with those traditional "problem" notes, G# & A 5s which, on my bass clarinet, become "no problem" with the middle joint pulled about the width (or more) of a nickle. Just wondering if this might work for other bass clarinetists as well.
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2008-04-26 05:01
Check again to make sure that when that when you finger G# or A with hthe middle joint completely closed, the lower register key doesn't open at all. Sometimes it will open so little that you can't see it but can feel it when you press it or maybe you'll even need a feeler to notice it. It is possible that this would happen only when the middle joint is a little open or vise versa, and also possible it doesn't affect all notes that use the upper register hole the same. If you usually play with the middle joint slightly open, maybe your bass is regulated to this position (although best is when opening this joint regulation doesn't change). When the middle joint is closed, try closing the lower register key with your hand when playing those notes.
Post Edited (2008-04-26 05:04)
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