 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: colvospass
Date: 2023-10-12 22:01
I have an elderly Leblanc bass clarinet that basically plays really well, but I wish the instrument had a little higher pitch. It's OK when it's warmed up, but that is often not the case in a typical doubling situation. I suppose I could help things somewhat with a harder reed, but I love the response I am getting over the full range with my C* with a 2.50 European Signature Legere reed.
Is it possible for a tech to shorten the neck somehow? (My usual guy isn't interested.) I have two necks -- one with more of an angle. I have a slight preference for the one with the sharper angle, but the other one is slightly higher in pitch. I have no idea how much either would need to be shortened to raise the pitch 10 cents or so. (That is based on indications for a Korg tuner.)
Suggestions?
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Author: jdbassplayer
Date: 2023-10-12 22:15
Yeah shortening a neck is pretty straightforward. You can even have a tuning slide added to make tuning much easier. If your local tech can’t do it Meridian Winds would be a good option.
-JDbassplayer
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Author: smokindok
Date: 2023-10-19 06:22
Another possibility to consider, if your usual tech is not keen on doing it and you would like to avoid shipping the neck out of town, is to ask your brass playing colleagues who they trust for repair work and instrument modifications. This would be a straightforward modification for a quality brass tech.
Also, you might consider the possibility of shortening the neck at the mouthpiece socket end, and at the same time modifying the angle of the mouthpiece socket to your favored position.
John
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Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2023-10-19 07:14
Colvospass,
I second the Meridian Winds recommendation. I have seen examples of their work doing neck modifications and the work is top shelf. It seems that the addition of a tunable section would be the correct way to go; Meridian routinely does that kind of mod.
Hank
PS Your reed selection with a C* is just about right.
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Author: Mojo
Date: 2023-10-19 17:54
Cheap fix might be to put some putty inside the mouthpiece backbone to reduce its volume. I would try poster mounting putty since it comes out clean. But clay, dental wax, Play-Doh or gum would work.
MojoMP.com
Mojo Mouthpiece Work LLC
MojoMouthpieceWork@yahoo.com
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Author: super20dan
Date: 2023-10-19 19:25
i have 2 leblancs and have yet to encounter a tunning situation where i was flat with the neck all the way in. is one of them the original? . i guess getting at least one shortned is the best soultion. there are slight variations in the length of bass clarinet mpcs. perhaps look for a shorter one? another option. your mpc and reed strength look fine to me. but something somewhere is amiss. i suspect your missing the original leblanc neck
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