 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Tom A
Date: 2003-08-16 06:41
A vintage Leblanc. Bought almost on impulse. Very nice sound. Feels great with my new Pomarico mouthpiece.
Just a few harder-blowing, fuzzy notes, though. The clarion E, D (more than the others) and C, and their corresponding chalumeau notes, don't sound or blow too well.
The two bottom cups/pads seem to be a good height, and it's not a leak because the clarion B/low E sound fine and a blow test shows it's all sealed.
The very bottom pad (B/ low E) seems to be missing the covering, so the padding is bare. It's a long shot, but could this be a cause of the more muffled notes?
Cheers.
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2003-08-16 07:05
Send it to a shop to put it in working order. One of those "fix only what's necessary" situations. Unless you opt for the overhaul. Then if the stuffiness continues, I think THEN is the time to worry about it. For a mere 50 bucks or less, it could be something stupid like a pad that is off center or maybe you pressed too hard on the blow test and sealed those leaks.
And I think it just might be that B pad. Cause when you put that many fingers down, the air travels longer down the tube and is more affected by that particular tone hole. I say get 'er adjusted and then see what happens. Hopefully you'll have yourself one sweet sounding horn.
Alexi
PS - Congrats on the purchase! I'm doing a little work on my current horn as it is. I'll be posting in a few weeks as to what was done and how it affected mine. In the meantime, I have to go from good 'ol "Betsy" to even older "Banshee" (based on how it sounds to my ears).
US Army Japan Band
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Author: Brenda
Date: 2003-08-16 11:35
When you go to the repairman be sure to have him check inside the tone holes for fuzz and gunk. There could very well be a partial blockage in one or more of them.
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Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2003-08-16 19:49
If the problem is a leaky pad rather than insufficient key clearance, the problem pad is usually at or above rather than below the problem notes. That suggests that the problem might be the pad on the sliver (banana) key or the pad at the top of the lower joint (though I would expect F would also be a problem, in this case). Another possible culprit might be the pad on the Eb key. I would focus on these.
Here's something you might try. With the instrument assembled, twist (turn) the lower joint so that the bridge key mechanism is disconnected. Now play the problem notes and see if there is any improvement. If there is, the cork on the upper joint bridge mechanism may be too thick (or the mechanism may be bent), causing the pad at the top of the lower joint not to close completely when you depress the lower joint rings (It will pass a lower joint "blow" test because the mechanism is not engaged).
Also, be sure you are not depressing the sliver key slightly with your middle finger when you play these notes.
Also, you could try clamping the sliver key pad and Eb key pad down (if you don't have key clamps, a cork wedge under the two keys should work) and see if that gives any improvement.
I think you should have the bad pad replaced though I doubt it is the cause of your problem (if there is indeed sufficient clearance) because it is below the problem notes.
Best regards,
jnk
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2003-08-16 20:16
Excellent analysis, Jack, you cover more than I had thot of. My suggestion was [to be] insufficient clearance of the F/C pad. a venting problem, but you sure "cover the bases". Yes, get skilled help also. Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: Tom A
Date: 2003-08-18 02:07
The reason I thought the bottom pad's condition could be the problem is that I recall posts that claim the condition of a pad can have an effect on the air leaving that hole. If this is the case, the sound might be affected also. Especially if Alexi's analysis is right.
The clearance on the bottom pads seems OK, but I'm having it checked today. I'm not a technician, so I could be wrong there.
On reflection, insufficient clearance seems more likely now, as the same effect happens on the low G#/D# and low F#/C#. As I said, the low E is clean.
Thanks, Jack, for the bridge key suggestion. It reveals it isn't a leak there, but I'll remember the method.
Cheers
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2003-08-19 15:50
Does the F/C pad have a bulging centre, effectively reducing venting?
And there is something I just don't follow.
"a blow test shows it's all sealed........The very bottom pad (B/ low E) seems to be missing the covering, so the padding is bare...."
I am suspicious about the validity of your "leak test". Did you blow from the lungs, or gently squirt a MOUTHFUL of air. It is only by the latter method that you can detect small leaks.... Any air lost from the mouth cavity indicates a leak.
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