 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Rachel
Date: 2003-09-09 03:55
If there was a small crack inside your instrument which you couldn't see, how would you tell it was there? Would it affect the sound at all?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2003-09-09 09:47
To detect an obscure leak, block the end of a clarinet section with a cork, close the keys, fill the bore with water, blow gently for a while, remove the water, then keep blowing, looking and listening for the bubbles.
Alternatively, remove the keys, connect up a tube to the non-corked end, put stoppers in all the tone holes, immerse the clarinet in water, and blow through the tube, looking for bubbles.
For an entirely visual inspection, with no water, use a boroscope, like what the keyhole surgeons use, to look inside the bore. Very few technicians would have one because of the price, and how little it would be used.
Cracks are far less likely on the inside of the instrument, because to create them the instrument would normally have to have the timber rather damp on the OUTSIDE but dry on the INSIDE. I think they would be rather small if they existed at all, and hence unlikely to leak. Even cracks on the outside seldom cause leaks unless the cross the EDGE of a tone hole where the pad should seal.
If an internal crack did not leak, and it is most unlikely to, then it would probably have no affect on how the instrument plays. It would be highly insignificant acoustically compared with the enormous gap clarinets usually have between the end of each tenon and the bottom of the corresponding socket.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: diz
Date: 2003-09-10 05:32
LOL @ Gordon - talk about shattering illusions.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Rachel
Date: 2003-09-12 00:46
Why I was asking is because when I play my throat Bb, it sounds like something isn't sealing properly (my A is fine), and I was wondering if a crack could be causing that or, if not, what would be the most likely cause.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Synonymous Botch
Date: 2003-09-12 12:19
I wonder if what you hear is venting through the register key tonehole?
Is this a change in the way your clarinet played before?
New instrument, maybe?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2003-09-12 12:24
Is the register vent clear of any partial obstruction?
Do you have a thick, frustum-shaped cork pad on the register key, i.e. like a decapitated cone? This greatly improves the clarity of Bb for most clarinets.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: BobD
Date: 2003-09-12 14:00
.....but it beats me why you would have suspected a crack that you couldn't see.......The condition you have will probably require some plain old sleuthing....
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Rachel
Date: 2003-09-13 03:45
I've had my clarinet for a year, and up until a few weeks ago the B flat was no worse than normal (it was quite good, actually).
Bob D- I asked about cracks because I didn't know if a small crack could make a big difference. I've only had a wooden clarinet for about a year and a half; I played for about 8 1/2 years on a plastic clarinet and didn't have to worry about cracks. I know that a pad being very slightly out of alignment can cause huge problems, so I thought it might work the same way with cracks.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2003-09-13 11:40
A pad out of alignment is much more likely to leak. It is the leak that affects playing.
Splits seldom leak, unless they are on the OUTSIDE of the instrument, and pass through a tone hole.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Fred
Date: 2003-09-13 15:01
If the Bb recently changed, I would carefully remove the register key and run a pipe cleaner through the register vent. Even the slightest amount of obstruction in that vent can create the problems you are describing.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Rachel
Date: 2003-09-14 05:53
It isn't leaking, so I supsect that what Fred said would be the problem. I'll try his suggestion.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Rachel
Date: 2003-09-15 00:37
I tried Fred's suggestion, and it has improved a little, but it still doesn't sound good. Is there anything else I can do? (Besides putting the fingers of my right hand down, I do that already.)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Dan Shusta
Date: 2003-09-15 01:16
Rachel, I think Gordon (NZ) is on the right track. If you are using the same mpc, reed and lig combination, I suspect the register key pad.
Did you have a good look at it when you took off the register key? Is it perfectly flat or is there a fairly deep indentation where the metal vent seats?
Was the register key pad new when you got the clarinet? Either way, it sounds as if it might need replacing.
I believe it is generally agreed upon that the register keypad should be cork and Gordon's version of an inverted cone cork pad is the best I've heard of.
Also, Gordon: Thanks for the mini-dissertation on clarinet leaks. Much appreciated.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Rachel
Date: 2003-09-15 01:20
There is quite a big indentation. Is there any temporary way to fix this before I can get it fixed properly? (I have an audition in a weeks time so I don't want to send my clarinet away before then- I need to practice)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Dan Shusta
Date: 2003-09-15 01:55
Rachel, I strongly believe that this is the problem.
The only quick repair that I can think of is to remove the register key, scrape out the old glue and insert a Valentino Greenback pad of 9mm at 0.080" or 0.110" thickness with some form of glue on the back. This, of course, would be a very temporary emergency repair.
I suggest checking with your band director...they sometimes have the Valentino emergency repair kits.
I also emailed Gordon for his advice in this situation.
Hope this helps.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
