 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: bp (F)
Date: 2003-12-03 07:42
I have bought a regular RC (440) one year ago after having played Selmer for a very long time.
Chosen by Michel Arrignon at Buffet, I can imagine that my instrument is correct or better.
I love it for many reasons, the sound is great, it is easy to play, keywork is fantastic, but one details really bores me. It is the note D (below the stave), very fuzzy, much less resonant than C or E (even than C# or Eb), a bit low in tune. Weird and annoying.
People around me say that it is quite common on a Buffet to have one or two "poor notes" in the left hand, and that I have to adapt, but I can't forget this problem.
The person that repairs my clarinet don't want to hear about opening the C hole because of the tuning...
Could anyone tell me if he has some experience of the problem and if there is a way to correct it?
Is opening the hole a good idea to be tried? Doing it by very light steps, and putting some wax in it if the result is bad should be possible, no?
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Author: Synonymous Botch
Date: 2003-12-03 13:19
I wonder if the pads could be set to a higher clearance, for voicing?
This is the note using all but the least fingers on both hands?
I would NOT recommend taking off any wood, until you exhaust reversible remedies, first. The 'long notes' on the RC should be amongst the best!
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2003-12-03 15:54
bp,
Unless the easy solution of raising the key height on the D solves the problem, I see no choice but to enlarge the tonehole, possibly with a bit of additional undercutting. If the enlargement is done all the way around the hole equally, it should not affect the tuning (or have very little effect at worse). A good tech should be willing to try this as a (hopefully) last resort.
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Author: bp (F)
Date: 2003-12-03 17:09
Thank you David.
There is no opened pad or key height to adjust when playing that D (three fingers of left hand), no?
Do you agree that is it the C hole that could be enlarged a bit?
Enlargement : do you mean on the whole height? I don't undestand "undercutting".
I don't plan to do it by myself but I am sure I would have to be very persuasive and well informed when I go to my tech and ask him to do a job he doesn't want to hear about... Maybe I should ask to anyone else...
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2003-12-03 17:28
bp,
You're correct of course, there I was thinking bass clarinet again (all holes covered with plateau keys!) --- it would indeed be the "C" hole that would have to be enlarged and/or the amount of undercutting ("fraising") increased. The diameter of the entire height of the tonehole would have to be enlarged, c'est ca! If your tech doesn't understand what needs to be done then, with all due respect, perhaps he should not be your tech.
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