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 Why my A wouldn't play. (Duh!)
Author: Don Poulsen 
Date:   2004-06-02 15:49

(A humbling post about a simple solution to a troubling problem)

A while back, I posted about occasionally not being able to get second-space A to sound on my bass clarinet when playing pianissimo or piano. On an occasion since then that it happened, it suddenly dawned on me as to what the problem might be and, lo and behold, I was correct! Moisture around the tone hole for the A key was forming a bubble around the pad and tone hole. At low volumes, the pressure differential was insufficient to burst the bubble, at least immediately. The obvious solution when this occurs is to dab out the moisture with a tissue (or cigarette paper). Or, lacking the tissue, to blow the some of the moisture from the tone hole.

Duh!!!

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 Re: Why my A wouldn't play. (Duh!)
Author: BobD 
Date:   2004-06-02 16:07

No need to be humble,Don, it happens.....

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 Re: Why my A wouldn't play. (Duh!)
Author: sfalexi 
Date:   2004-06-02 16:19

That happened to me EVERY TIME playing my buffet E & S. Quite frustrating. Especially when trying to play a mf A and there's that delay from you opening the key, and enough pressure going through to burst the bubble. Delays the note a good half-second or so!

Hasn't happened yet on my new Amati 604 [knocks on upper-joint]. Probably the repad job through Dave Spiegelthal who uses non-water proof leather pads and claims (and though I can't prove, so far it seems to be right) that the pads do absorb some moisture and it helps prevent spit from accumulating around the tone holes giving a 'buzz' or 'bubble', while still not losing its seating or causing a leak.

So far, no buzz, no spittle, no bubbles, and still great seals.

Alexi

US Army Japan Band

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 Re: Why my A wouldn't play. (Duh!)
Author: David Spiegelthal 2017
Date:   2004-06-02 16:24

I can't (in my cap) put a feather
for repadding Alexi in leather...
The lack of spit bubbles
or nasty buzz troubles
Just means that his act is together!








oof! Sorry, too much coffee this morning........

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 Re: Why my A wouldn't play. (Duh!)
Author: Bob A 
Date:   2004-06-03 01:27

Oh My! David, well done.
Bob A

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 Re: Why my A wouldn't play. (Duh!)
Author: Brenda 
Date:   2004-06-03 20:01

I had the same problem with the A key until my repair tech changed the type of pad on it. There's still some water under a couple of side keys, but this has been greatly minimized by keeping the barrel swabbed often (not allowing the moisture to accumulate) and by using the maintenance techniques mentioned previously on this BB. Quite a relief compared to a couple of years ago!



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 Re: Why my A wouldn't play. (Duh!)
Author: Jack Kissinger 
Date:   2004-06-04 14:26

Troubles with bubbles, you say?
Especially when playing your A?
Just oil your bore
for troubles no more.
(Well at least it should work for a day!)

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 Re: Why my A wouldn't play. (Duh!)
Author: Gordon (NZ) 
Date:   2004-06-04 15:57

Often, a bubble-under-a-pad problem can be solved by the pad opening slightly further.

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 Re: Why my A wouldn't play. (Duh!)
Author: sfalexi 
Date:   2004-06-04 18:48

Gordon (NZ) wrote:

> Often, a bubble-under-a-pad problem can be solved by the pad
> opening slightly further.

Or by not drooling so much!!!!!

Just kidding. I know it's natural (happened - past tense - to me all the time)

Alexi

US Army Japan Band

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 Re: Why my A wouldn't play. (Duh!)
Author: GBK 
Date:   2004-06-04 19:23

Opinions and tempers embroil
Whenever we talk about oil.
We really need "Doc",
To post 'round the clock.
And end all this silly turmoil...GBK

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