 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Aussie Nick
Date: 2004-08-25 12:12
Ok so my new Bb is done with all the tweaking and plays pretty much how I like it. My new A (surprise surprise) is prooving that little bit more of a challenge. The sharpness in the clarion G and low C have been fixed up, and the barrels I've been trying (Moennig and Chadash) definately help with narrowing the gaps of a couple of the 12ths which were a little unmanagable.
The clarion G# is really quite sharp (again no surprises there) and although the low C# is ok in pitch when played loud, it was far too sharp at softer dynamics. And so I am willing to sacrifice the lower C# being a touch on the flat side at loud dynamics to bring the G# down in pitch...the problem is the stuffiness. The C# sounds gross and if we open up the tone hole by undercutting it will raise the pitch higher - not a good option. Last time he looked at my A, my tech noticed that strangely enough the G#/C# tonehole is on a sort of angle which is weird. I know I'm not going to be completely satisfied and it will be a compromise, but can anything by down to bring the pitch down AND clear up the stuffiness?
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2004-08-25 12:48
A summary I wrote once, of principles I got from a recorder maker:
1. Partially filling-in a tone hole flattens a note. Filing it larger sharpens a note. This adjustment can be done further down the tone hole (undercutting or filling) while leaving the top intact. Filling-in in can be done by applying nail polish or PVA, both of which can be pushed off if later unwanted.
2. Changes (either undercutting or filling) affect the pitch of the upper register more than the lower.
3. To maximise this difference (between the effect on high and low register) alter the 'SOUTH' side of the tone hole. To minimise this difference, operate on the 'NORTH' side.
I wonder what angle the tone hole is at. If you want both notes flattened but not made any more stuffy, it would seem that you want (at least the bottom) of the tone hole to be further down the instrument. That would involve undercutting the south side and closing the north side.
Before you act on any of this, perhaps you should wait until somebody with more acoustic knowledge can confirm it.
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Author: kenbear
Date: 2004-08-25 23:53
Nick
If you go with the flat low C# compromise, you can use the rh sliver key to vent the note sharper in an exposed passage. On all the clarinets I've owned - except reform boehm- the C#/G# (and not forgetting the next harmonic, altissimo F) has always been a problem.
K
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Author: Aussie Nick
Date: 2004-08-26 00:34
Yeah the rh banana key brings the pitch up (if it goes flat) to a quite comfortable level. Thats the only reason I'm willing to compromise to bring the G# down. Thanks for the ideas Gordon.
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The Clarinet Pages
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