 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2004-08-30 10:10
I read that the Patricola and Rossi clarinets have a Bb mechanism that is suppose to help. All I oculd find is that it is suppose to make it sound less stuffy, but I couldn't find anywhere what it does mechanically. I accidently found a post (it was about something else) that someone said he can play the Bb note without pressing the A key, and that it was because of this Bb mechanism. Does that mechanism allow to play Bb with only your thumb? What exactly does it do?
Thank you.
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2004-08-30 10:40
Is this the "Mazzeo System"?
There is heaps of info here that you can do a search on.
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2004-08-30 14:24
While recuperating, I did a bit of reading of several ICA journal articles, more in regard to Arthur Benade's NX clarinet, but I found a definitive article entitled " The Throat Bb" in the Nov/Dec 1992, Vol 20/#1, pg 24 +. It discusses the problem, the various [patented, #s given] solutions and VG commentary on pros/cons. This is more concise than our previous BB discussions [available here via Search] . My only additions to it would be that of Ave Galper's vent tube [patent and ICA May/June 1994, pg 36] and possible hole relocation/sizing, which Benade/Jameson discuss as well. For me, the vent improvements since the 1950's by Selmer and Leblanc are generally sufficient for good tonality "pinch" Bbs. If striving for the best, I like the Stubbins [often used on the larger cls] which does not require learning differing fingerings, which seems to be the point which "doomed" all of the other [commercial] solutions! Just my thots, Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: kenbear
Date: 2004-08-31 03:14
Take into consideration that some of the these designs are intended not so much to improve the pinch Bb, but to free the register tube from its function as a primary vent for this note.
The vent tube tube can then be located and sized in the optimum position to reduce spread on the 12ths.
I'm sure this aspect would be discussed in detail in the ICA article Don cites.
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Author: donald
Date: 2004-08-31 04:08
as far as i know the Patricola clarinets have a mechanism that is similar to the SK (Stubbins) mechanism... the normal B flat hole opens (ie- the register vent) but also another hole that helps reduce the stuffyness of the throat Bflat. This extra hole is activated either by the thumb ring, or the A key.
other mechanisms exist that open a completely different hole to produce B flat, but the normal register hole when the thumb ring or a key are not in use (ie, when you are playing in the upper register).
both these type of mechanisms can be effective, but the advantage with the former is that if/when it breaks down you can still actually play the instrument.... with the 2nd mechanism i described problems with the key adjustment can result in disaster.
on the other hand, the saxophone has a "dual use thumb key", and while these do cause problems now and again, they work perfectly well for 100000s of sax players every day.
the Mazzeo mechanism that Gordon mentions has been described on this board in depth, a very clever mechanism that means you can play B flat without having to use the thumb key (but i think you still have to use the A key?).
hope that this was helpful
donald
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Author: Robert Small
Date: 2004-08-31 04:41
As donald says the Bb booster mechanism on the Patricola is basically the Stubbins mechanism. On my Patricola eefer I found that the booster mechanism does open up the sound of the pinch Bb some but at the expense of making the note sharp. So I de-activated it. Now the Bb is a typical slightly stuffy pinch Bb but it plays much better in tune. I have heard that Rossi's Bb booster mechanism works pretty well.
Post Edited (2004-08-31 04:47)
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2004-08-31 05:08
Thanks everyone.
Robert Small can you leave your email here so I can ask yo ua few more questions please?
Or if you prefer not to write your email here send me an email to clarnibass@yahoo.com and I will send you back an email with my questions.
Thank you.
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