 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Kim
Date: 2000-01-10 03:32
I just got a new R-13 and the lower register is flat and the upper register is sharper. Do you suggest that I buy a different barrel of mouthpiece? If a different barrel of mouthpiece, which brands?
Kim
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Author: Albert
Date: 2000-01-10 04:59
Did you pick this one out? Or did you just get it through the mail?
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Author: Bino
Date: 2000-01-10 07:32
I wouldn't suggest a "barrel of mouthpiece", but I would suggest getting a hold of a Chadash barrel...It cleaned up the intonation of my R-13 and would also do the same to yours...Try out a couple to see which one is the right one for your horn...
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Author: William
Date: 2000-01-10 16:42
Slightly closing the register vent will help bring down the high register, as will a Kasper or Kasper copy mp. The low register on R-13s I have always found to be good. I'm suprised that you find yours so out of tune. My LeBlanc Concertos are FLAT on low F and E, but that is the way T. Ridenour designed them to compensate for other problems solved. I have learned to "lip them up" so they are acceptably is tune and perhaps if a new mp and barrel don't help, that will be your only solution also. Good luck.
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Author: paul
Date: 2000-01-10 16:43
Before you start modifying the new horn with more hardware, you may need to learn more about your horn. Here are a few ideas to chew on for a while. See a pro tutor for the proper order of these tricks, how they are done, and how both you and your horn can benefit from them. You may have to learn how to "lip up or lip down" notes to bend them slightly into tune. Remember, undercut pro grade clarinets are a lot more sensitive to finger positioning, especially for the tone holes. You may have to learn a very tight discipline for fingerings, so you don't unintentionally "shade" the notes out of tune. You also may need to get your (I assume totally brand new) clarinet regulated to tweak individual keys and key pads for proper tuning by themselves and in thirds, fourths, fifths, sixths, octave and 12ths leaps. Don't try bending keys yourself. Get a pro to do it for you. That's because it takes a lot of patience and controlled strength to get it right. You should never use a tool (pliers, wrench, etc.) to bend keys. Tools put way too much force over such a small area of the keys. Plus, many of the tools have hard teeth that can put a permanent gouge of bitemarks in your keys. Gentle, yet persistent finger/hand pressure works the best.
A pro tutor can tell you all about these problems, how to solve them, and more. There is a lot more fine art in learning how to play a clarinet than an engineer like me can imagine. The pro grade horns demand a lot from novice and intermediate grade players. I personally went through about a year's worth of transition pains stepping from a straight cut intermediate soprano clarinet (Yamaha YCL-52) to an undercut premium pro grade clarinet (Buffet Festival, sister to the R-13) as an adult novice, even with a seasoned pro tutor's help every week.
Follow the good advice given quite frequently on this BBS. Use a good third party mouthpiece on your horn, make sure you have a collection of high quality broken-in reeds at the ready, get expert professional tutoring and advice, and work hard to meet your performance goals. I'll add to these tips and say be patient getting to know your horn, get expert help adjusting it to meet your needs, always take quality time warming up for every session, learn to have relaxed yet disciplined fingers and hands, work fully focused, and then take the time to relax and have fun.
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Author: Kim
Date: 2000-01-10 18:38
I went down to Weiner's and picked this clarinet out of 8 R-13's.
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Author: Meredith H.
Date: 2000-01-10 20:55
My Buffet RC also is a tiny bit flat in the lower register. However, the clarion and altissimo registers are so well in tune with each other that I find the small compensation I have to make in the low register a small price to pay. You'll get used to your new clarinet with time, some help from your teacher and maybe a few small modifications.
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Author: Hiroshi
Date: 2000-01-11 03:28
Many people like R-13 since many pros use them in U.S. However they use customized(modified) R-13s.Pitch problems seem to be intrinsic for off-the-shelf R-13.
If you are serious, it will be better to consult with professional customizers such as Mr.Swiney(Hans Moenig's last apprentice) or Mr.Tom Ridenour.Total tone hole corrections,barrel change,bell throat enlargement,and register tube replacement may be required.(You can read how many modifications late Mr.Moennig made on R-13s on Klarinet archive.)
Another choice is to try a special bell by Muncy,several Moennig barrels,and Galper's register keys but this is not clever idea to try,since there are no knowledge background.
Most provably above modifications might cost too much.If pitch problems are the main concerns,exchange that R-13 with a Selmer Signature with another 300$-500$.3 cent pitch deviation can be reduced to within one cent.
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2000-01-11 12:14
One of the things to remember, also, is that there are <b>many</b> professionals today who have <i>not</i> had the extensive modifications made on their R-13s or other brand clarints. They have had very professional regulations and adjustments done (such as those done by Brannen), but not tone hole rebuilding, etc. I think madness lies in that direction ...
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Author: Kim
Date: 2000-01-12 18:10
I did just get this clarinet last week. Is this flatness because it is new, or should I really consider getting a new barrel or mouthpiece? Over time, will the low notes raise in pitch?
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Author: Dee
Date: 2000-01-12 22:45
Kim wrote:
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I did just get this clarinet last week. Is this flatness because it is new, or should I really consider getting a new barrel or mouthpiece? Over time, will the low notes raise in pitch?
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This is a distinct possibility. If you were playing a different brand and model before, you might have been making subconscious adjustments in embouchure, etc. to play in tune. Then when you play the R-13, you play it the same way and this might be the cause of your pitch discrepancies. If you have a private teacher, work with your teacher to solve these. You might need a new mouthpiece if you are playing the one that came with the clarinet.
Or you just might need more embouchure development and breath support development. If you were playing a student clarinet before, these are often built to be easy to play and built a little sharp so the students won't be hideously flat.
Time and practice are likely to be the solution to your problem.
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Author: Kim
Date: 2000-01-12 22:56
I was almost playing on an "intermediate" instrument for my level. I was playing on a 70 year old instrument and it was as sharp as hell! But, the new clarinet...wow! what an improvement, flat, or not!
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Author: Dee
Date: 2000-01-12 23:43
Kim wrote:
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I was almost playing on an "intermediate" instrument for my level. I was playing on a 70 year old instrument and it was as sharp as hell! But, the new clarinet...wow! what an improvement, flat, or not!
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Then in that case, I'd say its mostly a matter of getting used to your new instrument. Although a 70 year old instrument can be quite good, the design philosophy was much different then.
Maybe just try using more air pressure when you play might be a first step.
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Author: Dee
Date: 2000-01-12 23:46
Dee wrote:
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... Maybe just try using more air pressure when you play might be a first step.
I should add a reason or some logic to this. The 70 year old instrument almost certainly has a much larger bore than your R-13. This means that the older horn will be easier to blow. The R-13 is a small bore clarinet and so will have more "resistance". I.e. it is harder to blow. So this is why I suggest using more air pressure.
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