 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: SGTClarinet_7
Date: 2004-11-17 11:54
I met an older musician yesterday who plays oboe and clarinet. He was showing me his clarinet case, which was a trumpet case fashioned for his Bflat, Eflat and C Clarinets. However, on his C clarinet he had drilled a small hole on his bell, opposite of the logo. He said this was to give it better resonance. I've never heard of this before. What do y'all think? Maybe it could be a klezmer thing, as he uses his C clarinet for klezmer. I'm just curious now. Thanks!
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Author: Alseg
Date: 2004-11-17 12:20
Not so uncommonly used as you might imagine, this technique fixes intonnation problems in the closed-hole notes...Additionally, the hole can be "closed" by pressing the bell against the thigh when playing in a seated position. This is a German style bell and works well for Eb clarinets with flat "long" notes....Backun sells them. I used one on an Eb Recital horn, but later had the tenon-bell combination altered by a Phila. tech. This fixed the problem without needing the resonance hole.
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Author: marcia
Date: 2004-11-17 18:16
One of the bells I have seen in Morrie's shop has a "resonance" hole in it so this is not a new concept. I have not played on it so cannot comment on efffectiveness.
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Author: GBK
Date: 2004-11-17 18:26
The new Forte clarinet has a resonance hole in the bell ...GBK
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Author: donald
Date: 2004-11-17 18:35
a related issue
i have actually seen and played clarinets made with an extra long lower joint, and an open hole at the bottom- like "an uncovered E flat hole". This greatly improved the tone of low E and middle space B, though it didn't really improve the intonation particuarly.
The resonance hole in the bell is most likely to have a beneficial impact if it was incorporated at the design stage rather than as an add on. Something worth considering, but i wouldn't go drilling holes in my bell just to try it out...
Someone will no doubt add a posting telling you that the bell only makes a 0.0005% difference to the instruments performance. blah blah blah
donald
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2004-11-17 20:12
I have added such a hole to a couple of clarinets whose low E's were quite flat --- the idea is that the note is partially vented further up the instrument. Of course the 'long' B a twelfth above is also affected, but to a lesser extent. I also added a bell 'resonance' hole to my older Cabart oboe to raise a flat low-Bb, same idea and same good results. No discernible effect on tone, just an intonation adjustment.
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Author: CPW
Date: 2004-11-18 00:54
Resonance hole: a standard accoutrement on politicians and beaurocrats
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Author: L. Omar Henderson
Date: 2004-11-18 01:02
(Disclaimer - I sell the Forte' clarinet)
The passive bell vent does improve the flatness often heard in the low D & E and adds clarity to the lower clarion register but this was a conscious design decision on our part and the placement and size were engineered for the total clarinet. There are acoustic formula which can somewhat predict the configuration of the passive - versus active as seen on the Buffet Tosca - tone hole, but truthfully it was an expensive trial and error procedure with drilling holes and then filling the holes and trying a different sized hole and placement position. So, if you do not want a swiss cheese bell it is better not to attempt this as a DIY project. The concept, as seen on many German clarinets, is a valid tool to improve the intonation of several notes which are troublesome on many clarinets.
The Doctor
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Author: Contra
Date: 2004-11-18 01:45
I'd consider having that done if my low notes weren't the ones that were always in tune.
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Author: javier garcia m
Date: 2004-11-18 11:09
Top models on german clarinets have a key, controlled by the rigth thumb, to raise the pitch for low E and/or low F. Some models have the device only for low E, some for both. See for instance the professionals models of Scwhenk und Seggelke:
http://www.schwenk-und-seggelke.de/deutsch/frame.html that have a cup on the bell.
Selmer had (still has?) an automatic low F correction for the Recital model, available upon request, I have only seen pictures on a catalog. The system was actioned by the register key and the low E key.
The low F correction on Tosca model (Buffet) is not automatic and has a special key for the right hand little finger.
Ripamonti, an italian maker, offers a soprano clarinet with an extended lower joint an a free hole, see:
http://www.laripamonti.com/instruments.html
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Author: 3dogmom
Date: 2004-11-18 12:33
There's a limerick in here somewhere but I am not the one to compose it...
Sue
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Author: CPW
Date: 2004-11-18 12:37
George Carlin could do a good job on this board
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2004-11-18 13:04
Doesn't the Selmer Recital model [perhaps others] have an actual resonance key, possibly to avoid a "strong" "bell-tone" of the low E ? Also this is noticeable on other pro cls. I've seen a small hole in student oboe bells, for {I guess} this same reason. C P ? [common practice ? ] Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: mnorswor
Date: 2004-11-18 13:08
Question for David...
Is there a difference in where one puts this hole in the bell? I assume that placement would be critical, yes?
Thanks,
Michael
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Author: Stepan
Date: 2004-11-18 13:41
Rigt now they sell antique clarinet on german ebay (www.ebay.de)
Search: sehr alte holz clarinet
Well, there is A LOT of holes...
If someone will buy this clarinet because of MY tip, you have obligation to pay me a reward. To be payed in reeds. 
Post Edited (2004-11-18 13:47)
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2004-11-18 13:46
Stepan wrote:
> Rigt now they sell antique clarinet on german ebay
> (www.ebay.de)
> Search: sehr alte holz clarinet
That shows as a Tarogato, not clarinet.
Also, please read the rules next time. Ebay references are not allowed unless previously cleared with us.
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Author: Stepan
Date: 2004-11-18 13:51
I thought it is a clarinet with a bit unusual shape of bore...
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Author: Stepan
Date: 2004-11-18 14:21
Michael,
I had the same question as you, I have my low notes VERY low, but when I saw that clarinet on ebay, It gave me idea to continuosly drilling more and more smaller holes in various places of the bell, waiting, when the notes will become comfortably higher.
Having one hole is better than having many, for sure...
I have a plastic bell and I can afford such experinents... New costs just 10 dollars... (how much in US?)
But some suggestion about the diameter and place of that hole would be REALLY USEFULL!!!
Post Edited (2004-11-18 14:23)
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2004-11-18 14:32
Michael and Stepan,
It does of course matter where the hole is placed and what diameter it is. I modeled my first 'homemade hole' after an WWII-era Boosey & Hawkes Imperial bell I received, and on subsequent clarinets made the holes the same size and the same distance from the tenon socket as on the 'model bell', with good results. I've made no attempt to vary the dimensions. If you like I could measure the relevant dimensions and post them here tomorrow. As for 'clocking' of the hole (location around the circumference) I don't believe that matters --- but no doubt others may differ on that point.
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Author: BlockEyeDan
Date: 2004-11-18 14:41
There once was a man named Zell,
who drilled several holes in his bell,
After much trial and error,
He was filled with much terror,
and put it on ebay to sell!
(3dogmom, it's my first try.....I'm obviously not GBK)
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Author: Stepan
Date: 2004-11-18 14:54
OK, David, please measure it (in mm!), I would like to know where to start the drilling... Did someone mention swiss cheese?
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2004-11-18 15:02
Will do, Stepan.
By the way, for all: 25.4 mm = 1 inch
As for cheese, I prefer sharp cheddar and provolone.
BlockEyedDan --- you have a great future ahead of you here on the BB! GBK should be 'watching his 6" as the pilots would say.............
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Author: CPW
Date: 2004-11-18 15:23
When Zell put a hole in the bell
Like Stilton it started to smell
the drill was too fast
through the bell it did pass
Now there are two holes he is trying to sell.
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Author: GBK
Date: 2004-11-18 15:42
Sadly, Zell died, I recall,
An accident in Montreal.
He got carried away,
The drill went astray,
Passing through his abdominal wall.
...GBK
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Author: BlockEyeDan
Date: 2004-11-18 16:06
Zell's funeral I did attend,
To comfort his wife since his end;
With tears in her eyes,
She said something wise:
"That's one hole that I cannot mend."
Post Edited (2004-11-18 16:27)
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Author: Henry
Date: 2004-11-18 16:18
The moment old Zell passed away,
His last words were these, by the way:
"It could have been worse",
he said to his nurse,
"Thank God, it was just a Buffet!"
Henry
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Author: BlockEyeDan
Date: 2004-11-18 16:23
When time came to read old Zell's will,
it showed he was a man of some skill;
He left to his wife,
(the love of his life),
an eefer with which she could kill!
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Author: Stepan
Date: 2004-11-18 16:48
That is a cheese!
On picture it looks like something that has been dead for a long time...
I wish nobody EATS that disgusting thing?
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Author: GBK
Date: 2004-11-18 17:24
The moral of the awful tale?
"Don't drill or you're likely to fail"
If you must make a hole,
To get tuning control,
Just use a tenpenny nail.
...GBK
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Author: Henry
Date: 2004-11-18 17:40
But nailing will cause a big crack!
That could run from front to the back.
But then, who can really be sure
That cracks can't provide the best cure
For resonance or whatever the heck!
Henrys
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2004-11-18 18:34
Vunderbahr to all of you Poets [who may or not Know it] . Are these in Limerick [IR] metre, how about a bit of "blind verse" ?? Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: JHS
Date: 2004-11-19 21:54
A hole, a split, a crack?
On my horn? What, are you whack?
For tone to be pure,
For response to be sure,
I practice those skills that I lack.
First post guys. This forum is great!
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2004-11-30 14:34
I finally measured the resonance hole I had drilled in my Boosey & Hawkes Series 8-10 bell to cure the flat low E and slightly flat 'long' B: the hole is 7mm in diameter and is located 35mm away from the very end of the bell tenon end (distance includes the metal tenon ring). Clocking (location circumferentially) doesn't matter --- I placed my hole on the bottom just to be non-visible to observers.
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