 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Buster Brown
Date: 2004-12-20 13:45
And when to tweak and who does the tweaking? I've learned alot from this board now I need some more help/information. I purchased a new Buffet Vintage 6 months ago. I love the horn and it blows freely and has a wonderful tone. I've read many comments about clarinets changing over time (especially new clarinets) and having them adjusted at some point in time makes them play even better. A few questions:
1. Is this really true?
2. When should it be done?
3. Tweak even though you are happy with horn?
4. Who should do it? (I purchased it from Muncy Winds.)
5. What else do I need to know?
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Author: Don Poulsen
Date: 2004-12-20 14:08
Sure, they change over time. Pads deteriorate, keys get out of adjustment, springs wear out, pieces of cork fall off, etc.. Most all of these things affect the way an instrument plays. And they all should be fixed to bring the instrument back to optimal playing conditions.
Who should fix it? Someone you trust. I've always been happy with the local repair techs.
I'll let others answer your other questions.
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2004-12-20 14:39
What I would do is go here and download a tuning chart. Take a tuner and set it on your stand Tune your instrument as best you can with open G (adjusting barrel) and clarion G (adjusting middle joint). Look away, play and sustain a note, then turn to see where the tuner lies. Mark it on the chart. Make sure to play each note with the same amount of breath support, and mark on the chart any differences in resistance between notes (usually the low D and pinch Bb are stuffy, maybe some others, maybe some are more freeblowing, etc. etc.)
Mark all this down and take a look. If all your notes aren't relatively in tune (I'd say within about three cents either direction, hopefully all or most in the same direction) and if all the notes don't have the same amount of resistance, then it probably can benefit from a 'tweaking'.
As far as 'tweakers' go, there are a lot. I'd probably only trust the ones that are mentioned often on the board and have a good reputation behind them. A few off the top of my head would be John Butler, Peter Spriggs, Walter Grabner, Dave Spiegelthal, Brannens, Naylor, Tom Ridenour, Graham Golden (I'm sure I missed a few, but forgive me . . . it's off the top of my head).
Give them each a call/email and specify the type of instrument (R13 Vintage - make sure you mention it's a vintage because perhaps some of them don't feel comfortable working on a vintage due to differences between that and the standard R13 or maybe some of the may even specialize in vintage style clarinets) and what you are hoping to get done (even out the resistance, tune, etc. etc.) Explain that you did a tuning chart, tell them what mouthpiece you are using (I know some of them may have the same type that they can throw on and use to better tune it while working), and basically pick between the ones that reply based on what they offer (make sure to take a look not ONLY at price, but what they DO for that price, turn around time, and anything else you think might be pertinent).
I myself had my Amati tweaked by Graham Golden. Each note plays very evenly with the same amount of resistance and it's in very good tune with itself.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
Post Edited (2004-12-20 14:40)
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2004-12-20 15:04
I do it continually, if my "adjusting" is not successful, I head for our "pro" shop. Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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