 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: cfwoman
Date: 1999-02-24 19:04
I sure hope all of the talent on this web site can put up with another question from me ;-)
Do all clarinets dismantle? What I mean is, I've seen some clarinets for sale on ebay that look like they are one piece from the bell to the top with only a removable mouthpiece and others that break down into four pieces. What is the difference?
Thanks!
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Author: Don Poulsen
Date: 1999-02-24 21:34
As far as I know (someone correct me if I am wrong), most (all?) modern clarinets break down into the mouthpiece, barrel, upper and lower joints and bell. Some old metal clarinets only break down into the mouthpiece, barrel and the body, which contains all the keys, fingerholes and bell.
Pro-level bass clarinets (if you are interested) usually break down into at least five pieces as well, with the barrel being replaced by a one- or two-piece gooseneck. Some plastic student-model bass clarinets have a one-piece body. Alto clarinets are probably similar.
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 1999-02-24 22:04
Many Eb and higher clarinets do not have upper & lower joints (one body piece). Rossi clarinets also do not have upper & lower joints.
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Author: Hiroshi
Date: 1999-02-24 23:28
In "The Clarinet" magazine I found an Italian clarinet manufacturer Ripamonti.I was surprised to find their clarinet lower joint seems considerably longer and at the bottom there are a strange hole.This can be viewed in their web home page: http://www.network.it/ripamonti/
Does anyone play their clarinet or know what the hole mean?
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Author: Dee
Date: 1999-02-25 00:31
As the others have said smaller clarinets like the Eb are often made with one piece bodies. My particular model has a one piece body with a removable barrel and a removable bell.
The metal clarinets that were popular in the first half of this century for students and marching bands were very frequently one piece bodies and the bell was included as part of that one piece. There was usually a separate barrel to allow pulling out for tuning purposes.
The standard clarinet is commonly made with separate barrel, upper body joint, lower body joint, and bell. I think that this is more a function of convenience (for both player and manufacturer) and tradition. One piece construction of the body would, however, allow a better location for one of the keys resulting in a better sounding note and a more accurate note. However, the middle joint on the traditional design gets in the way of locating that key. This is the reason that there is at least one maker offering a one piece body construction.
I'm not sure why the barrel is made as a separate piece as one could adjust the tuning by pulling out the mouthpiece a little instead of the barrel. Although, if you pull the mouhtpiece, there is a chance that you would accidentally move the reed or ligature and then you would have to readjust those items. This may be the reason for the separate barrel. I'm just speculating here but that could be why many metal clarinets also had a separate barrel while the bell was made in one piece with the body.
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Author: Mark P.
Date: 1999-02-25 02:25
There are a few one piece wooden body A and B flat clarinets. There have been several on eBay over the last 6 months... usually full Boehm with a wrap around register key. One of my teachers had a matched set of Buffets like this made around 1905. Nice instruments... he used to lend me the A clarinet. Came in a long double case.
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Author: Ben
Date: 1999-02-25 03:09
I saw a plastic clarinet for sale on Ebay that was promoted as a marching instrument. It had a detachable bell and barrel, but the body was one piece.
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Author: Rick2
Date: 1999-02-25 03:53
The A clarinet that I bought off ebay is probably one of the one-piece A's that you saw there. The only advantage over a two pieece body, other than the tone-hole issue Dee mentioned is that you don't have to worry about a damaging a bridge key during assembly, and you don't have to replace the key cork. I may discover some disadvantages as I overhaul it.
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Author: Albert
Date: 1999-02-25 04:14
Hiroshi-
This little hole is used for venting purposes. They can also be found on some Buffet Elite models. I think if you cover it up, you can get to low Eb. But, without any free fingers, this can only be achieved by using one of your toes! :o)
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