 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Kevin
Date: 2005-11-12 04:16
The Eb key on the Signature clarinet is supposedly removeable. How do I go about doing this?
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2005-11-12 04:29
All keys are removeable. Just a plain old screwdriver should work . . . ![[wink]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie3.gif)
US Army Japan Band
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2005-11-12 07:24
Take BOTH levers off, then slide the Eb lever off the barrel which it's attached to and then replace both levers - and add a drop of oil to the barrels before replacing the screws.
Keep the Eb lever wrapped up in the case so you know where it is.
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2005-11-13 09:09
Off hand, I am not sure if this applies to Signature, but for almost all clarinets, you have to take both the E/B and F#/C# (and in your case the third one also) levers off together, and put them back (2 in your case) together.
You may find this quite tricky if you are not used to it, but a technician could do it for you in 1/2 minute.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2005-11-13 11:08
I wondered that as well - the LH Ab/Eb key comes in very useful - always best to have an alternative just in case.
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Author: larryb
Date: 2005-11-13 12:04
I removed my Signature Eb lever - I gave it a try for about a year and found that I was too old to really learn how to use it fluidly (and didn't really want to spend the time trying to learn) and also that it tended to loosen up and cause play and excess noise in the entire left hand key complex.
In the end, I was content to simply employ the old fashioned pinky slide in the few occasions when it was necessary and my Eb lever sits happily wrapped in the otherwise unuseful Signature case storage slot. I applaud everyone who is able to use the alt. Eb effectively.
I do wish that my old Leblanc basset horn had an alt. Eb lever for the one time it's needed in the Mendelssohn concert piece (op. 113), but I still get by fine.
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Author: BelgianClarinet
Date: 2005-11-13 12:28
I don't have this lever ,poor me with only RC :-(, but if I ever by a new clarinet it will have one.
I'm now playing the bass and on this instruments there are even a lot more keys. I'm not using the Eb lever that often yet - it is really far away for the left pinky on the bass - but I'm trying to get used to it. To be honest it is worth learning, specially when sightreading one can go either directions.
Don't know how old you are larryb, but surely not too old to learn ;-)
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2005-11-13 12:45
Ok, here's the deal on the Signature Eb Lever:
You will need the tube which is supplied with the lever as the replacement "gap" tube. It's about 3/4 centimeter long and will fill in the gap which is created by removing the key.
Yeah, Selmer designed it that way - not real user friendly (if you don't have that tube!!).
A good repair tech can actually make you one with little grief.
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2005-11-13 12:47
btw - if you need a picture of the tube, let me know. I haven't removed the Eb key on my Signature - yet, so I have it sitting in my case.
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Author: Ken Mills
Date: 2005-11-23 02:48
Dear Kevin; Blumberg is right. It came with the horn in a tiny little plastic bag. Read The Clarinet magazine review of the Signature by Gibson. I like the lever on it. Good Luck Anyway, Ken
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Author: OpusII
Date: 2005-11-23 06:48
Just learn to live with the Eb key... there is always a time that you would love to have it....
I've to admit that the Eb key on the signature is always on the wrong place! Took me about 3 weeks to get used to it.. and then I decided to not buy the signature and go for the Opus
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2005-11-23 11:45
One other thing about the Signature:
The older models of it (ones which are over 5 years old or so, not sure about the age but I had one from 98 which certainly had the Eb alt. in the "wrong" position) have the Eb lever in basically an impossible location to use. It is WAY, WAY, WAY too close to the E/B and F#/C# keys and truly gets in the way of those keys unless you play on the very tip of the keys.
The newer models fixed that by placing the end of the key more towards the body of the Clarinet (towards the ring keys in an almost downwards angle). You could try bending the key (not you, your repairman) inward towards the E/B key to get it out of the way if you have an older model signature. I don't see how many players could comfortable play the older model with the Eb key in the position that it was originally made.
You would need to call Selmer to find the date of your Clarinet.
#M8335 was mine from 1998 - I got rid of it and got a new one. Both played great. Not as good as Ricardo's, but his was worked on by Backun.
Post Edited (2005-11-24 01:39)
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Author: Sean.Perrin
Date: 2005-12-01 02:28
The e-flat key on my 2003 Buffet Festival is in the perfect position, I love it... it's so useful! Interestingly enough I NEVER have hit it by accident... but when I play another instrument without it I sometimes forget it is not there and hit nothing but the B/C# keys at the same time by mistake! I like the fact that I am comfortabel with using it though... it can avoid many awkward passages.
-Special P
Founder and host of the Clarineat Podcast: http://www.clarineat.com
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Author: Ed
Date: 2005-12-01 21:07
use a hacksaw and a pair of vice grips ;-)
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