 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Amadeus70
Date: 2007-02-03 13:46
Hi.
After a month here is the news: I have changed the teacher, I have changed the clarinet, now I can play B+/G- scales and arpeggios :-))
This clarinet is made of real wood (Leblanc Rapsodie) versus the plastic Selmer I had. Then, I have added a vandoren B40 mouthpiece and a Rovner ligature and now my sounds are more... human to hear... ;-))
Leblanc Rapsodie is capable of a more sweet sounds in the upper register and has a mechanic more easy and responsive than Selmer 1400, then the wood is more nice to see.
However, my teacher told me that it is not ''full Bohem'' because there is not a key. So I would like to know what clarinet models have this key and if it is really so important for a clarinetist. Thank you.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2007-02-03 14:18
Not many companies still make full Boehms, the only ones I know of are some German makers, and Amati in the Czech Republic - though their full Boehms aren't of the same quality as a Leblanc or Selmer.
Leblanc, Buffet and Selmer all used to make full Boehms, but now only make clarinets with up to 18 keys and 6 rings (most clarinets being 17 keys and 6 rings), whereas a full Boehm has 20 keys and 7 rings - the range descends by an extra semitone to low Eb instead of the usual E.
There have been several full Boehms for sale on eBay, though they will usualy need to have a full overhaul to make them playable.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Tony Beck
Date: 2007-02-03 21:39
Full Boehms seem to be out of favor at the moment. As Chris P. noted, they have several extra keys. The most obvious is the 5th right pinky key for low Eb/Bb. This comes in handy occasionally. I use it mostly to avoid crossing the break when playing in the key of F. The low Eb/Bb is almost always a little out of tune, being the lowest note in each register.
One of the weakest notes on a clarinet is the C#/G#. The tone hole for this one really ought to be in the middle of the joint between the two halves. The tone hole position on the right side, too far up, causes the note to be weak, and this is usually the first one to fill with water. The articulated G# fixes both problems, and adds a right hand trill key that makes C# and G# trills easier. The main disadvantage is that the articulation mechanism eliminates a handy fingering for altissimo F.
As you have probably already found out, it's pretty easy to play yourself into a corner with the right hand only G#/D#. A left side pinky key for these notes can be really handy.
The seventh ring allows Eb/Bb to be played with just the first and third fingers of the left hand as xox ooo instead of the first fingers of left and right, xoo xoo. The forked fingering can be much easier, especially when you're trying to go fast, and the one + one fingering still works if that's what you're use to.
The major complaints against Full Boehms is that they are heavier due to the extra length and key work. The other problem is that the extra mechanisms has to be adjusted correctly, which can be tricky.
There are 3/4 Boehms, which have everything but the low Eb/Bb and are lighter than Full Boehms (my 3/4 Boehm Leblanc Bb weighs exactly as much as it's 17/6 A case mate.) There are also various combinations with articulated C#/G#, forked Eb/Bb and left hand G#/D#.
Post Edited (2007-02-03 22:00)
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2007-02-04 00:30
An excellent description of the pro's and con's of the Full [and partially Full]Boehms, they are my favorite cls. Thanx, Tony. Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: Amadeus70
Date: 2007-02-04 11:35
Thank you for the excellente answer... ;-))
However, it seems that here in Italy every student in Conservatory must have a Full Bohem instrument to take examinations...
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2007-02-04 15:01
FWIW, everyone in the band here plays at least a 5/8 Boehm (ie 18/6, with the LH Eb lever).
(edit: I constantly confuse left and right. I wonder how I passed the driver's license test...)
--
Ben
Post Edited (2007-02-04 17:57)
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Author: Tony Beck
Date: 2007-02-04 17:32
Italy is the last holdout of the flying transposers. The advantage of Full Boehm Bb clarinets is that you can transpose A parts and go all the way down to low E written for A horns. Saves lugging around two clarinets.
Your teacher can advise you about when to start searching for an instrument with low Eb, and which would be prefered when you get that far.
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Author: stevesklar
Date: 2007-02-05 16:23
According to Buffets website they still make a full-boehm RC Prestige. Although i'm sure it is probably special order
http://www.buffet-crampon.com/en/instruments.php?mode=productDetails&pid=112
what are the other players playing ?
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2007-02-05 22:09
Do Ripamonti still make full Boehms? I know they do a clarinet with a longer bottom joint (the same length as a full Boehm) but low E issues through the open tonehole - covering it will give a low Eb, but there's no low Eb key fitted.
So you should be able to get a low Eb by closing the low E vent with your right knee in the same manner some beginner oboes (eg. Bundy and Yamaha) can only get a low Bb.
And how I can only get the low D on my basset horn until I fit the thumb keys!
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Amadeus70
Date: 2007-02-07 14:30
A step back... about mouthpiece... I understand that mouthpiece is the more personal element for a clarinetist. I have played my first notes with my first clarinet (Selmer 1400) that have a Bundy USA mouthpiece. Then I have bought a Vandoren B40 and a Vandoren 5RV Lira for my Leblanc Rapsodie. So I have used the B40 more than others for my recent study but I have noted a more sweet sound but also more effort while produce sounds (overall acute notes) and I have also noted ''air waste''. So after a week using only B40 mouthpiece, yesterday I have tried again my first mouthpiece (Selmer Bundy): minus effort (after my study I - my mouth - was less tired), major facility in producing notes but an evident more metallic sound (using the same reeds and ligature). So, maybe the Bundy is more easy to use because it is intended for young student/principiant or maybe that my mouth is conformed well for both its aperture and shape. I would like to try other Selmer mouthpieces (not Bundy) so I would like to find a model similar to my Bundy (for easy notes producing) but capable of generate more beauty sounds (less metallic and more dark).
How good is the HS series of Selmer mouthpiece?
However other advises are welcome (other mouthpiece makers too...).
Thank you.
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