 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: SVClarinet09
Date: 2007-02-17 00:59
Recently I have noticed my clarinet seems to pitched too low. I play on my stock 66.5 barrel and a Selmer Paris c85-120 with Vandoren Blue Box 4 reeds(that I balance to a good playable reed) I've read that the c85 series has a large chamber and that large chambers usually can drop your pitch. What mouthpiece is there out there that can help raise my pitch? I've read about the Series 13 Vandoren mouthpiece and am interested in the m13. I was interested in the Genussa Excellente but soon learned that it has a large chamber so I backed off from it. What about the Selmer Standard series?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Iceland clarinet
Date: 2007-02-17 01:13
Vandoren series 13 is pitched 440 so that won't help. I would suggest to get a shorter barrel since when(if you play on a A clarinet) need to alter beetwen A and Bb clarinets and pick them up cold you can use the shorter barrel and pull it out as our clarinet warms up. Also then you can play on both 440 and 442 pitched mouthpieces.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Vytas
Date: 2007-02-17 01:16
Melvin,
C85 series mouthpieces have small bore and have been designed to play with a new Selmer small around 14.50 mm (0.571) bore clarinets.
Get a shorter barrel.
Vytas Krass
Clarinet Repair
Professional clarinet technician
Custom clarinet mouthpiece maker
Former professional clarinet player
Post Edited (2007-02-17 01:17)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: SVClarinet09
Date: 2007-02-17 01:19
Vytas wrote:
> Melvin,
>
> C85 series mouthpieces have small bore and have been designed
> to play with a new Selmer small around 14.50 mm (0.571) bore
> clarinets.
>
> Get a shorter barrel.
>
> Vytas Krass
> Clarinet Repair
> Professional clarinet technician
> Custom clarinet mouthpiece maker
> Former professional clarinet player
>
>
> Post Edited (2007-02-17 01:17)
Vytas,
Thank you. A quick question though. You have experience with many Selmer models from what I can see and I know you have a small amount of experience with the New Paris Omega. What barrel would you reccomend for it? I'm looking at a Backun right now on Muncy. I'm also interested in Fobes and the Muncy series. I assume the Muncy SB is the one that goes well with my clarinet?
Post Edited (2007-02-17 01:21)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Vytas
Date: 2007-02-17 01:46
Melvin,
I was happy with the original barrel on the Selmer Paris Omega. The tuning was fine.
Selmer Paris makes/made plenty clarinets with the 0.571" bore like Omega Paris: Odyssee, Artys, Saint Louis etc... These clarinets come with two barrels so you might find a shorter one (65mm or 64.5mm) on the auction site.
Vytas Krass
Clarinet Repair
Professional clarinet technician
Custom clarinet mouthpiece maker
Former professional clarinet player
Post Edited (2007-02-17 01:50)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: SVClarinet09
Date: 2007-02-17 01:58
Now that I realize it, my barrel has two recently acquired hairline cracks. Could this be the culprit? If so I could just easily switch barrels with the schools Omega. My tuning has always been good until recently. I think it might've cracked at my clinic last weekend.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2007-02-17 21:02
I don't have experience with the Selmer mouthpieces or cracked barrels but I would add that the bore dimension and the tone chamber are two ENTIRELY different animals. You were on the right track in the beginning. Off hand the higher pitch moutpieces that you can try are Woodwind, Portnoy, Pomarico (wood), and the NON series 13 Vandorens. Also for snicks you should try a stock Buffet. They are not bad at all and are truly the sharpest playing mouthpieces at the moment.
...........Paul Aviles
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Chris P
Date: 2007-02-17 21:19
Try a Vandoren 5RV Lyre, they play on the sharp side and won't break the bank.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Bill
Date: 2007-02-17 22:41
Wells (Chicago) and later (post-1960s) Selmer mouthpieces come to mind as high pitch.
Bill.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: claritoot26
Date: 2007-02-18 14:45
Another mouthpiece that plays a bit high is the Richard Hawkins. I think they're designed for A 442 or so. A little on the expensive side, though...
Lori
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Simon Aldrich
Date: 2007-02-18 18:24
If you have a mouthpiece that you like that is too flat with short barrels (ie a 64mm barrel on A clarinet), an option is to have the mouthpiece shortened. I have had this done successfully and I know other professionals who have it done.
In fact some commercial mouthpieces are sold shortened in this manner, to accommodate players who play in situations where the pitch is high.
The mouthpiece is put on a lathe and gripped at its fattest part, just above the tenon. The desired amount (1 or 2 mm) is taken off the bottom of the mouthpiece tenon and off the area of the mouthpiece just above the top of the tenon (the part which makes contact with the top of the barrel).
I suggest two things:
1) Cover the tip and window of the mouthpiece with electrical tape before having the operation done.
2) Have a trusted repairman do the operation. I learned the hard way when the tenon of one of my Cicero Kaspars shattered during the operation.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Simon Aldrich
Clarinet Faculty - McGill University
Principal Clarinet - Orchestre Métropolitain de Montréal
Principal Clarinet - Orchestre de l'Opéra de Montréal
Clarinet - Nouvel Ensemble Moderne
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Chris P
Date: 2007-02-18 18:29
I shortened my M15 in this way (by around 1mm) - I didn't want to shorten my barrels as replacements for Series 9 clarinets are very hard to come by, so I can still use the 13 series M15 with a 67mm barrel.
Though with my A1 crystal (and previous 5RV Lyre), I play on a 68mm barrel so I don't have to pull it out.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
