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 space between the joints
Author: skygardener 
Date:   2007-03-11 08:06

I have heard that spaces between the joints are for tuning and not a production mistake. ie. the space lowers one register and not another (as much).
This is somewhat in the same line of thought of 'clarinets are designed to play in-tune when you pull out the barrell 1mm'. I always thought, 'Then they should just make the barrel with the space in the tenon reciever'.
I always hate the buckets of water that collect between the upper and lower joints and barrel; are the spaces really necessary?
-S



Post Edited (2007-03-11 12:52)

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 Re: space between the joints
Author: kilo 
Date:   2007-03-11 15:31

Quote:

are the spaces really necessary?

Only if they are needed to play "in tune" -- whatever that means. If you are playing alone in a cool room you really don't have to center the needle on a digital tuner. If you are playing with other instruments you need to tune to them; or they to you. If there were a clarinet that exclusively played at A440 I believe it would be somewhat restrictive considering the variables which crop up in ensemble playing.

EDIT: sorry, I misunderstood your post.



Post Edited (2007-03-11 15:53)

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 Re: space between the joints
Author: William 
Date:   2007-03-11 15:32

According to Tom Ridenour (clarinet accoustician extrodianaire), the spaces between the tendon joints, barrel and mouthpiece have no influence on the accoustics of the clarinet or its sound--other that the effect on tuning as the clarinet is lengthened or shortened. The remaining spaces should be of no concern--except (as suggested by sky) as resevoirs for floods of moisture. Thank "___" for the miracles of evaporation and the swab.

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 Re: space between the joints
Author: Chris P 
Date:   2007-03-11 16:36

I feel the tenons should make contact with the bottom of the sockets to make the bore as continuous as possible, so when the clarinet is held up to the light there should be a tiny gap (barely wide enough to get a cigarette paper into) seen between the socket ring and tenon shoulder.

And when pulling the barrel out, I like to use a spacer between the top joint and the barrel to fill the void.

But water in sockets is a fact of life, and best dealt with using a piece of kitchen towel after playing - and not the same pullthrough you use for the bore as you'll get grease coating the bore, into toneholes and their undercuttings.

Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010

The opinions I express are my own.

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 Re: space between the joints
Author: sfalexi 
Date:   2007-03-11 16:45

Out of curiosity, where can I find spacers? I have a problem with lots of saliva between the barrel and UJ and maybe a spacer would help the saliva flow rather than pool up there.

Alexi

US Army Japan Band

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 Re: space between the joints
Author: Chris P 
Date:   2007-03-11 16:52

If you know someone with a lathe (or if you have access to one), get them (or yourself) to turn some spacer rings out of plastic for you (have three spacer rings of 1mm, 1.5mm and 2mm thick) - have a 15.3 - 15.5mm bore in these, and the outside diameter made so it's not a tight fit in the barrel, but not so loose it rattles around too much either.

The reason why I recommend the bore should be that large is that if the rings are a loose fit in the lower barrel socket, they won't cause a constriction if they're slightly eccentric to the bore.

Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010

The opinions I express are my own.

Post Edited (2007-03-11 16:54)

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 Re: space between the joints
Author: tictactux 2017
Date:   2007-03-11 16:53

Those spacers are also known as "tuning rings" and sell for sometimes ridiculous prices.

--
Ben

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 Re: space between the joints
Author: Bob Phillips 
Date:   2007-03-11 17:32

I also hate the fact that the tenons in my Buffet RC don't seem to bottom out, and leave me with floods of water, and the need to dip a towel into the cork-greasy mess to sop it up. Also, since someone here on the BB suggested that I mop up the recesses, my cork grease bill has skyrocketed!

Bob Phillips

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