Author: joker774
Date: 2007-04-04 22:02
Hello clarinettists,
Great forum here. I searched for an answer to my questions but can't find one - apologies if I didn't search cleverly enough.
The questions:
1) how much (in cents, as indicated on a digital tuner) out of tune is unacceptable for a new professional-level clarinet?
2) does tuning change at all with age?
The background:
The other day I bought - rather randomly I must admit - an RC prestige A clarinet. In the shop I tried about 7 of them and took the one that gave the best first impression in terms of sound texture / ease of play. BUT: I didn't bother checking the intonation with a tuner even though I was told to do so (I did rule out an RC A instrument because it had a flat low F even to my relatively untrained ear). Now I checked with a tuner and it seems that although in general the intonation is good, the low F is way off. About 15-20 cents low depending on whether I try to raise it. Now that the tuner says it, I can hear it too. I'm worried that it'll be too obvious when playing with a piano.
Should I worry and go through a lot of hassle to have it swapped, or is this just the way things are? (I saw several people here mention A clarinets have flatter low F's than usual).
I'm of course an idiot for not listening carefully enough (or take a tuner!!!) in the shop. Until two days ago, I didn't even know that low F tends to be flat with most instruments (my RC is fine, hence...), so although I did listen to the intonation, I didn't concentrate on the low F especially, now I know I was wrong.
Any help very welcome,
j.
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