Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2007-04-30 11:54
Large reeds almost always warp. Because the bark on the top prevents expansion there, the warping produces a ridge down the middle on the bottom, which prevents sealing on the mouthpiece table. This produces squeaks, kills the response and makes the clarion register difficult to play.
I get reeds one strength harder than I play, or even two strengths harder, and flatten the bottom on 600 grit sandpaper over a sheet of plate glass. Put your fingers on the bark and press hard, working until the part of the bottom that rests on the mouthpiece table is mirror-smooth all over. Then I work gently on the rest of bottom.
Bass is less tolerant of leaks than soprano and gets out of adjustment more easily. Handle it with kid gloves. Test the double register key mechanism at least once a week, since it gets out of adjustment constantly.
I play double lip, to keep the vibrations from scrambling my brain.
Good luck.
Ken Shaw
|
|
The Clarinet BBoard
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
