 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2007-07-05 02:12
The Buffet Tosca has, as does the Forte clarinet, and I think Ripamonti clarinets have an assymetric speaker key.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
Post Edited (2007-07-05 02:19)
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Author: Wes
Date: 2007-07-05 03:59
It was also on a Leblanc Robert Lowery(sp) model, a fine instrument.
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Author: rsholmes
Date: 2007-07-17 02:02
I saw an asymmetric key the other night -- I went to an enjoyable concert by a local clarinet quartet, Highland Winds, and there was an asymmetric register key on the bass clarinet. I forgot to ask him afterwards what make and model it was.
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2007-07-17 02:31
I believe Lowry[sp?] has an older patent on his R K which was available on Leblancs in the ?50s-80's?, may still be obtainable? I'll make a pat search tomorrow, if no one "gets there first". I have seen only a few modifications beside the old wrap-arounds and the doubled touches ETC for the larger cls, with worse R K PLUS Bb problems than the sops have. The fine paper given by Debbi Reeves at the Edinburgh meeting, when available, devoted to the Bb/Register Vent [compromise] solutions, might show other designs also. Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2007-07-17 14:20
I have been unsuccesful, RSH, in looking up a Low[e]ry register key touch-shape pat, it may have been un-patented, or via a "design" pat, non-retrievable somehow. If you wish to view some of the many register key modifications "proposed", but only a few actually produced, Search on Google/Patents via "clarinet register key", it is a bit more convenient than retrieving by a USPTO search. Will lok for my Leblanc ad for the "Lowry" key. Luck, Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: sistaskriket
Date: 2025-03-27 22:07
I have a Ridenour Lyrique with its "ergonomic" key. And I love it. I even managed to find a Ridenour dealer in Wales who could provide the same register key to his brand (Leslie Craven) of which I bought one. But is there a way to grind a "normal" register key so the distance between the register key and the ring on the thumb hole gets a little bit longer ( a mm or so)? Anyone who has tried?
The problem is , the tip of my thumb gets pinched between the ring and the register key in certain situations.
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Author: Tony F
Date: 2025-03-28 03:01
I sometimes have the problem of pinching the thumb with the register key. Reshaping the key is a simple procedure with a dremel and the appropriate tool. Any competent tech could do this for you, or if you have the means you could do it yourself. This will of course remove the plating, so if that bothers you then you'll need to have the key replated.
Tony F.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2025-03-29 16:22
The touchpiece height relative to the height of the thumb tube should always be considered - clarinets with a tall thumb tube that sits above the joint surface will need the key cork of the required thickness so the speaker key touch is higher than the thumb ring when bot are held down together.
Clarinets with a low set thumb tube that's flush with the joint surface or non Boehms with a plain thumb hole will need a thin key cork on the speaker touch if the touchpiece itself is relatively thin, or if the touchpiece is thicker and there's a fair amount of travel, a recess cut into the joint (with the touchpiece bent down into it) will prevent the thumb being pinched by the speaker key when nudging it open.
In all cases, the speaker key touch should always be higher than the level of the thumb tube or thumb hole so you're not having to roll off over the edge of the thumb ring to fully open the speaker key as that will create a leak. Rounding the leading edge of the speaker key will also help if it's got a flat edge to it or bending the leading edge down if it's very thin (and bulking up the key cork so the entire underside is flat instead of kicking up at just the tip of the touchpiece).
Plateaux, alto and bass clarinet speaker keys should be sat above the level of the thumbplate and flush or slightly higher when in use instead of level when both are released and the speaker key lower than the level of the thumbplate when both are held down. That will prevent you getting a dent in your thumb from the top edge of the thumbplate (and the same applies to saxes with MkVI style 8ve keys and thumbplate or dual system oboes).
With bass clarinets, I prefer the older symmetric Selmer or Yamaha style speaker keys that are a lever key, just as you'd have on soprano clarinets instead of the MkVI/sax style (dolphin flipper-shaped) ones hinged on the left or right - the force needed to operate and the amount of travel on the sax style ones depends on which part of the touchpiece you're using, whereas the lever style ones have the same degree of force and travel regardless.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: crazyclari
Date: 2025-03-30 05:54
IMO I would agree totally with this above, right on the money. I should note that the word ergo omic is very, very often not well used. There are a large number of ergonomic assessments and qualifications etc. Basically most objects called 'ergonomic' are simply a design with no ergonomic process behind them😬
From my experience the more the word ergonic is used the more skeptical I am😬
Post Edited (2025-03-30 05:59)
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