 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: skygardener
Date: 2007-09-09 13:08
Hi,
On my clarinets, Bb and A, the throat G is a bit low. The G#, and A are not that bad, but the G is noticibly low.
I have 2 ways I was thinking about fixing it and I would like some experienced advice before I start cutting. I have done tone hole work many times before, but not here.
That hole (under the A key) lies in a 'well' deeper than other padded holes, and I was thinking that it might be better to open the wood around the pad so that the air can escape more easily rather than just undercut or make the hole a hair bigger. I have seen this done on the surrounding wood of the low tone holes before but not on the throat G hole.
Thoughts?
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2007-09-09 14:18
As this tonehole is only employed for throat G, I can see no harm in increasing the diameter of this tonehole to raise the pitch of this one note.
If it does become sharp through being opened up too much, then you can always retune it by building up the sides of the tonehole with hard wax.
It's the diameter of the tonehole that affects the pitch more than the depth, though undercutting and also tapering the upper part will have an effect on the stability of the tuning of the note as they're effectively shortening the height of the tonehole.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2007-09-09 14:27
Wouldn't increasing that pad's "rise" be a first move? Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: pewd
Date: 2007-09-09 14:29
what don said - adjust the pad heights first
also, clean out the tone hole with a qtip - make sure there is no gunk in there
- Paul Dods
Dallas, Texas
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Author: skygardener
Date: 2007-09-09 14:38
It's clean and it's as high as possible without the A hitting it.
So no one has tried the countersinking idea, huh?
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2007-09-09 15:06
I don't think that'll have much effect on the tuning - the tonehole is already very short in height as it is.
Open the tonehole up by 0.5mm from what it already is to see how much this raises the pitch. If that's not enough, then open it up by a further 0.5mm. If that's too much, then fill it slightly with wax.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: skygardener
Date: 2007-09-10 04:39
"I don't think that'll have much effect on the tuning - the tonehole is already very short in height as it is."
I don't mean counter sinking the hole; I mean counter sinking the wood around the pad.
See Example 7 of the following link-
http://www.clarkwfobes.com/Tuning%20article/Tuning%20the%20Clarinet%20for%20PS.htm
I am thinking about this only because that pad is so deep and the lack of space for the air to leave might affect it in a different (better?) way than just the hole. Normally, I just make the hole bigger, but in this case...?
Or... I could try a thinner pad that allows more space between the pad and the wood. That would make the travel distance a hair bigger, too.
hmm...
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2007-09-10 14:49
You have the added danger when making this increased bevelled edge around the outside that the throat A spring may lose it's point of contact beyond the key barrel.
Your best bet is to increase the diameter of the tonehole without changing anything else.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: skygardener
Date: 2007-09-12 03:50
Good point about the A spring, ChrisP. I changed to a straight cork pad; that did half the job. the beveled skin pad was taking up a lot of space in the tonehole "well". I then undercut the hole a hair with a fine file. Plays great now.
Post Edited (2007-09-12 06:09)
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Author: C2thew
Date: 2007-09-12 05:52
just noticed your ip address is in japan. heh you fixed your instruments that you brought from home? nice
Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. they are but improved means to an unimproved end, an end which was already but too easy to arrive as railroads lead to Boston to New York
-Walden; Henry Thoreau
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Author: skygardener
Date: 2007-09-12 06:10
Actually, I am fixing a set of insturments that I bought here (Japan) a few years ago- about 20yrs old.
Post Edited (2007-09-12 09:36)
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Author: denner22
Date: 2007-09-13 10:08
A bevelled cork pad on the G key and a slight bevelling of the wood around the tonehole does seem to work quite well on many instruments. The good thing about using the cork pad is that you can make it a little thinner and the bevel will reflect the sound outwards, giving you more projection 
David
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