 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Molloy
Date: 2008-01-28 02:00
I've had this experience three or four times. I get an old clarinet from ebay that kind of plays, but for whatever reason (green waxy buildup everywhere, pads frayed, keys stiff, ...) it needs an overhaul. Before the overhaul it feels like it's going to be nicely free-blowing, and after the overhaul it is very resistant. Is this normal, or does it indicate that the tech did something wrong?
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Author: EuGeneSee
Date: 2008-01-28 02:26
" . . . that kind of plays, but [has] . . . waxy buildup . . . pads frayed . . . keys stiff . . ."
I suspect that cleaning the waxy buildup on the tone holes, repadding, swedging and oiling keys that didn't close well, and other overhauling repairs and adjustments eliminated a lot of little leaks, with the result the clarinet plays much better, but with increased resistance as the air flow is more tightly controlled so it will leave the horn only where it is supposed to exit.
Eu
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Author: Vytas
Date: 2008-01-28 02:33
>"Before the overhaul it feels like it's going to be nicely free-blowing, and after the overhaul it is very resistant".<
If done correctly an overhaul doesn't add any resistance to the instrument. Check top thrill keys and throat A/G# for leaks. Also the bridge key might be out of adjustment etc…
Vytas Krass
Clarinet Repair
Professional clarinet technician
Custom clarinet mouthpiece maker
Former professional clarinet player
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Author: EuGeneSee
Date: 2008-01-28 12:56
My old 1920's Selmer USA leaked like a sieve when I got it and for resistance it felt like you were blowing into a 6" pipe, however it would play to a degree without squeaking, except the sound was weak and flat. After the overhaul stopped all the leaks it played fine with a notable increase in resistance.
That seemed to make sense to me, as I would have expected the leaks to reduce the normal resistance. What was surprising was that it could play at all when it was so full of leaks.
Eu
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Author: Vytas
Date: 2008-01-28 13:57
>"That seemed to make sense to me, as I would have expected the leaks to reduce the normal resistance".<
With all tone holes closed a clarinet operates like an open pipe at one end (bell). A clarinet doesn't operate in a completely closed pipe (vacuum) environment. A small leak(s), especially on the top keys add the resistance, reduces the volume of the sound and makes the tone thin. Large leaks can make a clarinet completely unplayable. It all depends where the leak(s) is located. Let's say you play long B but the throat G# has a small (micro) leak. In this condition your clarinet actually tries to play the throat G# and not the long B and just because there's not enough venting for the throat G# it can not be produced and clarinet plays the long B with some added resistance due to the leak.
Vytas Krass
Clarinet Repair
Professional clarinet technician
Custom clarinet mouthpiece maker
Former professional clarinet player
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2008-01-28 14:26
Try the "seal test." Ever suck on an empty coke bottle and seal the end up with your lips? Upon release, you'll get a "POP." Same can be done with a correctly adjusted clarinet. For the top joint, cover all the holes, hold your right palm against the bottom (may need to moisten palm a little with saliva), then suck on the end. Ideally you should feel the same tug on your lips before release. Then you can reverse the air with the same posture and you should hear no air leaking (well, with enough blowing pressure you can start to lift the "A" key or a side trill but it should take a bit of effort).
Now for the bottom joint, do the same thing only you have to hold the Right E/B key down and block the bottom with your Right palm. When you do the blowing part, the "Ab/Eb" key may pop open.....it is an art to have the right amount of spring tension on this key to have a solid sound and yet not need too much force when playing.
As long as you have good seal with these tests, the horn SHOULD play well (of course there is also the "spring tension/key action" issues that should allow for comfortable and swift movement.
.................Paul Aviles
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Author: EuGeneSee
Date: 2008-01-28 14:47
Hmmmm? Maybe it was the mouthpiece, reed, or a combination thereof. I don't remember what I was using before the horn was repadded, but when I got it back it had a comfortable amount of resistance, whereas it had very little before. The difference that I noticed is not unlike the difference in blowing while mouthing "ah" and that while mouthing "oo".
Since I didn't pay attention to what mpc/reed combination I had used before and after repadding, I guess my conclusion would not be valid when "standard conditions" were not maintained in the comparison.
Anyhoo, I like the way it plays now . . . at least I can tell there is a clarinet below the mouthpiece.
Eu
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