 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: stevensfo
Date: 2008-06-05 08:48
I have an old full boehm R13 from 1975 that has the most beautiful, rich tone, but I don't use it very much because the RH pinkie keys always felt strange.
I simply assumed that the thumbrest needed repositioning and put it on my list of things to do.
Recently I examined it a bit more carefully and realised that it's nothing to do with the thumbrest. The pinkie keys are identical in longitudinal position to my other clarinets, but I suddenly noticed that they're slightly lower and further from the centre as you look down the intrument (technical term?)
ie my pinkie must bend more more close them.
So, is it possible to alter the position? It's not the sort of job I'd like to attempt myself, but it would be great if I could make the keywork more comfortable. If I took it to a tech along with my most 'comfortable' clarinet, do you think he could do it?
Steve
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2008-06-05 12:01
You can have the angle of the key touches bent towards you more, but have a tech do this as there's a lot of bending around and involved, and they'll know how and where to bend things. Keys will bend to a certain degree and don't need to be heated at all as the metal is already fairly soft.
To soften the metal, the keys will need to be heated to the point where they're glowing red, and by that time the pads and corks will have fallen off or burnt, and the plating will have bubbled. This kind of annealing is only done when bending key pieces to shape during manufacture, otherwise they get heated until glowing orange during hard soldering so they have already been softened during manufacture, so they don't need any further heating to bend them once cold.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2008-06-05 15:03
Many years ago a student came in with the thumb rest lowered, before adjustable rests, it felt so comfortable to me because I always felt I needed to stretch my RH pinky to play the lower keys. I had the thumb rests on my Buffets, from the 60s, lowered then and have never looked back. When I bought my new Selmer, I had that lowered to the same height even though it is adjustable, it was still too high. I have the bottom of the rest just at the bottom of the fork key but that will depend on the size of your fingers, mine are not very long. ESP www.peabody.jhu.edu/457
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2008-06-05 19:29
Dear Ed Palanker,
Do you use the top two sidekeys? How do you reach them from way down there?
............Paul Aviles (a fan of low thumbrest positions)
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Author: Tobin
Date: 2008-06-05 20:56
A good reminder that everyone is different! My right hand functions much more easily when I have the thumbrest raised...
James
Gnothi Seauton
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2008-06-05 21:49
I use the top side keys all the time for trills etc. no problem. My index finger, in the right hand, is positioned right at the side Eb key so I don't have to "lift" it to play and the side F# is very comfortable as well. Like James said, everyone is different but it may be worth a try. ESP, www.peabody.jhu.edu/457 (listen to my Mozart)
ESP eddiesclarinet.com
Post Edited (2008-06-08 00:18)
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2008-06-05 22:54
Steve, the problem you may be faced with on Buffet clarinets is the new angle of the RH F#/C# and E/B touches after they've been altered, as well as the position of the crow's foot due to the recesses already milled into the joint which are in the 'normal' position to make clearance under these key touches.
The recesses may need to be widened (having more wood cut away from the upper side, and possibly filled in on the lower side) to prevent the repositioned key touches and crow's foot from fouling against the wood.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: stevensfo
Date: 2008-06-06 05:55
Thanks Chris. It's not urgent and I'll have a good look at how the mechanism will have to be altered - if at all -before taking it somewhere.
Raising the thumbplate may actually make it a bit easier so I'll consider that as well.
I just have to resist the temptation to get my pliers out and....!
Steve
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2008-06-06 12:20
NO NO NO!
Not the pliers!
RESIST! RESIST!
PUT THE PLIERS DOWN WHERE I CAN SEE THEM!
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2008-06-07 00:27
So much depends on the size of your hands and finger stretch. Lowing the thumb rest works great for me; it made a hugh difference in my technique, making it higher might work great for someone else. We are all built differently. Tony G had big hands, I don't. ESP, www.peabody.jhu.edu/457
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