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Physical Alterations to Eb Clarinets

Author: liam_hockley
Date: 2008-12-04 02:02

Hi all,

I have been playing more Eb clarinet lately, and am having some trouble with the keys. Since I have pretty big hands, some of the keys are a little low (most notably the Ab key... I'm considering getting some cork put on it in order to raise it up a little). I am wondering what kind of alterations people have made to their Eb clarinets (or any clarinets, for that matter) to make them easier on the hands.

-Liam

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Re: Physical Alterations to Eb Clarinets

Author: skygardener
Date: 2008-12-04 04:17

I have made many alterations to some my Bb/A clarinets. My pinky fingers do not reach the keys comfortably so I have added material to them. In some cases I have had to make entire new keys from scratch- not much for looks, but it works great.
I assume you mean the throat Ab key??? Adding cork on the top is a very simple any easily reversable procedure that can help. Another option is something called "plumber's putty". It is a 2 part epoxy that is very thick, like clay. Once you mix it you can stick it to the key. After it gets hard (about 10 minutes) you can sand it down to your liking. If you don't like it one day, you just take some pliers, give it a good squeeze, and it will crumble off easily. This is a very common product that a lot of sax players use to make the left hand palm keys higher. Available in all hardware stores.

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Re: Physical Alterations to Eb Clarinets

Author: Gobboboy
Date: 2008-12-04 12:19

I have had the left hand forked Eb/Bb (silver) key removed and the hole filled as I found it was getting in the way of my third finger (left hand)
This quite common too.

B

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Re: Physical Alterations to Eb Clarinets

Author: LarryBocaner ★2017
Date: 2008-12-04 12:42

My NSO colleague Bill Wright -- Eb clarinetist extraordinary -- had the throat g# spatula built up with cork to better fit his left hand. Wasn't pretty, but it worked for him!

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Re: Physical Alterations to Eb Clarinets

Author: GBK
Date: 2008-12-04 12:50

Gobboboy wrote:

> I have had the left hand forked Eb/Bb (silver) key removed
> and the hole filled as I found it was getting in the way
> of my third finger (left hand)
> This quite common too

Another option for that key is to disable it by wedging a thin slice of cork under the sliver key so as to prevent it from openng ...GBK

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Re: Physical Alterations to Eb Clarinets

Author: Gobboboy
Date: 2008-12-04 13:17

>Another option for that key is to disable it by wedging a thin slice of cork >under the sliver key so as to prevent it from openng ...GBK

I tried that first but I still found the physical presence of the key in the way.
having it completely removed frees up a lot of space for the left hand to fly about comfortably.

B

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Re: Physical Alterations to Eb Clarinets

Author: Chris P
Date: 2008-12-04 13:41

I've bent the LH Eb/Bb 'sliver' key touch right down against the body so it won't open at all, as well as plugged the tonehole just in case it does.

Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.

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Re: Physical Alterations to Eb Clarinets

Author: William
Date: 2008-12-04 16:32

I find the keywork on my Yamaha 621 effer to be very "hands on" friendly, even the little silver Bb/Eb key. Little finger keys especially well designed.

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Re: Physical Alterations to Eb Clarinets

Author: GBK
Date: 2008-12-04 16:57

William wrote:

> I find the keywork on my Yamaha 621 effer to be very "hands on"
> friendly, even the little silver Bb/Eb key. Little finger keys
> especially well designed.

William -

I'm curious as to which way the Bb/Eb sliver key is "especially well designed".

Are they thinner? At a more right angle to the body? Shorter? Longer? Set higher than the surrounding keys/rings, requiring more distance to travel?
Something else?

I have played some Eb clarinets where the sliver keys were hard to avoid, and others like my Selmer 9 were much less prone to being nudged accidentally.

Thanks...GBK

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Re: Physical Alterations to Eb Clarinets

Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2008-12-04 20:16

I've hacked the heck out of my eefer to make it work with my clumsy bass clarinetist fingers --- narrowed and shortened all the sliver keys, narrowed and bent to the right the throat "A" key, shortened the register key, and even ground a bit of a slope on the upper topside of the key cup that sits just below the left-hand index finger. NOW I can play Eb clarinet with confidence! Couldn't say that before messin' with the horn.

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