 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Maestro_6
Date: 2009-04-13 03:26
I am new to the BBoard, and I'd like to present a question thats been getting to me. I recently got a new Bb R13 Clarinet, and its a wonderful instrument. There were two problems I found after about 2 weeks in ownership: The third-line B was hard to use and the C Tone hole leaves a stuffy sound.
As far as the B goes, I found to fix of electrical tape under the RH key to get spacing even. It works well now! I'll install a new cork soon enough...
However, the C Tone Hole is extremely irritating in pieces. I'm going through a flowing Ballad, when I land on an important note that is held out: the C (under the staff). The tone is stuffy and airy without much focus. I've found that some reeds hide the problem well, but most do not. Is there something to do to fix/hide this? It'll help in all my classical pieces very much.
Thanks to all for the help!
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2009-04-13 06:14
For the B, it sounds like the two lowest open pads (F/C and E/B keys) are out of adjustment. This is common on many new instruments.
The second problem, you are talking about the C note? It's not clear what you mean by "C tone hole". Assuming you are talking about the C below the staff, then one possibility is the top pad on the lower joint doesn't open enough.
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Author: Maestro_6
Date: 2009-04-13 15:05
Those pads were out of adjustment for the B, which as I said, electrical tape did the trick.
As for my C, it is the C that is the line below the staff, under the throat tones. Well, adjusting the uppermost pad on the lower joint would make sense. Is there a way of testing, so to say, maybe without the lower joint to see how the sound is. Or maybe I should just bend the key for that pad? Could this affect the low Bb, etc.?
Thanks for your help, by the way.
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Author: Caroline Smale
Date: 2009-04-13 18:17
Adjusting the cork/felt under the link arm should do the trick unless its already too thin.
Sometimes the pad fitted to the RH rings keycup is also too thick.
Don't try bending the key without the correct tools and knowledge.
It won't affect the low Bb as the pad is closed for this note.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2009-04-13 20:36
On Buffets the synthetic cork on the RH rings is usually really thick, so it won't do any harm to trim some off to increase the venting on both the C and also the E above that.
The RH ring key vent pad (over the C tonehole) should have an opening of 2.5-3mm.
If you're still finding the lower register stuffy, use a slightly softer reed.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2009-04-14 05:33
Depending on your technical sense (and how much you trust yourself with it), you can first just remove the ring keys on the lower joint and check. Playing without the lower joint unfortunately won't mean much in this case.
I can't recommend bending because unless you know what you are doing you can affect all sorts of other things like the ring height or the bridge adjustment. If it turns out to be the top lower joint pad then sanding some of the cork as suggested above is better.
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