 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: superson
Date: 2009-10-23 16:15
hi, so anyway i just got a new (or used) hanson he-3v clarinet which plays easily and plays with beautiful sound exept when i play i hear a faint breathy sort of sound, i've played around with the ligature and reed but it has very little effect. i also checked the mouthpeice for chips and found none. Is it me? the clarinet? or the mouthpeice?
In case its important i have a vandoren B45 mouthpiece, vandoren 2 1/2 reed and a BG(?) ligature.
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2009-10-23 17:57
Does that breathy sound appear on each note or just on some? If you close all keys, does it still "breathe"? (it really shouldn't)
Might be one of the "ring keys" pads, either the one on the lower joint, or one of the two on the upper joint. As they have only limited opening/venting, the air rushing past the open pad can be noisy. In that case, an 1/2mm smaller (or unshouldered) pad might bring relief.
--
Ben
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Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2009-10-23 22:02
A breathy sound can have any of several causes (or more than one in combination), but you don't mention whether or not you've tried any other reeds than the first one. The most likely and certainly easiest to fix cause is a reed that isn't vibrating well - either because it isn't a good match to the facing on your mouthpiece or because it just wasn't cut well at the factory. If you haven't already tried changing reeds, try that - doesn't need to be a different brand or even a different strength, though if you haven't played before a 2-1/2 Vandoren *might* be just a little heavy to start with on a B45.
Breathy sound can be more difficult than that to track down, but starting with the reed is easy.
Karl
Post Edited (2009-10-23 22:12)
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Author: Bob Phillips
Date: 2009-10-24 03:33
Maybe the reed is too hard. Try a 2 of the same brand, be patient in case it is "too soft," and see if your "air noise" ceases.
Bob Phillips
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Author: Bluesparkle
Date: 2009-10-24 12:04
If you rule out all the mechanical/equipment issues, I find that, when you listen to a clarinet performance from the audience, all you hear is the pure, clear sound. If you were to sit among the players (or were a player yourself), you would likely hear keys clicking a little bit, air leaking on occasion, and breath sounds. Just the nature of an acoustic instrument.
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Author: superson
Date: 2009-10-24 19:18
i tried playing around with different reeds, a size 2 vandoren as well as another 2 1/2 didn't get rid of the breathy sound, however i decided to try my old mouthpeice from my other clarinet which makes a big improvement to the breathy sound, i don't really get this as the b45 mouthpiece has no obvious chips .
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Author: stevensfo
Date: 2009-10-24 19:31
Are you a beginner? My very first clarinet was a Hanson and they sent me a B45 mouthpiece becaue they didn't have the 5RV in stock.
The B45 is not for a beginner. Yes, it will sound breathy!!! I had exactly the same problem.
The tip opening is too wide.
Get a more closed tip mouthpiece, but don't get rid of the B45. It really is a great MP, but only once you've been playing for a year or so.
Steve
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