 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: srattle
Date: 2011-01-20 21:15
Hi everyone,
I'm hoping someone can help me with my problem.
I have noticed recently that my F and (to a lesser extent) my F# at top of the chalumeau register are stuffy, and playing a little sharper than usual. They also have the slight feeling of hitting a multiphonic or strange harmonic, more akin to if there is water in the hole, or something blocking it.
Anyway, I haven't had this problem before, and I can't, for the life of me, figure out what is being clogged up. I have tried cleaning out my register tube, and also the thumb and 1st finger holes, which helped a little but not quite enough for me to be satisfied.
I am asking here now because I don't have time to go to a tech at the moment, and I have some concerts coming up that I would really like to feel comfortable for.
Any advice would be amazing.
Thanks
Sacha
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Author: kdk
Date: 2011-01-20 22:25
You might check the hole just below the first LH finger that's covered by a pad (between 1st and 2nd finger holes). That hole is open for both F and F# but is closed for everything lower. And/or the 2nd finger hole itself. If you don't notice a problem below F, it isn't likely to be a leaky pad because that would affect the whole length of the clarinet.
Karl
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Author: srattle
Date: 2011-01-20 22:36
It shouldn't be the 2nd finger hole, since the E sounds fine, and I've also tried cleaning that too. It might be the hole between those, but I'm hesitant to take anything off unless I know which one, since I don't really know what I'm doing, and I don't want to be left with an instrument in bits and pieces. . .
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Author: Chris Hill
Date: 2011-01-20 23:26
I've seen that happen when someone scratched the facing of his mouthpiece.
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Author: srattle
Date: 2011-01-20 23:46
Hi Chris,
could this really happen to only 2 notes on the instrument? Everything else feels fine! I guess tomorrow I'll check it out with another mouthpiece to see if that changes it, but I would be really surprised if a mouthpiece scratch made 2 single notes change this much. . .
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2011-01-21 00:18
My guess is a leak involving the pad sitting underneath the "A Key." Perhaps some foreign object caught between the pad and the tone hole or a tear in the pad material.........thoroughly inspect this pad.
................Paul Aviles
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Author: kdk
Date: 2011-01-21 01:12
You're probably right about the 2nd finger hole (it wasn't my first choice, either) but it doesn't hurt to look and it's accessible.
I think your most likely culprit (assuming there's nothing wrong with the mouthpiece and it isn't just one or two new reeds causing the problem) is going to be under that pad between the holes, but you're going to have to remove the bottom section of LH rings. There's one screw to remove at the bottom and you'll have to back the pivot rod that looks like a screw at the top (below the G# hole) off a little because it goes all the way down into the part you're removing. Just take off the bottom set of rings (and the pad between them) - it's all one piece. Clean the hole between 1st and second finger (make sure you don't leave any dust or dirt you push into the bore), then test F and F#. Fit the piece with the rings back in where it came from, tighten down the pivot rod to help hold it in place, then put the screw back that you removed. All you need is a jeweler's screwdriver and something to clean the hole with.
While the screw and ring assembly are off the instrument it wouldn't ever hurt to clean them off as well. If you have a suitable oil and a way to apply it a small drop at a time, put a drop at each end of the ring assembly and move the rings a few times to work it in.
Karl
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2011-01-21 15:22
Sasha -
How is it for the same fingerings in the clarion, B and C?
I think kdk is almost certainly right -- that the problem is with the pad-covered hole below the left index finger. The membrane covering the felt may have come partly loose and is flapping in the breeze above the hole, which will explain the buzzing. You should also clean out hole beneath the pad and the left middle finger hole just below it.
Ken Shaw
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Author: srattle
Date: 2011-01-21 23:44
I don't notice a problem with the Clarion B and C, at least nothing worth noting.
Today I took all the keys off the top joint (first time for me) and went through. The hole and pad above and below the index finger looked fine. I cleaned them out anyway, but there wasn't really anything to clean. I also cleaned out the register tube, which was a little gunky. . .and that helped a little bit, but not enough to clear the problem.
One thing I did notice, is my Ab tone hole looked like it had some shellac or something in it, but really really uneven (looked a little like the tone hole was falling apart) but still very hard, much too hard for me to try to clear it out without damaging the instrument. I guess a tech had done this at some point down the line to fix a tuning problem, but I was really surprised how bad it looked.
Could this be causing the problems with my F and F#?
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Author: pewd
Date: 2011-01-22 00:21
>Could this be causing the problems with my F and F#?
possibly.
also check the G#/A key adjustment screw - back it off 1/8 turn and see if that helps.
- Paul Dods
Dallas, Texas
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Author: Chris Hill
Date: 2011-01-22 06:43
It affected mostly those notes, with a lesser effect on the others. It was a pretty big scratch.
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2011-01-22 14:41
Some mouthpiece/reed issues affect the throat F and F# notes the most. These notes are also, for some reason, most affected by things like a tired embochure. I remember some time ago I was really out of practice and these notes "gugrled" in a strange way until I got back to it. But being stuffy and a little sharp sounds like something else. I guess it could be anything, who knows, but dirt in the register tube and filler in the throat Ab tone hole are extremely unlikely to affect these notes.
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Author: kdk
Date: 2011-01-22 15:45
One of the first indicators for me that I/m playing on a reed that isn't responding well is that F, F# and G are stuffy and fuzzy-sounding. They do seem more susceptible for some reason to response problems in the mouthpiece/reed area. If it's not dirt or hanging pad skin obstructing the hole I suggested, reed problems would be my next suggestion (actually would have been my first if it were my own equipment). But Sacha doesn't say this started along with a change of reeds or that changing reeds makes the problem go away. So, I'm stumped, not having the clarinet in my own hands and playing it myself or even hearing it first-hand.
Karl
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2011-01-22 16:12
You did not mention the pads. Sometimes there is a crack that begins WITHIN the crease that is created by the tone hole. If the keys are still off, I wonder if there was a thorough inspection of the pad that goes down with your left index finger (and thumb ring) located immediately underneath the touch piece of the "A" key.
sorry
Just can't let this one go!
........................Paul Aviles
P.S. This is WAY out, but I once uncovered a leak by placing black plastic tape squares over the tone holes, then replacing the keys ONE AT A TIME (from the top - downward) until the leak is found. Just for kicks, I did a suction test with all the holes covered in tape...........knowing full well that this MUST SEAL. To my great surprise, it DID NOT !! The issue on that particular Greenline was that the tap for one of the "A Key" pillars just penetrated the bore.....enough to leak. A little super glue at the bottom of that pillar's hole solved the problem.
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2011-01-23 14:44
Paul, the technique of plugging the tone hole is usual to find problematic leaks. Usually with rubber cones rather than tape since it's easier and faster to put and remove. I've seen a few leaking posts. The most curious was one clarinet that wasn't sealing completely plugged. The problem turned out to be holes in the body itself. A couple were from those countersunk areas under flat spring screws and neelde spring cradles. But a couple of tiny holes were at random places on the clarinet body.
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2011-01-24 14:15
Addressing the random holes:
I recall a thread sometime back where it was put forth that there is an "evening" of the scale (or resistance) that can be achieved through some minor purposeful leaks. One person actually said that he wound up drilling a minute hole at a place beneath a key to achieve the desired result for the person for whom he was doing the overhaul.
GOD !!! I can't even imagine.
.......................Paul Aviles
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