 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: moolatte
Date: 2011-05-03 00:46
I've been test-driving a Buffet-Crampon R13 clarinet for over a year now due to the generosity of a former clarinet student at my high school. She is unable to continue clarinet, so she let me borrow her instrument. I finally bought it from her for a REALLY good price. hehe
Some things I've noticed with the instrument are some airy notes. The 'C' below the staff is kind of airy, as well as 'B' in the middle of the staff are airy. However, the notes, with/without the register key respectively, are not airy. How would I go about fixing them?
My bell is cracked from something dumb I did, but the low 'E' isn't airy, and I've got the cracked sealed up with some thinly-applied superglue.
I also don't believe the crack leaks.
Help?
And she's not seen her clarinet, nor does she know about any of these odd notes, so that's not why she sold it to me so cheap. It's a good instrument though.
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Author: ddavani
Date: 2011-05-03 02:15
If you get a gem of a used Buffet clarinet, you could be very lucky with the result in terms of response, sound, and playability. However, it seems like you have a bit of a problem with what you just bought, so you won't be able to know how it is until you get it repaired. So, since you're in Texas, I would suggest shipping your clarinet to Tom Ridenour for a repair over in Duncanville, unless you want to drive... He'll do a good job on your instrument.
-Dave Davani
http://allclarinet.blogspot.com/
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2011-05-03 16:18
The C below the staff, and the D just above it tend (to me) to be stuffy on many clarinets. I think it can be fixed by a very good technician with some expert voicing of those tone holes. The long B is always a problem note. Tom Ridenour suggests pulling the bell about 1 - 2 mm out and that little "gap" between the tenon and bell may make it sound a little better (similar to creating a "voicing groove" that the backun bells are famous for). Also, if you're playing a long B and holding it for some amount of time, nudge the throat A key open with your index finger (while still keeping everything covered up) and it helps out.
As per certain tones, I've noticed on the buffet R13s and R13 Prestiges that our band has, in general, the C and D tend to be a little stuffy, and the E and F just above those two tend to be a little flat. It can be worked with, but for me it seems to maybe even be a design issue. Perhaps these were compromises to get the clarion to sound better and have the corrrect backpressure? Don't know...
Alexi
PS - My suggestion, is to get a tuning chart. Tune your clarinet's C in the middle of the staff with the bell, THEN the G above the staff with the middle joint, then the open G with the barrel. THEN, chromatically play each note as a longtone at about mf or f and mark on the tuning chart whether it's flat or sharp, how many cents, and whether it's stuffy or not. This tuning chart can then be sent to a good technician and will help them diagnose the problems and possible solutions. As far as what's "acceptable", it varies, but personally, I wouldn't want an instrument that's more than +- 3 cents on each note. Just incase I go from a flat note to a sharp note, I don't have to compensate for MORE than a 6 cent "swing". It can be found and created with good voicing and tuning of the clarinet, but tough.
US Army Japan Band
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2011-05-03 16:21
PPS - Tom Ridenour (which Dave Davini suggested) is who I sent a clarinet two with a tuning chart and got it back NEARLY spot on with every note. He does do VERY good work and will be able to use that tuning chart (he was the one that recommended I do it so he had a better basis to work from)
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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