 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Tony F
Date: 2012-03-28 12:50
I've agreed to have a look at the local high school's Bundy base clarinet during the semester break. Like many school horns, it was badly in need of some TLC. I've sorted out the register key linkage and one of the long l/h pinkie keys. The pads look in pretty good condition and a leaklight and mylar film test indicate no leaks. The lower register sounds great, but the upper register has an airy tone, completely unlike the lower reg. It's also more resistant. My first thought was leakage at one of the lower pads, but as i said, they look OK. I'd welcome any suggestion as to where I should be looking. I'm quite familiar with Bb and A Boehm and Albert clarinets, but this is the first base clarinet I've been involved with.
Thanks.
Tony F.
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Author: Bobby McClellan
Date: 2012-03-28 21:34
My old Beauscher had the same problem and it was the adjustment screw on the upper joint at the D key if I am remebering right. for some strange reason I would be going good and then I would need to take a screwdriver and just twaek the screw jus tthe lightest and all would be good again for a while. because of this I have screwdrives with me at all times.
Bobby M. McClellan
Flowood, MS
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2012-03-29 04:40
A leak would have more effect on the upper register than the lower register.
I don't especially like mylar and other smooth materials as feelers, they don't have a very good feel for the difference in seal. I would try a less slippery material like very thin rolling papers.
Try playing some notes in the upper register, maybe left hand G, A, B and C. While you play each note let go of the register key and keep playing the high note with your embouchure only (i.e. don't let them drop to the low register). Do they sound better or different in any way (except intonation) than playing them with the register key pressed?
You can also try playing the left hand notes in the upper register and hold the throat Bb key. There is a mechanism that holds this key closed whne playing higher register notes but maybe it's not adjusted completely.
I assume the neck joint is a metal tenon and socket. Check for leak there. You can temporarily put grease there to seal and check if it plays better. Make sure to clean all the grease thoroughly after. To fix that you usually need specialized tools.
IME this model isn't as free blowing in that register than some others, but it still should play pretty well in the entire register. If you are not used to bass clarinets it could also be a player/mouthpiece/reed issue.
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2012-03-29 09:27
Airy tone and stuffiness in the upper register often is a function of the accuracy of the register mechanism - too much or too little can make a world of a difference.
Make sure that the "pinch Bb" pad (which is closed by the thumb key) completely closes when in the clarion register - there is an adjustment screw for that.
Also make sure the register key closes completely (and opens sufficiently) when operated.
http://www.hochstrasser.org/wiki/pmwiki.php/Clarinet/BundyRegisterKey
The upper register (at least up to the top of staff notes) should not be any more difficult than with a more expensive instrument.
--
Ben
Post Edited (2012-03-29 09:29)
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Author: Tony F
Date: 2012-03-30 04:12
Many thanks for the responses to my problem. They were all helpful, it turned out to be around the register linkage, and I learned about the mysteries of the complex interactions of the various adjustments and clearances. I thought there were still some things to sort out, but when I tried it using a friends m/p (Fobes, not sure which model) it played like a dream. The m/p that came with it is the standard Bundy, and it looks as though it lost a fight with a stump grinder. Once again, my thanks.
Tony F.
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