 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Tony F
Date: 2012-07-07 06:42
I'm considering doing some experimenting with undercutting tone holes in an attempt to get a clarinet into tune. I've already written the clarinet off as unusable as it is, so I regard it as sacrificial. I've used wax to alter the tuning of a hole before, but I've not tried undercutting. Can this safely be done carefully through the tone hole chimneys, or is it necessary to buy/make a special tool for doing it from within the bore? I'd welcome any suggestions as to how best to set about it and to what extent the undercutting should be done.
Thanks in advance.
Tony F.
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Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2012-07-07 07:46
What specifically are you trying to change by undercutting? Bow many tone holes and which ones? I've watched experienced techs do it with files through the chimney. It wasn't necessarily "safe" to do it, but certainly possible.
Go slowly. Undercutting will raise a note's pitch, but it also reduces the note's resistance, and of course, it affects the pitch and response at all harmonic levels of the fingering. Too much undercutting can make the note harder to focus and control.
Karl
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Author: jbutler ★2017
Date: 2012-07-07 13:47
Before you begin it's a fairly good idea to understand the nodal characteristics of the instrument. Undercutting all around raises mostly the lower note (12th). Overcutting, or tapering the hole outwards towards the pad, raises mostly the upper note (12th). Anything that allows the hole to vent more raises the upper 12th more. Undercutting just the bell side of the hole lowers the upper note. Lengthening or shortening the tone hole height will have more effect on the lower note. It's like moving the hole further down, or up, the horn. Filling all around the top of the hole, to make it more cylindrical (less tapered) down to the undercutting will lower the upper note. There is so much more to it than these simple observations. Be careful and go slowly.
jbutler
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Author: Caroline Smale
Date: 2012-07-07 20:50
Most "special" tools provide a uniform and fixed concentric undercut which isn't always the optimum for tuning purposes.
I use a dremel with various shaped cutters depending on size of tonehole and what I am hoping to achieve.
This can be VERY dangerous if not handled carefully though.
Undercutting is best not attempted unless you are confident you know what you are doing.
The watch words are "little" and "test".
If the instrument is already a write-off then you have less to lose and a chance to learn!!
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Author: rtmyth
Date: 2012-07-08 15:31
You may wish to read what Arthur Bonade and Lee Gibson have to say about it.( Gibson in "Clarinet Acoustics". )
richard smith
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