 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Garth Libre
Date: 2013-06-24 08:54
What was the advantage of putting the C# key and tone hole in the lower section and having the hole go through the upper section's tenon? Considering the difficulties of getting the bridge key of any clarinet to work correctly by employing small rotations of the two segments relative to each other, isn't this inviting even more confusion in simultaneously having to get the tone hole to line up in the two sections of a CT?
Garth, 305-981-4705. garthlibre@yahoo.com
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2013-06-24 10:01
Most clarinets fitted with articulated C#/G# have the hole through the tenon as this gives the full sized and correctly positioned tonehole as opposed to most clarinets having a smaller diameter and higher placed C#/G# tonehole which is a compromise.
It's not just CTs that have this - look at other clarinets fitted with an articulated C#/G# mechanism (Buffet, Leblanc, Amati and even on some Yamahas).
Provided the tenon cork is sufficiently greased and can be moved easily, you shouldn't have any problem lining up the joints or the bridge key. If you want to be certain the toneholes line up correctly, remove the C#/G# key so you can see right through the toneholes, line up the joints and make a discreet mark on both joints so you can see when the toneholes are lined up correctly or have the bridge key adjusted so when that's lining up, you'll be sure the C#/G# toneholes are lined up.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Garth Libre
Date: 2013-06-24 12:15
In general why is the CT styled C# key called "articulated"? It sounds like this key more properly called "an ideally voiced" C# key. By the way, I never noticed the C# being a problem on any clarinet, CT or otherwise. The problem notes on any clarinet I've tried are a couple of throat tones being airy and the notes just above the break being resistant. The one CT clarinet I tried was priced at $800 and not in completely playable condition. It had such bad leaks that I couldn't judge the Selmer and had to pass it up.
Garth, 305-981-4705. garthlibre@yahoo.com
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2013-06-24 14:11
I'll just say again that this design isn't only found on the CT or only on Selmers - other makers besides Selmer have also used the same or similar articulated C#/G# mechanism on their clarinets.
It's called an articulated C#/G# because the lightly open sprung C#/G# pad cup is controlled by the heavy closed sprung C#/G# key - once the touchpiece is held down, the pad cup is free to open and it can then be closed by the RH rings (via an adjusting screw) so you can do a proper B-C# and F#-G# trill like that on an oboe or sax, just by trilling with one RH finger only (while still holding the C#/G# touchpiece down). You can't do that on a standard clarinet.
The placement of the C#/G# key on the lower joint also ensures it will stay in regulation with the RH rings much better than if it was fitted to the top joint as then you'd have to be sure the joints lined up precisely for it to work properly. I think Patricola clarinets have the articulated C#/G# made in this way so a lever from the lower joint linked to the RH rings closes the C#/G# pad cup on the upper joint.
There could be a number of things that cause stuffy/airy throat and upper register notes - the ventings could be too low, the speaker tube could be occluded, your mouthpiece/reed set-up may not be suitable for the instrument, etc.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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