 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: EaubeauHorn
Date: 2013-12-20 21:12
I bought a new YCL 255 to have something to play with. I'm using a 2 1/2 Fibracell on it. It plays flat and I cannot lip it up; 20 cents flat overall, and the bottom space D is much flatter than that. What can I do to fix this, since my impression of Yamaha instruments is that they tend to play extremely sharp in general? If I can't figure it out I'm still within my money-back period but nearing the end of it.
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2013-12-20 22:00
What mouthpiece are you using? The one that came with it, or some Vandoren *-13 thing? (the latter are designed to bring the pitch down on A=442 Buffet R13 to A=440 and might cause other instruments to be considerably flat)
Would a traditional cane reed fare differently?
--
Ben
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2013-12-20 17:55
Could also be that of the various length barrels that are available for that particular horn, they sent you the longest. I don't know why that is, but my CSGs came with the second longest barrel (perhaps because American classical ensembles try to tune A=440 vs Europe and Asia, the Japanese just assume we all play flat!!!).
There is much to the above post as well, Many of our custom mouthpieces generate a lower tone.
The safe mouthpieces are the NON-13 Series mouthpieces from Vandoren, the Vandoren Master's Series and the Hawkins ......... just a short list.
.................Paul Aviles
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Author: EaubeauHorn
Date: 2013-12-20 23:08
I'm using exactly what came with it, including a C4 mouthpiece. It was supposed to be brand new never used but showed up without what I would expect in the way of a cleaning cloth and cork grease, so I suspect I was lied to and am inclined to take it back for that reason.
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2013-12-21 00:46
If it was brand new, each joint should have been sealed in a plastic bag, unless the seller took it out and gave it a quick test to make sure the pads were covering and the mechanism was well adjusted.
A swab and cork grease are pennies compared to hundreds for the clarinet. Take it to a good player to test for intonation.
Ken Shaw
Post Edited (2013-12-21 00:59)
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2013-12-21 02:04
stupid question, I know...I assume your tuner is indeed set to the correct base frequency and the correct reference note (some tuners can transpose), right?
(I've had such facepalm moments myself, so I'm just slowly ruling out potential causes)
--
Ben
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2013-12-21 02:24
I'm an old facepalmer myself. Find a box that plays an A for tuning, or check against a piano or get with an oboist who's used to setting a tuning A.
Ken Shaw
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Author: EaubeauHorn
Date: 2013-12-21 02:34
Just as background, I am professional degreed musician on another instrument; I don't need to take it to someone else to determine whether I'm correct as to its intonation. The instrument was in plastic bags but they were not sealed, and the mechanism, the subject of a prior post, was not adjusted properly and I had to fiddle with it. It sounds like my best bet is to make an appointment at the store I bought it at, and have them tell me why it is playing flat.
Thanks for the suggestions.
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Author: concertmaster3
Date: 2013-12-21 10:19
Another possible test...
depending on what your other instrument is, it could be an embouchure issue as well, or possibly just a long barrel. When I bought my YCL-CSV clarinets, I was playing consistently flat until I bought a different barrel. Turns out that it was mostly just me not having a fully developed embouchure, even though I'd played clarinet for many years and had a Master's in Oboe Performance.
What pitch do you get when you play with just the mouthpiece? I'd aim for a steady concert C. Taking a clarinet lesson or two with a really good clarinet pedagogue would also work wonders for you, I know it did for me.
Also, have a clarinetist friend check the instrument out and see if they play flat on it as well. If you know them pretty well, have them play it with your setup also.
Good luck!
Ron Ford
Woodwind Specialist
Performer/Teacher/Arranger
http://www.RonFordMusic.com
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Author: Ursa
Date: 2013-12-21 14:33
I would try a cane reed as a first step towards correcting this. In my experience, Fibracells play very flat on certain mouthpieces.
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2013-12-21 17:19
In addition to the barrel issue I mentioned, I have also NEVER been able to use a Yamaha mouthpiece! Their instruments are great (both mine were adjusted beautifully brand new) but the mouthpieces stink.
............Paul Aviles
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