 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: SarahC
Date: 2016-01-19 03:16
Is this possible? I am playing an armstrong student instrument, and the throat tones are very stuffy. I like the idea of the ridenours, but would want the extra key. Is it something that can be done after the event? Or it is too costly to make it worth it?
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2016-01-19 03:39
Before you do anything drastic, have the ventings checked (throat G# and A pads should open by a minimum of 2mm to maximum 2.5mm) and also remove the keys and check inside the toneholes to be sure they're not occluded with dried fibres where they meet the bore as both of these will make the throat notes stuffy.
Where exactly is this extra LH G# key fitted?
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: SarahC
Date: 2016-01-19 03:58
Well, you can buy clarinets with a key that sits on top of the LH levers that operate the low notes. so that basically you have the same 4 levers in both hands. It avoids the problems of needing a particular fingering to make a note combination work. The cheapest option I can find that has the aux key is the Yamaha 650, and it is an extra 300$ for the aux key. It may not be possible to retro fit - hence why I was asking!
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Author: donald
Date: 2016-01-19 04:37
It's quite possible to retro-fit, Chris has in fact done this a number of times to various of his own clarinets and I suspect the only reason he didn't say this was because we weren't clear exactly which key you were asking about.
I'm not sure who would do that in Sydney- Diane Gardiner would know, but the real question is the price vrs the value of the instrument vrs how long you're going to play that particular instrument..... there's a guy in NZ who can do it, but I'm not sure how much he'd charge.
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Author: SarahC
Date: 2016-01-19 05:01
Thanks. I will contact the name you suggested to get a quote.
Then I can know whether it is worth it, or to just save for one of the yamaha 650s with that key.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2016-01-19 05:31
Attachment: signet100lheblever 001.JPG (714k)
Oh - I thought you meant an extra throat G# key.
A LH Ab/Eb lever won't do anything to improve the throat notes that the existing RH Ab/Eb key already does - it duplicates the RH Ab/Eb key so all the RH pinky keys are duplicated in the left hand to make things easier in situations where sliding between keys by one finger would have to be done.
I have fitted the LH Ab/Eb lever to several clarinets - the most recent one for a player who preferred his Selmer Signet over a Buffet Prestige he bought expecting it to be a better instrument, but sold it and missed the LH Ab/Eb lever it had, so he asked me to fit one to his Signet.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: nbclarinet
Date: 2016-01-19 05:34
I believe Wesley Rice just released an easy to install version of this. Im not sure if it would be compatible with your particular instrument but its probably worth getting in touch with him.
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Author: SarahC
Date: 2016-01-19 05:44
Oh dear.. sorry I am hopeless. The comment about the throat tones - was meaning that i am playing on a cheap student clarinet. I am trying to play grade 7 repertoire. (Well... I started on Dec 19 with my first lesson to get embouchure right...).. and the instrument doesn't do the throat tones well.
I would like something that i can do grade 8 and diploma on. I don't think my armstrong will cut it! Althoguh as far as a student instrument goes, i have always been happy with armstrong flutes. And definitely this clarinet is a great student instrument! It has worked straight out of the box.
Hence I am looking at what my options are with that extra lever! because i would like something that i would never need to upgrade (but as someone who is not a performer.. at all... i don't need to get a top of the range buffet etc... I am a teacher by trade, and just fancied starting a new instrument!)
Thanks everyone for the suggestions.
Chris P, I am not sure what the postage would be, and whether or not that would make it not feasible, but how much are they to fit, and would you be able to do it in the hard rubber, or only a wooden clarinet?
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2016-01-19 05:50
How is it linked to the Ab/Eb key? You need some form of linkage attached securely to the Ab/Eb key or pad cup for the end of the LH Ab/Eb lever to engage into to make it work reliably.
A soft soldered linkage may work if it has a large surface area, but soft solder isn't generally used on key pieces subjected to concentrated force with a small surface area at the point of contact where it's soldered to the key.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: SarahC
Date: 2016-01-19 06:06
Thanks Chris. Sounding like it is too hard to know! I haven't seen the ridenours in person, but they are highly recommended on this forum. I like the idea of resin over wood for reliability, and have a handmade recorder which i used for my lrsm, which is made from a resin. It is so stable and reliable. (And little kids of mine have dropped it, and it has survived!)
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Author: Wes
Date: 2016-01-19 10:36
Yes, I've played on fine clarinets for many years with that extra G#/D# key, switched to a regular clarinet without it, and then got a Buffet Prestige with it. It is sometimes handy and it would be a good addition to all clarinets for not much added cost.
However, you can play everything just fine without that key by learning to slide the fingers when needed or by switching fingers fast. It is rarely needed and one can play essentially everything without it. I also found that key to be a little too long on the Prestige and shortened it a bit as it got in the way.
To add that key to an intermediate level clarinet does not seem to be a good economic idea, as there are better places for ones funds. There is nothing wrong with intermediate level clarinets, by the way. Good luck!
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2016-01-19 10:58
The LH Ab/Eb lever should be fitted as standard on all clarinets in my opinion (and it can easily be removed if you don't want it) - you can order B12s with it fitted as an option and the cost to fit one during production is far lower than adding one at a much later stage.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: SarahC
Date: 2016-01-19 11:03
Thanks. Wes. If i see a bargain too good to refuse on ebay, then i might forgo my desire for the key. But already, I can see that it is a lot less preparation of the fingers if you have it. Thanks for the sliding key technique idea. My teacher told me never! But I know from other instruments i play, that sliding is used on some of them. So I was surprised that i couldn't at least slide down.
Chris!!!! That is interesting!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! But then a B12 wouldn't be good enough to do the diplomas on would it?
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