 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: windplr
Date: 2014-09-27 20:02
I am looking for a neck for a Yamaha 221-II bass clarinet allowing for A=440 at its normal position. The stock neck must be pulled way out, more than 1/2", to get to A=440. A tunable neck would also work. Any recommendations or pointers appreciated.
-Chris
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Author: jdbassplayer
Date: 2014-09-27 20:29
That's amazing that you have to pull the neck out that far just to be in tune. You can buy generic necks on "that site" for about $50. You could also get a Bay neck for about $150-$200 but it might be hard to track one down.
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Author: Eric V
Date: 2014-09-27 22:16
I had the same problem with that instrument, pulling out between the upper and lower joints helped a lot.
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2014-09-27 22:22
Several years ago I worked on a customer's 221-II bass and also had to pull the neck out a good half-inch to get the throat tones to play at A-440. And like Eric, had to pull out between joints and at the bell also, to get the rest of the notes close to pitch.
I think Yamaha could have done better.
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Author: Mike Blinn
Date: 2014-09-27 23:22
I have the same problem with my 221-II bass, so I pull out at least a half inch to tune with my band. No big deal.
Mike
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Author: LarryBocaner ★2017
Date: 2014-09-29 00:36
I had a student with the same problem using the stock mouthpiece that came with the horn. Fixed it using a different tmake mouthpiece -- only had to pull out about 3/16". Pulling out 1/2" messes up the scale -- throat tones proportionately way flat to the rest of the instrument.
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Author: Gordon Giedt
Date: 2014-10-19 21:11
My 221-II bass clarinet also plays awfully sharp. Just the opposite of my Selmer Series 9 soprano clarinet. Recently I got a Vandoren B-50 bass clarinet mouthpiece which I really like (coming from a Garrett MO) but until I got some less stiff (V12 2.5) reeds exacerbated the issue. I agree that pulling out between the joints helps.
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Author: always learning
Date: 2014-10-20 00:46
I placed black rubber O-rings from a hardware store between sections of my Yamaha other than the bell and mouthpiece. I leave the O-rings on my horn. That way when I put my 221ii together, the sections are positioned where they need to be. It looks fine, plays in tune and remedies the major problem. Occasionally tweaking is necessary.
Btw- I simply brought my Yamaha to the hardware store with me to be certain that I would purchase the correct diameter O-rings. Simple & inexpensive.
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Author: Zenia
Date: 2014-10-20 20:38
I've got a Yamaha 621 low Eb which I use as a back-up or for
outdoor gigs and I always have to pull out the two-part neck
due to sharpness throughout the registers. Too bad Yamaha
hasn't yet put as much thought into their bass clarinets as
compared to soprano clarinets and their saxes.
Great horns key-wise and sturdiness of build but hopelessly
too sharp, at least for my liking. And for what it's worth I use
Brad Behn and a Walter Grabner mouthpieces with either
Vandoren V12s or Legeres.
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Author: Ed
Date: 2014-10-20 23:01
I think that they do put thought into it, but I believe it was designed to play at 442. It is great for groups that play higher or for students with less developed embouchures who tend to play flat. For anyone who wants to have an instrument as a good less expensive choice, it does not work well.
Perhaps if enough people complain they may consider a redesign or at least a longer neck as an option.
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Author: Zenia
Date: 2014-10-21 21:30
I'm referring to the professional model YCL 621 low Eb which is priced at nearly
$8000. Difficult to imagine Yamaha purposely developed it for students with less developed embouchures or for groups who play higher. Hard to imagine anyone spending that kind of money for such a specific purpose.
Despite its' flaws the student model is an excellent choice when compared to
other student models. But in my view their pro model bass clarinets are not
in the same league as either the Selmer or Buffet pro models.
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Author: kilo
Date: 2014-10-22 00:59
My 221 plays sharp as well and I pull the neck out about half an inch. I don't consider this a "problem".
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Author: Ed
Date: 2014-10-22 01:38
Sorry I did not look at the model, Zenia. I was looking at the title of the thread and the original post. I did not see that a different model was discussed. I don't know what the pitch level is for these instruments. Some orchestras play at 442. Maybe this was a consideration in the design.
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Author: Mojo
Date: 2016-02-02 21:53
I was thinking of modifying a mouthpiece to have a larger chamber volume to assist with solving this problem for a friend who has a Yamaha. I have a spare stock mouthpiece I can try increasing the back bore on. Has anyone tried this?
MojoMP.com
Mojo Mouthpiece Work LLC
MojoMouthpieceWork@yahoo.com
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