 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: bsabal
Date: 2016-08-04 07:43
I bought my Buffet R13 new in 2002 and love it but am finding I'm a touch sharp throughout it's range lately. Have been playing regularly (a couple hours a few times a week) throughout it's life with breaks of a few weeks duration from time to time.
Thinking I'll try a new barrel for now but I'm wondering what the lifespan of a clarinet really is. I've been told anywhere from 5-15 years depending on the level and frequency of play. I am religious about maintenance. Am open to replacing my horn but thought I'd throw it out to the group for opinions. Thanks!
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Author: Tony F
Date: 2016-08-04 08:07
If it has gradually become sharper over the years the problem could be that all or some of the tone holes have become occluded with debris over time. Try cleaning them out with cotton buds and examine them very closely for any signs of hard deposits. Clean the register tube with something like a pipe cleaner after removing the register key.
If it was new in 2002 it's unlikely that it has reached the end of its useful life. I have clarinets that are close to a century old and that have been played professionally for years that still play as well as when they were made. Clarinets can and do age, but 2002 is young for a good R13.
Tony F.
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Author: Ursa
Date: 2016-08-04 08:25
It would seem to me that a trip to the technician would be in order here. Tony is quite correct in suggesting that you check your tone holes for occlusion. It's also possible that your barrel could be shifting dimensionally. If you've been on the same mouthpiece the entire time, even that could be a culprit.
I'd pay no heed to estimated lifespans of clarinets. Your clarinet is worn out when it wears out.
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Author: Wes
Date: 2016-08-04 10:09
A Buffet Bb from 1912 that I have and a Buffet A from 1921 that I also have play fine as does a 1971 Bb Buffet. The above advice is good!
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2016-08-04 11:32
Occluded toneholes will make things go flat and stuffy - especially the throat notes and LH notes due to the smaller diameter toneholes on the top joint which are affected more by any build-up compared to the larger diameter toneholes on the lower joint.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
Post Edited (2016-08-04 16:43)
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Author: kdk
Date: 2016-08-04 16:36
That's what I would have thought. So, what changes, especially remediable ones, can cause sharpness?
Karl
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2016-08-04 16:43
Could your R13 be one that's built to 442Hz?
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: bsabal
Date: 2016-08-04 18:04
Thanks so much for the responses! My instrument is tuned to 440 and was always spot-on until recently. It is pristinely clean, no tone hole issues to report. On the topic of mouthpiece, I have been playing the same one for a long time (can't remember if I got it before or after 2002). It's a Vandoren 5RV Lyre also is inspected daily and has no visible signs of problems. But maybe it's time to replace the mouthpiece?
Post Edited (2016-08-04 18:23)
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Author: Burt
Date: 2016-08-04 18:14
Change in embouchure or using a harder reed?
Moved to a hotter climate?
Sipping a hot beverage while you play?
These could be factors if you are sharp throughout the range.
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Author: Caroline Smale
Date: 2016-08-05 01:02
Alcohol laden air has a lower density and so vibrates faster.
- Give up the booze -
On serious note (A=440) all my clainets date between 1960 and 1990. No problem with any of them
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2016-08-05 01:13
Replace your clarinet as soon as possible, the musical instrument economy needs stimulus.
Or, when it is "blown out", which should take about 300 +/- 50 years by my calculations.
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Author: Burt
Date: 2016-08-05 02:17
Lower density? Norman, you're not drinking wood alcohol, are you?
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Author: Caroline Smale
Date: 2016-08-05 03:08
Should have said alcohol vapour (vapor over there?) laden air.
My playing is definitely improved by alcohol, the more I have the better I sound - at least to me !
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2016-08-05 03:51
A video on backun shows Ricardo going back to him for a tuneup, so to speak. The wood, through repeated playing, weather, swabbings, etc, had swelled, or deformed, or retained humidity, or something, which caused the bore to be ever so slightly constricted. Morrie demonstrated this by using his custom reamer, inserting it into the joint and show how it did not go far enough in. He continued to push in and ream it until it went in to his desired mark.
Long story to say, it MAY be an oh so slight change in bore dimensions due to the fibers swelling or something that is causing a narrower bore than its original specs, and sharpening the horn.
No way to REALLY know unless you took bore measurements when you bought and had that to compare it to.
Alexi
PS - This is one of the reasons I always advocate for buying a used, 20+ year old horn. I like to believe that a 20 year old horn's wood has already been through enough stress with playing, swabbing, weather changes, seasons, etc. that the wood and any micro changes have already "settled". So I like to believe that a 20+ year old horn is unlikely to change anymore. So if it plays well, it should play well for the rest of my life.
Or so I like to believe.
US Army Japan Band
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Author: bsabal
Date: 2016-08-05 05:54
AH very interesting thoughts on the aging process of the instrument. That is one reason why I would consider owning a second horn...rotation and proper aging.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2016-08-05 07:52
The 5RV Lyre is a sharp playing mouthpiece - maybe try a "13" Series as they play flatter.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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