 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: clarimad
Date: 2016-09-10 01:15
I have acquired a rather nice 926 from the 1950s and am using my Vandoren B45.
There are no leaks from the top or bottom joints but it sounds fairly stuffy, unlike my Leblanc Esprit using the same mouthpiece.
Any suggestions?
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Author: Richie
Date: 2016-09-10 02:29
Check the tone holes, there might be a buildup of dead skin.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2016-09-10 02:39
Have it serviced and have all the ventings increased as chances are the ventings are all too low which is all too common on B&H clarinets.
If the key corks are thick, then using much thinner key corks and doing a bit of key bending here and there to considerably open up the pad heights will have it singing.
B&H originally finished them with thick, spongy key corks so the action was usually far from snappy and the action was set too low, so there's always room for improvement.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Jeroen
Date: 2016-09-10 12:37
Older 926s should be rather free blowing. So, yes, check the venting.
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Author: Steven Ocone
Date: 2016-09-10 16:36
I agree with the above suggestions.
Also,
There are different ways to check leaks. If you are doing a suction test using your fingers to cover the open holes, you may be squeezing more than when you play. This can squeeze certain pads closed that may not seal well during actual play. Or it my cover up a problem with the heights of the rings on the ring keys. A small change in where the ring sits when the key is closed can make a big difference.
Steve Ocone
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2016-09-10 18:58
Always have your ring keys set up according to your hand and finger size - have them set higher if you have small hands and narrow fingers and set low if you have large hands and fat fingers. But they still have to be slightly proud of the chimneys (to some degree or other) when held down to ensure the pad they control is closed. The thumb ring can be set flush with the thumb tube in nearly every case.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Bob Bernardo
Date: 2016-09-10 23:41
I kind of think the barrel may have been swapped. Even with plugged holes the horn should speak well.
Designer of - Vintage 1940 Cicero Mouthpieces and the La Vecchia mouthpieces
Yamaha Artist 2015
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Author: Tony F
Date: 2016-09-11 00:58
The 929 barrel is quite distinctive and easily identifiable by its shape and broad silver rings. They came in standard and short lengths and both my Bb 929's (1 x wood, 1 x hard rubber) tune to A440 best with the short barrel. Mine are very free-blowing, I think the suggestions about venting are probably spot on.
Tony F.
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Author: clarimad
Date: 2016-09-11 01:08
I have taken the advice from contributors and have dealt with the cork thickness and venting - the 926 now plays like a dream, thank you all.
By the way it has long rod keys rather than the more usual pivot screws.
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Author: Caroline Smale
Date: 2016-09-11 04:31
Yes those 926's from Approx 1950-1955 (not sure of exact times but several 1953/4/5 instruments I have seen were like this) had the same long rods as the 1010s.
Beautifully made instruments back then.
The standard B45 is not an optimum mouthpiece.
The 926 bore design used a mouthpiece with a much shallower taper than the normal French style (but not cylindrical like the 1010.
Roughly somewhere between the two.
Tuning is better when correct M/P used.
There is spare material in the VD bore that can be reamed out. A few repairers actually have the correct reamers for this.
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