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Re: ring height

Author: Chris P
Date: 2016-10-24 02:47

You shouldn't ever have to be pushing the ring keys down - they should fall closed under normal finger movement and without any undue force.

I've seen my fair share of Buffets where the ring key heights haven't been adjusted when the pad has been replaced with a much thicker one. Some repairers overlook the fact that ring keys shouldn't be ridiculously high when they're in the closed position (and the venting is usually compromised too).

If the pad is seating well, the ring keys can be closed with light finger pressure and the pad will seal against its tonehole with no problems. If the pad is too thick, then it will most likely leak at the front as well as leaving the ring keys sitting too high and forcing the player to use undue finger pressure to close the pad.

The main problem with ring keys being too high is they can prevent the fingertips from sealing against the tonehole chimneys and render a clarinet impossible to play at worst or making it squeak at best.

I set ring keys so they're around 0.2mm minimum to 0.5mm maximum above the chimneys when in the closed position which should suit most players. But should anyone want them lower than that (if they have fat fingertips) then they can be lowered. If I'm repadding a clarinet I will ask the player how they want the ring key heights set to suit them best. But if I haven't got much to go on, then I set them up how I feel is best to suit anyone.

Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.

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Author

Date

ring height new

Matt74

2016-10-24 02:25

Re: ring height

Chris P

2016-10-24 02:47