 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: clarinetdroid
Date: 2017-01-04 06:56
I have a Buffet R13 that I've had and been playing on for about 10 years. I bought it from a local dealer. Before then, I played on a Selmer for about 28 years. In the last 2-3 years, my Buffet "feels" like it is about to squeak in the clarion register-especially around the A, A-flat, G notes. I have had it serviced and checked by 3 different repair stores, and I've experimented with mouthpieces, ligatures and reeds. Currently, I'm using (and have been for over a year) a Vandoren M13 mouthpiece, reverse-screw ligature and Rico Reserve 3.5 reeds. I like the sound and overall I am happy with the setup, but, I'm always nervous about the possible squeaks (which has happened more than it should at my level). Any ideas??
Thanks!
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Author: kdk
Date: 2017-01-04 07:42
Does this happen at all dynamics or only forte-fortissimo?
Karl
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Author: LaurieBell
Date: 2017-01-04 18:07
I went through something similar so I know how frustrating this can be.
I have an R13 that I bought in 1973, played for 9 years, then didn't pick up again until 3 years ago. I had the instrument professionally overhauled and it was beautifully done. However, sometimes after warming up a problem would occur where some notes would not speak. I sent it back to repair, some minor adjustments were done, but it did not fix the problem.
The repair person could not find any leaks or anything else wrong, and he could not reproduce the problem. I isolated the problem to the one section of my clarinet (can't remember if it was upper or lower section or what). I then took it to a local shop and had all of the new pads in that section replaced.
That was probably the wrong thing to do, but I only had one instrument and needed it to play without problems (I was playing in several groups by then). At any rate, it fixed the problem.
Looking back, my clarinet may have a slight problem that only occurred in my environment (I was in a different state than the initial repair person -- different humidity and temps.)
My recommendation to you is if you have the time, go to a reliable repair shop and play the instrument for a long while, or at least until you notice the problem. Then point it out to the repair person. This may at least help to identify the problem.
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Author: RBlack
Date: 2017-01-04 19:08
Since you've had it looked at by multiple repair places, a mechanical issue is unlikely. (Had it not, I would look into whether the pads were sealing perfectly, and whether there was any micro cracks).
And since it had developed in the past few years, something seems to have changed.
It may be possible that the bore inside the barrel and/or upper joint has warped slightly, or otherwise changed its dimensions - rendering it acoustically not quite perfect
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Author: kdk
Date: 2017-01-04 19:45
And another question: does this feeling that it's about to squeak happen when you first begin to play or after you've been playing for several minutes?
G#/Ab5 does happen to be a sensitive note on some clarinets. The tone hole is a compromise size because it is placed higher than it should be to avoid going through the midjoint tenon and socket. I find I have to humor the Ab on my A clarinet a little or it begins to slide into a kind of multiphonic tone. So I need to avoid overblowing it. But I don't feel the same sensation for A a half step higher. G and G# can both be affected by the tone hole at the top of the RH (bottom) section if the pad is too low or there's enough dirt in the hole. The pad can be too low if, among other possibilities, the bridge key is poorly adjusted.
One thing to check is whether there's any off-timbre or flatness on the same fingerings a twelfth lower. If so, even if they don't feel unstable in the same way, it may be a problem with the tone holes.
If this happens only after a period of playing, there are lots of places where a pad could swell and open a leak. This can happen if there is even a tiny pinhole opening in the pad or a slight tear - flaws that a repair tech won't generally find unless he takes the keys off (instead of just checking seating with a feeler or leak testing the entire section at once) and carefully inspects each pad. He also won't notice the instability if you or he doesn't play the instrument long enough to have the leak start and the problem show up.
The trouble with experimenting with mouthpieces, ligatures and reeds is that you can so confuse your approach that you can't tell how anything is responding after a while.
> I have had
> it serviced and checked by 3 different repair stores,
How competent are the techs at these "stores?" Sometimes someone who is very good with brass instruments isn't so good with woodwinds. Some repair techs whose main job is to keep rental student instruments playing isn't looking for anything as subtle as the problem your clarinet may have. What exactly has the servicing they've done included?
Karl
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Author: Steven Ocone
Date: 2017-01-05 03:10
It looks like your in north central PA. I'm surprised you have 3 "repair shops" available. Not that there couldn't be a clarinet wizard in your area, or that your clarinet might be fine. But it sure sounds like there is an issue with the clarinet. I wonder if any of the repair shops tested the clarinet with a magnehelic. I will sometimes test the upper joint with the barrel on in case in is leaking at the tenon. I also wonder about the ring heights, especially the thumb ring. If you are confident that the clarinet is in good order I will defer to the other wise participants of this forum.
One more note. There can be an undertone (sometimes called a "grunt") on the clarion A and sometimes on the B or G. This happens mostly on A clarinets but is sometimes noticeable on Bb clarinets. I don't suspect this is the issue, but it deserves to be considered.
Steve Ocone
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Author: Grabnerwg
Date: 2017-01-06 19:29
Some other culprits:
The table on your mouthpiece is no longer flat.
The facing on your mouthpiece could have changed for the worse.
Your reeds are warping, which is always a problem in the winter.
The tip rail on your mouthpiece could have been damaged, is too thin, or has become rounded with use.
Any of these problems can lead to "chirping"
Walter Grabner
www.clarinetxpress.com
Buffet Bass Clarinets
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