The Clarinet BBoard

The Clarinet BBoard The C4 standard

New Topic | Go to Top | Go to Topic | Search | Help/Rules | Smileys/Notes | Log In

Newer Topic | Older Topic

19.5 inch clarinet with MP attached

Author: Jer
Date: 2017-01-13 21:37

I have an odd clarinet. It's 19.5 inches long with the MP. It's currently not playable so I can't really test it for Key designation. Does anyone know what it is?

Reply To Message

Re: 19.5 inch clarinet with MP attached

Author: jdbassplayer
Date: 2017-01-13 21:45

It's most likely a low pitched Eb clarinet.

-Jdbassplayer

Reply To Message

Re: 19.5 inch clarinet with MP attached

Author: Dan Shusta
Date: 2017-01-13 22:54

From the middle of the following thread directly below the numbers:

A: 27.75"
Bb: 26.5"
C: 23.5"
D: 20.5"
Eb: 19.3"
http://www.gtc-music1.com/forum/index.php?topic=5197.0

By the way, "low pitch" normally means A = 440-441 (From the following link:)
http://www.ridenourclarinetproducts.com/how-to-select-a-clarinet.html

However, because your clarinet is slightly longer, "A" will tune slightly lower than 440 which could possibly mean you have a "very" low pitched Eb clarinet.

You might want to take that measurement again...

Post Edited (2017-01-13 23:03)

Reply To Message

Re: 19.5 inch clarinet with MP attached

Author: jdbassplayer
Date: 2017-01-13 23:06

I had a low pitched Eb clarinet that measured 19.75 inches with a modern mouthpiece. It still played perfectly at A=440Hz. Larger bore instruments can be longer and still be at correct pitch.

-Jdbassplayer

Reply To Message

Re: 19.5 inch clarinet with MP attached

Author: Jer
Date: 2017-01-13 23:34

It's going to be a couple of days to get her off the bench but I can't wait. Thanks Everyone.

Reply To Message

Re: 19.5 inch clarinet with MP attached

Author: Dan Shusta
Date: 2017-01-14 00:45

Hi J.D. & Jer,

According to Stephen Fox: "...enlarging the bore in upper part will lower the pitch of the fundamental mode, while enlarging the bore in the lower part will raise it." http://www.sfoxclarinets.com/baclac_art.htm

So, from this, I gather that if you enlarge the bore of the lower section which would normally raise the pitch and then "lengthen it", the normally raised pitch due to the larger bore of the lower section should actually be brought back down to the "low pitch" of A = 440.

I just talked with Tom Ridenour. He mentioned to me that enlarging tone holes raises pitch. (This is in line with Clark W Fobes "Tuning and Voicing the Clarinet".) http://www.clarkwfobes.com/pages/tuning-and-voicing-the-clarinet

So, combining Stephen Fox and Tom Ridenour statements, I believe enlarging the bore in the upper part which would normally lower the pitch combined with enlarging the tone holes should maintain an A = 440.

There appears to be a number of ways or combinations of bore sizes, section lengths, and tone hole sizes available to have a "low pitch" clarinet of differing total lengths.

So, taking everything into consideration, I stand corrected that a clarinet can indeed have different total lengths and still have "low pitch" meaning A = 440.

Wow, what an education!

Reply To Message

Avail. Forums | Threaded View

Newer Topic | Older Topic

Sheet Music Plus Featured Sale

The Clarinet Pages

For Sale
Put your ads for items you'd like to sell here. Free! Please, no more than two at a time - ads removed after two weeks.