Author: Bob Bernardo
Date: 2017-11-13 11:16
I have one last thing to add. If you get your horn fixed, remember a few things. Mouthpiece bores have tapers and so few of them are accurate. Then you have barrels. Again very few are accurate. The bore in your horn surely has changed so a really great repairman can adjust this with correct reamers. Reamers are like drill bits. Some are long some are short but reamers are tapered and often handmade by good clarinet repairmen.
So let's now advance knowing that your clarinet bore is set to the right specs. You play it but some notes are out of tune. The next step is finding a barrel. There are all sorts of them. Some are tapered, some are straight, and some have a reverse taper. Some tapers may be as much as a 32nd of an inch from the top to the bottom. For me I like 1/128" reverse. Your repairman can set you up correctly with a good barrel. Often they make their own. Now if some notes are still off the repairman can adjust these using methods such as undercutting the holes, making the holes bigger, or filling some holes. With all of this work completed you may have one gem of a horn.
If you are stuck for a repairman. Bob Scott in East Lansing, Michigan is still at it at the age of 93 or something like that. He makes his own barrels. I can refer you to the man in NYC, but not online here. Drop me an email.
Forgive me, I am sure there are others, so please add to the list of excellent repairmen.
The bore on your mouthpiece should be of great concern so email me about this too; if interested. I'll give you the measurements, or buy the new Selmer mouthpiece. That bore is correct. I think it's called the Concept or the Focus. Sells for $100. Whichever is the latest mouthpiece made.
Designer of - Vintage 1940 Cicero Mouthpieces and the La Vecchia mouthpieces
Yamaha Artist 2015
Post Edited (2017-11-13 11:28)
|
|
The Clarinet BBoard
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
