The Clarinet BBoard

The Clarinet BBoard The C4 standard

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

Previous Message | Next Message

Re: OT? - Sax leak detection

Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2018-04-13 18:47

clarnibass wrote:

> The pads you mentioned might be fine even if they feel "weak"
> or not... it's not possible to say, just guess. It can also
> depend on how you checked (e.g. the key above the F key, called
> the F# key, needs to be checked by pressing the back bar, and
> its closer can change slightly depending on how many right hand
> stack keys you press to close it too).

Thanks, Nitai, Steven and Chris! From reading your responses I have a different perspective on all of this.

Now, one last, more specific question before I let this go:

You say the F# key (thanks, Nitai, for the key name) should be checked by pressing the back bar. I'm a little surprised by this, since it's closed by pressing on either RH 1 or 2 (F or F#). The back bar is a linkage I had never really noticed or thought about, but I can see how it would affect (even determine) the closure of the F# pad.

Should the F# pad be expected to contact with the same firmness as the F key when pressed by RH 1st finger with normal pressure? If yes, is this adjusted by somehow moving the back bar? I can't see without a closer look than I've just had (the bar is pretty well buried in the mechanism) if there's an adjusting screw on it. If there isn't, can the evenness of the F# and F keys be improved by adding small thicknesses of cork between the F arm and the back bar? If there's no light getting under the F# key with a leak light, does it matter if the two pads aren't seating with equal firmness?

I suspect I'm nit-picking, but the student and her mom are kind of caught in the middle of this, having paid a substantial amount of money for the work. The tech, whose clarinet work I've never had reason to question, seems to be taking my suggestions as a personal rejection, but he hasn't contacted me and I've been unsuccessful in contacting him (he seems only to have a cell phone - no email). If this were my sax, I'd be sitting with him in the shop discussing all of this back and forth face to face. But I have no contact with him, it's not my sax, and the mom is trying her best to act as relay between the two of us. I want to be sure she's not stuck trying to relay suggestions that I've made out of ignorance.

Thanks again!

Karl

Reply To Message | Avail. Forums | Flat View

Newer Topic | Older Topic

Topics