 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: john gibson
Date: 2001-06-14 00:07
My fellow clarinetists:
Check out this one......I especially like the part about "their age is unknown".!!!
Why....these damn things is a mystery! BUT....and it's a big but!!! They are antiques......
http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1438649904
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Author: SALT
Date: 2001-06-14 01:00
Is it just me or does it look like there is a hole in the lower joint of the upper body piece?
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Author: jim lande
Date: 2001-06-14 01:50
It's just you. This is a top quality instrument with a 7th ring and articulated G#/C#. On most Bb clarinets, the C#/G# is located on the upper joint and pivots like a see-saw. You press with the pinkie of your left hand, and the pad lifts straight into the air on the opposite side. Almost always the placement of the key is slightly higher than optimal. The optimal placement (according to people who claim to know) is right through the joint. So, various makers (then and now) use a mech. that has the the pad very close to the key, with a compound (articulated) mech. to lift the pad. Like every other compromise of clarinet design, getting the hole there has some costs. The articulated mech. is hard to adjust and having the tone hole through the joint means everything has to line up just so and the cork has to be good, with no ragged edges around the hole, etc.
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Author: SALT
Date: 2001-06-14 02:29
OK, I that makes sense then. I looked closer and I see what you're talking about, the key that's not on the upper body and the extra key on the lower body. I've never seen a clarinet that was made like that before so I guess that threw me off. I learn something new everyday! (especially on here!!!)
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Author: Jonathan
Date: 2001-06-14 06:48
Full Boehm system clarinets also have the articulated G# - I personally think that its a great idea and its a pity that its not on all clarinets (obviously if it didn't present any tuning problems). The Eb that our con has - a leblanc - also has one although it isn't a full boehm system. I think I also saw it on a patricola Eb as well.
On Bb and A clarinets the hole through the two joints does mean that you can't pull out for tuning in the middle joint more than about a milimetre I've found. Other than that i think its a good idea. Also on full boehms pulling the bottom joint doesn't make much diff either as it really only affects the Eb/Bb - not that you would ever use the long fingering for Bb. Changing from the articulated G# back to regular fingerings, I thought I might have a bit of trouble - having got into lazy habits - but I didn't have any problems at all when recently changing from full boehm to Buffet Festival clarinets. Which I just bought the matching A today - Yay - Wee Hee - At last. ;-)
Sorry for waffling on. :-)
Jonathan Farquhar - Extremely happy with new baby. hahahahahahaha
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Author: Dee
Date: 2001-06-14 11:14
The articulated G# means you can't use the altissimo long F fingering so it is a trade off. Each person has to evaluate that for themselves as to whether that is worthwhile. However, that is one reason that the articulated G# is not standard.
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Author: Jonathan
Date: 2001-06-14 12:28
Yes thats true but on my old clarinets the overblown D for F worked fine and I like that fingering. Its just a matter of finding good fingerings for your instrument. It (full boem) allows you to do many more multiphonics - there's some really beautiful ones that you can get. And you can make some really cool ones too - not in the neighbours opinions though.
Jonathan
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Author: Dee
Date: 2001-06-14 12:38
All the potential fingerings for the altissimo F that I've ever come across work fine on my clarinets also. However there are certain occasions when I prefer the long F even though the others work too. Personally, I have no interest in multiphonics. That is why each individual must decide for themselves whether the articulated G# is appropriate for them. And that is indeed one reason why it is not standard on all clarinets.
I am *NOT* saying either choice is good or bad or universal. It is individual and I would not presume to tell anyone else which is better for them.
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Author: Brent
Date: 2001-06-14 12:58
Another disadvantage to the articulated G# is that the instrument is more prone to cracking, since the tone hole is so close to the end of the joint
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Author: ron b
Date: 2001-06-14 16:37
I have a Prueffer Oehler system with the top joint articulated C#/G# - also several other 'improved Albert' keys. Maybe it's just this particular horn but I find no significant difference in altissimo F (the high one, above staff?) than other clarinets I've played. Does that problem pertain only to full Boehm horns? My horns are all 'in the ballpark' up there with or without the articulated key 
This old Prueffer did crack severely, decades ago, in two places in the upper joint - at the top, register key end! The tenon hole is fine :]
- ron b -
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Author: Ken Shaw
Date: 2001-06-14 16:59
I've asked the seller to post the serial numbers. Then we can get an idea about the age of the instruments.
The A and Ab throat keys look like they have the older 3-post mounting, and although the photo is not completely clear, the Ab key doesn't look like it has the adjusting screw, so this dates at least the pictured instrument as no newer than the 1930s or so. We'll know better once the serial numbers appear.
More later.
Ken Shaw
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Author: connie
Date: 2001-06-14 22:39
OK, the posted serial #'s (28516 & 34891) would date these around 1946 & 1948, respectively, if I'm reading the chart correctly. What do you think of the statement, that "They each have a some cracks in the wood, but nothing too serious"????
Ken, how in the world can you make out what the Ab key looks like from that photo? You guys are much better at interpreting these pix than I am!
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