 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Bill
Date: 2001-06-17 11:18
I am studying Schmidt's "A Clarinetist's Notebook - Vol 1: Care & Repair". I was surprised to read, "for a lighter key action the wings of the Buffet upper bridge can be clipped".
It doesn't seem, to me, like this can make a noticable difference. Does anyone have any first hand "before and after" experience? If you've had your Buffet "Brannenized", does it still have wings?
I'm interested in comments on improvement in the horn's performance, and not on the obvious risks of this modification being made by an unqualified individual or warranty impacts. The wings prevent damage during assembly/disassembly of the horn. The book devotes a full page to this modification, and it should only be performed by a qualified repair tech. Removal would obviously void the warranty.
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Author: jbutler
Date: 2001-06-17 12:29
The clipped "wings" could only subtract a few grams of weight. I don't think it would be worth the trouble, especially if you are concerned about warranty. Lighter action can be had by backing off tension of the springs.
John
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Author: mw
Date: 2001-06-17 13:38
The Brannens don't touch the wings. Best, mw
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Author: ron b
Date: 2001-06-17 23:42
Bill -
What's the *reasoning* behind that, that it gets a full page of discussion/explanation or whatever? JButler is correct - they put wings there for a purpose, why un-do it?
Unless someone is anti-warranty.... I mean, why? No kidding, I'd really like to read the explanation :|
- ron b -
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Author: Anji
Date: 2001-06-17 23:56
Somebody must play REALLY fast, for the drag coefficient of these winglets to make a difference.
Sax players are constantly ADDing pieces to the mechanism to play faster... why on earth would you start shaving pieces off?
anji
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Author: Bill
Date: 2001-06-18 00:06
There is no explanation or discussion other than what I stated above. The page has three large photos, and describes how to clip, finish the edges, and recork the upper bridge key.
The previous page, which is not Buffet specific, states that "bridge keys have a positive feel when their contact point is at the outside of their fulcrum --- . The lower bridge key should be filed as shown in the diagram --- ." This seemed logical, looking at the drawing and the fulcrum pivot action. I also wonder if this is done by some repair techs, but I was more curious about the wing clipping.
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2001-06-18 14:02
It seems utter nonsense to me.
But I often modify the lower bridge key so that the linking surface is an arc concentric with the body WHEN THE KEYS ARE CLOSED, and the upper bridge key so that its contact surface is a tangent to this arc. If this is established then the joints can still be assembled without the bridge keys hitting, and the linkage will be reliable irrespective of the exact rotation of one body section with respect to the other.
On oboes, which are trickier to assemble, I often shape the edges of bridge keys so they are less inclined to swipe off the linkage cork.
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Author: Brent
Date: 2001-06-18 17:39
My Moennig-modified R13 has the wings on the bridge key clipped off. i don't know that the difference is measurable, but apparently Hans Moennig thought it was worth doing (perhaps as a selling point more than anything else?).
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Author: Ken Shaw
Date: 2001-06-18 20:21
Brent -
Pre-R-13 Buffets had no wings on the bridge key, and well over half of Moennig's career was in the pre-R-13 era. Are you sure your instrument is an R-13 (serial number above 50,000, key guide for the trill keys in the shape of a cylinder with a slot, rather than flat metal and triangular)?
I've seen "Moennigized" R-13s (he repadded one of mine), with the wings still on, so I assume that taking them off your instrument was the owner's preference. The weight taken off is probably better measured in grains than in grams.
Best regards.
Ken Shaw
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Author: Bill
Date: 2001-06-19 10:55
My parrot's name is Crash. He got the name from the pet shop, due to his behavior. Clipping one wing does the job - discourages the bird from flying
So, maybe we should end this topic with a compromise, i.e., clip one of the Buffet bridge wings
However, I keep thinking of the racer's edge. I visualize a unique R-13 clarinet competion involving speed and accuracy, etc., and a multi-million dollar first prize. Would you then clip your R-13's wings to get an edge, and how else would you modify your stock R-13? Last night I was reading (Schmidt's book) about adjusting spring tension, and was surpised by the tip on filing the spring hook higher or lower to get the desired tension.
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Author: mw
Date: 2001-06-19 14:16
Ken & others --- I had a post in the last month ore so about a Selmer 10 that had it part of the key removed on the uppermost trill keys. These weren't clipped per se; they were cut off then very neatly filed down to a point that they were just _slightly_ wider than the long section of the key (which leads to the pad cup). I ended up purchasing replacement keys from Selmer, which has worked out well 90 simoleans later!
( ... someone had mentioned in another thread that some Teachers didn't like these 2 uppermost trill keys to be used by students, or possibly that some jazz players liked the modified trill key feel )
(( Note: the "modified" trill keys would still work OK; you had to get used to NOT having the normal, round platform, right angle-perpendiculat portion "platform" of the key to depress ))
SO, this customizing of keywork (I am being polite) is something else.
Best,
mw
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Author: David Spiegelthal
Date: 2001-06-22 14:45
Clipping the bridge wings results in a darker tone quality, but only when expensive cork grease is used on the bell joint.
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