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: A clarinet issues

Author: Bob Bernardo
Date: 2019-10-14 01:58

I find all of the above answers correct. Even having a Buffet tech looking at your horn. Maybe have someone else look at it. Sometimes actual Buffet techs may miss something and the horns lately coming from certified Buffet stores that have been checked out by the repair departments fail in my opinion. The pads and horns are not set up to play right out the door after you've bought them. The horns often leak and players have to pay $500 or much more to have new horns fixed! Doesn't make sense to me. This is like buying a $100,000 car without tires.

This may be your problem. It might be worth it to send your horn to Steve, who posted just above. A good guy. They've been doing Buffet repairs for years. Added the A clarinets can be a bit stuffy, maybe this is part of your problem and some repair shops are using a SHORTER OCTAVE TUBE replacement which helps this area you are having issues with. Buffet techs don't do this as far as I know. Unless they've been schooled in this new repair. If you look down the bore of a Bb Buffet clarinet and an A Buffet clarinet bore you will notice the longer Octave Tube on the A clarinet. Well lets face it when air hits this you have resistance. So lets make it a bit smaller. Also swaps often get stuck in these. It's a pain to get them out.

There is a minor articulation issue when replacing this tube. In the upper register sometimes on some A clarinets if the tube is too short you can hear your tongue hit the reed before the sound is heard. This is only in the upper register and probably why Buffet makes this tube longer. I personally would rather not have a resistant horn and have this shorter tube. You can also set up the opening of the octave key with the shorter tube correctly and that sound of the tongue hitting the reed won't be heard; or very little. Using light articulation practice can surely benefit, meaning your tongue hardly touches the reed. Constant daily practice on this works wonders.

Designer of - Vintage 1940 Cicero Mouthpieces and the La Vecchia mouthpieces

Yamaha Artist 2015

Reply To Message | Avail. Forums | Flat View

Newer Topic | Older Topic

Topics