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Pointed Keys

Author: Laurie
Date: 2001-07-13 04:48

Okay.. I know this must sound riduculous but.. Is there a clarinet maker that makes Pointed ( French ) keys on their clarinets? - Like the ones that are on flutes..

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RE: Pointed Keys

Author: jbutler
Date: 2001-07-13 11:19

I've never seen one. Now you have to take into account that the key cup on a clarinet is designed differently. Flute pad cups are made to hold the pad in place with a washer and screw (tech people call them "spuds"). French keyed flute pads are held in place with "grommets". No glue is used to hold the pad with the exception of the two trill keys and the B key. Shims and partial shims are used to create a flat surface on the face of the pad as well as to create the correct pad thickness. Clarinet pads are held in with glue and in order to get a flat contact surface to the tone hole the pad is shifted on this bed of glue. Upper line LeBlanc clarinets use a spud for the larger pads in the lower joint.....but the key cup style is still "traditional".

John

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RE: Pointed Keys

Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2001-07-13 16:05

I may be wrong but I thought "pointed" referrred to the key cup arm tapering off to the centre of the back of the key cup, which is how most, if not all clarinet keys are made. The alternative is key arms that widen and finish abruptly at the key cup perimeter, as is standard for clarinet ring keys.
"Open holes"... Ah, that is another story and what jbutler wrote about.
Both the pointing and the open holes may be associated with French flute design.

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