 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Maruja
Date: 2022-02-04 16:54
I have been playing a Selmer/Bundy bass clarinet (second hand) for just under a year now and have a question. Is the crook supposed to move? I can fit the crook into the top joint and it sits there fine. I then put the mp in and tighten things up but when I move my head, the crook moves with me! This isn't a great problem but I would like to know if this is what is supposed to happen. The metal part of the crook which goes into the main body of the instrument is pretty worn but it doesn't feel loose when I insert it...
Any ideas?
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Author: jdbassplayer
Date: 2022-02-04 17:08
The joint needs to be tightened every so often. Best to take it to a tech and have it tightened. You'd be surprised how much difference a well fit neck will make, they are a very common source of leaks.
In fact I would urge anyone reading this that has a bass clarinet with a 2 part neck to do a suction test on the neck (without any cork grease on the tuning slide). I tend to find that a large number of these necks, especially on Chinese made instruments or on older instruments, have unaddressed leaks. But I digress.
-JDbassplayer.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2022-02-05 00:52
If the crook tenon feels tight when fitting it into the socket, that means the socket has been deformed by whoever last owned it when they overtorqued the socket screw in a failed bid to lock the crook in place. The risk with overtorquing the socket screw is either a broken socket screw or fittings, or at worst metal fatigue on the socket and it'll crack down where the slot is.
The socket will have to be opened up at the top to make it parallel all the way down and the socket will need to be fitted to the socket so it slides in like a tuning slide with no wobble.
The socket screw is only there to lock the crook in position whilst playing and isn't there to create the seal - the seal is created by a properly fitted and perfectly fitting tenon in its socket.
You'll need to take it to a reputable woodwind specialist and specifically someone who knows exactly how to fit sax tenons with the correct tenon fitting tools.
Once it's been correctly fitted, you should never use any grease on the joint and the crook should lock solidly in place with a quarter turn of the socket screw at the very most. You'll also most likely notice the response is much better after the crook tenon has been fitted properly as it no longer leaks.
Always keep the crook tenon and the socket clean and dry and never grease it - you only grease corked tenons and never metal-on-metal sliding joints which only need a wipe down with a duster or an old T-shirt after playing to remove any dirt or moisture which will prevent corrosion or mineral deposits building up which will make things a tight fit and ultimately cause wear.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Maruja
Date: 2022-02-05 23:02
Thank you both for your input. My husband has cleaned the socket and the screw seems to be working better. Next time I go to Mr. White (near Hitchin) (I expect you know him, Chris), I shall get him to work on it.
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