 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Hunter_100
Date: 2023-07-21 19:43
I see a lot of wooden and hard rubber student low eb bass clarinets that appear to have a joint in the middle of the body, but they are stored in long cases, with the joint assembled. Is there a reason those instruments are always left assembled at the middle joint? If you had a different case, could you take apart the center joint and reassemble each time? Are there reasons to avoid doing this?
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Author: kilo
Date: 2023-07-21 20:37
The conventional wisdom with regard to leaving clarinets assembled is that the cork can become compressed over time, no longer providing a secure connection between the two joints. This is true with soprano clarinets as well but on the heavier bass an ugly surprise is more likely to end up with a visit to the repair shop.
EDIT: I don't see any advantage to storing an assembled two-piece bass in a long case designed for a single-bodied instrument, other than being able to use a long case if it were the only one available.
EDIT 2: I think there are some basses that are made in two parts but not meant to be taken apart other than for repair. I haven't seen these myself, but I've run across references to this practice. Some saxophones bells have mechanical, rather than soldered joints, so the horn can be taken apart and reassembled but is normally left intact.
Post Edited (2023-07-21 21:13)
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Author: alanporter
Date: 2023-07-21 21:42
I have a Vito bass that appears to have been made in two parts, but the middle joint is permanently fixed. The case it came in is for one piece.
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Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2023-07-22 00:03
Hey Hunter,
Two reasons for longer one-piece cases for student bass clarinets is that a player needs to just add the neck/MP and the bell. With a two-piece body, the bridge key and any additional keys the instrument might have like a second register key linkage or an articulation C#/G# can easily get bent on assembly or disassembly. In the case of a school instrument, keeping things simpler usually has dividends.
The other reason is that cases made for a two-piece body are hard to find and can be quite expensive.
HRL
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2023-07-22 08:12
A lot of those student bass clarinets don't have a regular corked tenon, but instead a very slight interference fit tenon that is held by a screw (like a saxophone neck with a slightly tighter fit). It's just not meant to constantly be removed, but it can make manufacturing easier compared with a one piece bass clarinet.
Also these are usually made of plastic and don't have the same issues that wood clarinets have from leaving a tenon assembled all the time.
For instruments with a regular corked tenon you get probably disassemble normally and use a different case.
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Author: Julian ibiza
Date: 2023-07-22 11:32
Although complete disassembly of a two piece bass after use may be the proper practice in view of avoiding cork compression, I think that a lot of people prefer to leave the instrument assembled in the stand... so they can just grab it and play.
Some on this forum have gone for the long case option to avoid the two piece assembly/ disassembly step. Proper joint assembly involves placing the palm around the throat keys to separate the bridge linkages,something which should avoid any chance of damage here, but it's a step that some people still feel uneasy about, or just see as an additional hassle.
I think that the question of leaving a bass assembled or disassembled is just a personal matter. Both practices have their advantages and disadvantages after all.
Julian Griffiths
Tel. 34 696 798 853
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Author: kilo
Date: 2023-07-22 21:46
Quote:
Also these are usually made of plastic and don't have the same issues that wood clarinets have from leaving a tenon assembled all the time.
Calrnibass, the Yamaha 221, my first bass, had O-rings instead of cork for the middle joint and the bell. I figured, great, I could leave it assembled on a stand and cover it with a sheet. It turns out, however, that even these O-rings compress over time and I had to start taking it apart and putting it in its case. This is a slightly different situation from the student models you mention which are meant to be stored assembled.
Quote:
I think that the question of leaving a bass assembled or disassembled is just a personal matter.
Julian, I'd love to leave mine assembled but I'd need to build a dust-free cabinet or obtain some kind of dust-proof cover.
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Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2023-07-22 23:31
Wait a minute! I thought this thread was about 2-piece cases.
Things have suddenly become about leaving a bass assembled or not!
Did I get lost on the roundabout?
HRL
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2023-07-23 08:22
>> the Yamaha 221 <<
First of all, key word was "usually" so it's not true for all plastic instruments. Second, one of the main issues with wood clarinets I referred to is the tenon swelling and being very resistant or even stuck, which doesn't happen with plastic clarinets.
If I remember the Yamaha comes with a smaller case and it's disassembled in the case. It's exactly one of the bass clarinets which, in spite being a plastic student model, is meant to be disassembled when put in the case.
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Author: Julian ibiza
Date: 2023-07-23 11:54
Hi Hank,
I'm a bit baffled by your last post, given that you had already offered a VERY GOOD reply to Hunter's question, seemingly dealing directly with matters relating to the leaving of a bass assembled or not .
...Perhaps it's just me getting lost on the roundabout here ! ( It wouldn't be the first time.)
Julian Griffiths
Tel. 34 696 798 853
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Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2023-07-23 15:42
Julian,
These roundabouts. They are still a new thing in parts of the US.
But then we have had the Michigan Left Turn so...
HRL
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Author: Julian ibiza
Date: 2023-07-23 16:26
Hank,
I'm just going to assume that the "Michigan Left Turn" is something you take in Indiana, having first passed through Illinois.
Julian Griffiths
Tel. 34 696 798 853
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Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2023-07-28 00:30
Alihanima,
I thought that was exactly what I said a few posts earlier.
HRL
Post Edited (2023-07-28 00:31)
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