 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Clariphone
Date: 2025-03-31 23:49
I could not find a thread about this question, hence this post: why is there so little interest in 7-ring clarinets? Major brands such as Buffet Crampon, Selmer and Yamaha don’t seem to offer one, and a used Buffet Crampon R14 may cost the same as an R13, yet on paper the 7th ring makes perfect sense (to me, that is).
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2025-04-01 01:09
Attachment: yamaha24.jpg (191k)
Attachment: masspacher.jpg (151k)
People are scared by them as many don't understand the benefits of having the LH forked Eb/Bb mechanism.
It's the usual "Why would I need it if I've done alright without it so far?" which you also hear about the LH Ab/Eb lever from players without it who believe that too is unnecessary - if you haven't got it to begin with, then you won't even understand its use nor the benefits.
Some even say it's not a 'normal' fingering and shouldn't be used as apparently "you should just use the 'normal' fingerings as you'll forget to use that one when you need it" - so I've been told when forked Eb/Bb is a regular fingering I use as and when I want to use it.
I've even added it to a couple of my clarinets that didn't have it (a Yamaha YCL-24 and a Masspacher C clarinet, along with a LH Ab/Eb lever on both - see attachments) as I use it loads as unlike long Bb (xoo|xoo), it's in tune as both a lower register Eb as well as an upper Bb.
You'll now only see it as an option on handmade German Boehm systems when it was always an option on Buffet, Leblanc and Selmer clarinets until they all discontinued it as an option - Leblanc being the last of the French big three to offer it (along with articulated C#/G# and low Eb) until the early 2000s when Buffet and Selmer bowed out in the late '80s and early '90s. Amati still offered it until far more recently on some of their clarinets.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
Post Edited (2025-04-01 01:36)
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Author: kdk
Date: 2025-04-01 02:21
I had a clarinet with a 7th ring when I was in high school (1960s). I seem to remember that it had a "donut" pad around the perimeter of the ring - hard to get repair people to fit pads to. Is that what you're talking about, or do you mean just a simple ring? Or am I remembering it wrong?
Karl
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Author: crazyclari
Date: 2025-04-01 03:47
HI KDK it sounds like you are talking about a Buffet with a donut key. They were made in the early 20th century. I have a B clarinet in 435 with one.
Hi clariphone I am with you and Chris on this. I find the options very handy sometimes. Like most things it is probably about cost...
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Author: Selmer Buff
Date: 2025-04-01 05:01
My Selmer 9 had 7 rings and some extra keys. I'm but an amateur and I have no need for it. Simpler is better, lighter, fewer adjustments.
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Author: crazyclari
Date: 2025-04-01 08:43
As a generalisation I have found the full Boehms to be a bit better tuning in the top register.on my Eb I have plugged the small hole to improve the tuning
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2025-04-02 02:11
Attachment: r4430.jpg (330k)
Attachment: selmerseries9clarinets.jpg (702k)
As my first set of Selmer clarinets (N.6 spec N series BT Bb and P series CT A) had forked Eb/Bb, artic. C#/G# and LH Ab/Eb, I felt it's only right to use these features as someone went through all the trouble of making that keywork, so it's best to honour that by using them.
I never looked back - only forward and that was to go the full Boehm route (CT Bb and an Eb, Bb and A Series 9 full Boehm set in the attachments).
No regrets at all.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
Post Edited (2025-04-02 02:14)
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Author: super20dan
Date: 2025-04-02 19:36
wow chris -nice stuff! beats my selmer collection. i onlyy have kseries extended bohem and BT with 7 rings
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