 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: ElizabethMH
Date: 2025-04-10 23:15
I have been playing my R13 a little at a time, since it hadn't been played in about a year. I've stuck mainly long tones in the chalumeau range, venturing more and gradually into clarion notes, trying some altissimo too. When I hit clarion A I get intense squeaking, more like squealing. The clarinet even goes into a squealing life of its own. You know, when the squeal just takes over the clarinet no matter what notes you play.
This is very worrying to me - this is a new clarinet. I've tried different reeds (Mitchell Lurie 2.5 and Vandoren 3), changed the ligature from a BG to the Buffet one that came with the clarinet. I get slightly better results from the Buffet ligature. Same mouthpiece each time (student B12, which I've been playing on for some time - when I go to the store that sold it to me they do say it is a good mouthpiece). I have taken great care with the instrument.
It could very well be my embouchure since I've only gone back to playing for over a month now. But it's worrying because I can't remember it having this problem when I first played it upon purchasing it. I had no struggles with it, but I was at the time mainly playing the 68 fingering exercises from Klose at the time, not venturing too much into clarion and altissimo ranges. The keys seem to shut properly; I can only surmise that if it's not my embouchure that something is off with the middle covered key of the top joint. To my untrained eye is seems a little off.
I will try to take it to the shop where I bought it next Tuesday when I bring in my other clarinet - a very old restored John Gray, which takes me very sweetly into the altissimo.
Any thoughts on this?
Elizabeth
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Author: m1964
Date: 2025-04-11 01:22
A minute leak from one of the side thrill keys can make it unplayable.
Hopefully the store will be able to figure it out.
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Author: Hy-Dex
Date: 2025-04-11 01:47
Some other potential problem areas could be the throat "A" key screw (too tight or too loose), which could cause a leak, or the bridge-key mechanism, which can also impact the seal of the first pad on the lower joint.
Concerning the throat "A" key, consider carefully experimenting with slightly tightening or loosening the screw with a tiny screwdriver. Concerning testing your bridge-key mechanism, consider carefully experimenting with pivoting the upper joint very slightly forward and/or backward to see if that impacts the seal of first pad on the lower joint.
Yes, a good repair technician can surely locate and fix the issue(s). If your new clarinet did not do this before it was stored, I imagine that this problem is a fixable issue. Good luck and let us know what happens!
Hy-Dex
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Author: Tony F
Date: 2025-04-11 14:01
Possibly you could have somebody else play your clari and see if they have the problem. If not, then the problem is with you, but if the problem persists then the problem is with the instrument.
It could be the mouthpiece: even a tiny nick or chip in the tip could cause your problem. Have you tried a different mouthpiece?
Most likely is a small leak. Try this, take a small piece of food wrap (Saran Wrap, Gladwrap, whatever) and starting from the top of the instrument slide it under the pads so that the pad closes on the plastic. This will temporarily seal any leaks. Test the instrument each pad you try, if the problem goes away then the last pad you tested is the leaky one.
Also the adjusting screw on the Ab key could also be a cause. Try slackening the screw. There should be a slight gap between the tip of that screw and the A key.
Tony F.
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Author: ElizabethMH
Date: 2025-04-11 20:25
Thanks very much all. I took out my student Yamaha and played up to D, E, altissimo and I didn't have major problems with those notes. Of course, the Yamaha is a much more free-blowing instrument. I then took up the R13, and while initially I could play them, just slurring up from high G, the problem started again.
I don't think it's the mouthpiece, in fact, the B12 mpc sits very loose in the Yamaha - I had forgotten that. And yet I was able to play well enough.
Maybe I just don't 'understand' how to play the R13. I mean in the direction of air through the mouthpiece into the instrument.
At any rate, the shop said they will look at it when I'm there for my other clarinet repair. Can't wait for Tuesday.
Elizabeth
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Author: symphony1010
Date: 2025-04-12 12:34
It will be a leak somewhere so, hopefully, your tech will check everything and restore your confidence in the instrument.
A decent R13 should play far better than a student Yamaha, despite these being excellent beginner instruments.
I'm afraid I disagree about the B12 mouthpiece. One thing Buffet have never succeeded with is making a decent mouthpiece. They would never have expected serious playing to be done on it. Most people used to just bin them!
The cheap, plastic student Yamaha ones are better but an R13 deserves something like a Vandoren 5BD or similar. The BD mouthpieces are very reed friendly and although there will be naysayers these mouthpieces have been a distinct improvement on what came before in this regard.
Finally, try to find someone who can really play to assess your instruments. By 'really play' I mean an established professional.
In my dealings with lone, adult amateur players I have frequently appeared to work miracles simply by having them head to a good tech, buy a decent mouthpiece and basically ensure that, after all that, it will be down to them and there will be no further questions about the instrument or reed/mouthpiece setup.
There is a lot of good advice here but, as in everything, there are also many threads where contributors drift off into highly sceptical ideas and solutions that no serious player would engage with.
Post Edited (2025-04-12 19:43)
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Author: kdk
Date: 2025-04-12 19:28
ElizabethMH wrote:
> Maybe I just don't 'understand' how to play the R13. I mean in
> the direction of air through the mouthpiece into the
> instrument.
Clarinets don't work that way. There's no good explanation for that drastic and specific a difference between your Yamaha and the R-13 other than a leak. Hopefully, your repair tech is willing to take the time to find it.
Karl
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