 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2025-12-04 00:13
In my online sax studio, the teacher was jokingly getting mad about how every time he has to double on clarinet, he gets annoyed that they're not plateau keys. He actually has to be careful and can't be sloppy like on a sax! (he was joking, cause he's freakin' amazing at sax, and the last album he collaborated on just got nominated for a grammy... fingers crossed...)
It got me thinking though. Saxes? Sure. That's how they were made. But flutes come in both plateau and open hole in professional models. And yeah, there are those few exceptions of clarinets that are plateau.
But do you think it's literally just tradition keeping it open hole? I don't think it's a cost issue. All I can think about is no maker wants to be the 'odd one out' and so no one is making the choice to offer it.
Are there other reasons it might not work? Or is a bad idea other than makers thinking it wouldn't sell well?
- Lex
Retired, playing more sax than clarinet, but still playing clarinet and still loving it!
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2025-12-04 01:07
There are those who wish to take advantage of the ability to do a "less distinct" move from note to note when that transition involves a tone hole (as in an emotive largo for example). Similarly others use their fingers (unnecessarily I might add) to aid a glissando.
For me, I feel that it is an unnecessary added mechanical complication where there are already enough pitfalls that cause leaks.
I personally wouldn't want a plateau keyed clarinet much like I wouldn't want or use the alternate Eb/Ab key, or a clarinet that has one continuous body (instead of a top and bottom section).
.............Paul Aviles
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2025-12-04 02:24
I've never felt it in any way odd when playing one - it doesn't feel all that alien to playing larger clarinets (or oboe and cor anglais) and offers the added sense of security that when you place a finger down, the pad will always seat against the tonehole without fail with light finger pressure.
As long as the main action has sufficient venting, they will speak as cleanly as a regular ring key clarinet. Some repairers don't seem to get that message and only give them around 2mm of venting and they're stuffy as anything. That might be fine for oboes and piccolos, but not for clarinets.
The main reason is most likely down to cost - a full plateaux clarinet will be commanding oboe money territory across the board (student, intermediate, pro and prestige level) due to the extra keywork.
Has to be said, the 'Rhapsody gliss' (and 'Begin the Beguine' glisses in each of the three keys it's usually in when Concert D is the best key) can be done on a full plateaux clarinet.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
Independent Woodwind Repairer
Single and Double Reed Specialist
Oboes, Clarinets and Saxes
NOT A MEMBER OF N.A.M.I.R.
The opinions I express are my own.
Post Edited (2025-12-04 02:49)
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Author: SecondTry
Date: 2025-12-04 06:08
I started on saxophone. And transitioned to clarinet, hearing Rhapsody in Blue for the first time not long after and assumed, coming from the aforementioned plateau instrument, that glissando work must be an embouchure thing....
So I made it one, on clarinet, not realizing until my teacher pointed it out to me soon after, that slow removal of fingers from the non-plateau clarinet was the true technique.
Anyway, as I've posted here before, that gliss on a plateau instrument:
https://youtu.be/HDE_iUOPF8c?si=ysFOPlytqL2dCxXh&t=359
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Author: m1964
Date: 2025-12-04 08:36
Not only plateau clarinets are more expensive but also mechanics are more complex, requiring more regulation screws/adjustments.
Similar to that automatic Bb mechanism that opens a dedicated throat Bb tone hole but opens a register key for anything above the throat Bb. I believe it is used on Reform Boehm clarinets.
I once test-played a Leblanc clarinet with that automatic Bb mechanism- it was somewhat slower than a simple register key but the throat Bb sounded great. Would it be quicker/more responsive on an brand new clarinet?
It is not used by any of the major manufacturers. Why?
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Author: Mojo
Date: 2025-12-04 19:00
I think makers would respond if there was more demand for them.
After playing only BC/CBC for a couple of years I had trouble playing sop clarinet. Reaching for RH pinky keys for C#etc pulls my RH3 finger off the hole. But I have not been annoyed enough to seek out a plateau clarinet. I just need to play it more.
I have a similar issue on my open hole flute. But plugging the RH3 hole is a common fix without having to buy a whole new instrument.
MojoMP.com
Mojo Mouthpiece Work LLC
MojoMouthpieceWork@yahoo.com
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2025-12-04 20:15
Jim Han: https://namir.org.uk/
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
Independent Woodwind Repairer
Single and Double Reed Specialist
Oboes, Clarinets and Saxes
NOT A MEMBER OF N.A.M.I.R.
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2025-12-05 11:23
>> But do you think it's literally just tradition keeping it open hole? I don't think it's a cost issue. All I can think about is no maker wants to be the 'odd one out' and so no one is making the choice to offer it. <<
That's definitely one of the reasons.
>> Are there other reasons it might not work? <<
It's not exactly that it wouldn't work, but there is actually a very large difference in manufacturing and cost. One of the nice things about clarinet is how simple the mechanism is. There is basically only one place with a critical adjusted mechanism (the E/B and F/C keys). The bridge adjustment isn't anywhere near that.
A plateau clarinet would be like a mini bass clarinet essentially, not quite flute or oboe level but not far behind. It's a huge difference.
>> flutes come in both plateau and open hole in professional models. <<
Yes, but open hole flutes still have pads on those open keys and all the same adjustments pretty much, so it doesn't make the mechanism simpler. If anything installing open hole flute pads can sometimes be a bit trickier than close pads.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2025-12-05 18:10
There were ring key Boehm system piccolos made in the past - most the ones I've seen were French (Buffet, Couesnon, etc.) and were a ring key with tonehole chimney affair just like you see on clarinets. That did simplify some of the adjustments just as it does on ring key clarinets as the pad cups controlled by the ring keys are soldered directly to the same key rod or barrel, but ring key flutes are still built with pad cups that have holes going through them, so still as critical (if not even more) as a closed hole flute to set up.
Simple action covered hole main actions (seen on some old simple system piccolos, larger simple system band flutes and larger recorders) are easy as none of the fingerplates are connected as they're just operating the plain toneholes. Simple/Albert system clarinets have also been made with covered action which only has the adjustments for RH 2 and 3 for the B/F# vent regulation.
Obviously the extra the mechanism will impact on the overall weight and also the balance of the instrument, so using a support like a Quodlibet FHRED/RDG BHOB/Ergobrass or similar will help in that department and they work far better than slings/neck straps which aren't suitable for straight bodied instruments like clarinets and oboes as they do nothing for posture and you still need to use your right hand to support the angle of the instrument.
In all cases, you should never feel you're having to physically close ring keys or fingerplates with any undue finger pressure - they should just close under your fingers in an unconscious manner (and return under their own spring tension). If you're having to force any fingerplates closed, then that's down to either heavy springing, poor regulation or poor/leaky padding.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
Independent Woodwind Repairer
Single and Double Reed Specialist
Oboes, Clarinets and Saxes
NOT A MEMBER OF N.A.M.I.R.
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2025-12-05 18:27
If anything, plateaux clarinets (Boehm system) are very much in demand - only there's just a couple of Chinese makers currently producing new ones, both entry level ebonite ones or pro level wooden ones.
Older Vito, Normandy, Noblet, Leblanc, Malerne, Selmer and other intermediate and pro level plateaux clarinets tend to get snapped up very quickly when they go up for sale as they are that much in demand.
Not that long ago I bought an old Selmer Sterling plateaux clarinet (actually made by Selmer themselves and not a Malerne stencil as later Sterlings were) and that was snapped up the very same day it arrived with me, even before I fully rebuilt it as the new owner knew instantly that was the answer to her struggles with a regular ring key Selmer CT. Once I rebuilt it, I took the CT in part exchange and gave the owner the same sum back for it that she originally paid for it - others would've been far more unscrupulous and given her next to nothing for the CT in part exchange had she taken it to them. It made no odds to me and the CT also got snapped up quickly (and I fully serviced it before it went to its new owner).
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
Independent Woodwind Repairer
Single and Double Reed Specialist
Oboes, Clarinets and Saxes
NOT A MEMBER OF N.A.M.I.R.
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: ACCA
Date: 2025-12-05 18:29
I think it's fair to say that many players would feel limited by plateau clarinets in terms of expressiveness, dynamic range, and variation of timbre, among other things.
Closed hole flutes exist, including at the professional level, but my impression is that they are very seldom used by the top professionals for the above reasons.
It's not that these limitations are that severe, or can't be largely overcome with the right setup and with enough time taken to learn the idiosyncrasies of the particular instrument. But it seems like a hard sell to those who are in the market for a top end clarinet. Additionally, making plateau clarinets adds significant cost and complexity, and the target market (children with small hands, occasional doublers, and maybe older players with reduced finger flexibility etc) means this is unlikely to be economically viable for most manufacturers.
all that said- these exist: https://rheubenallen.com/product/rheuben-allen-hunter-custom-plateau-clarinet/
never tried one myself though.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2025-12-05 19:21
The only limitation of plateaux clarinets are ones where the main action venting has been set far too low or the thumbplate underlever is the same piece as a ring key clarinet, so venting is compromised and they end up stuffy as anything. Or they've been repadded with pads that are too thick or don't seal which is all too common as many repairers don't always take things into account when repadding them.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
Independent Woodwind Repairer
Single and Double Reed Specialist
Oboes, Clarinets and Saxes
NOT A MEMBER OF N.A.M.I.R.
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2025-12-05 19:45
Another reason is just pure snobbery by some players or teachers as to them, plateaux clarinets aren't 'normal' clarinets, whatever 'normal' means.
Just as some look down their noses at a LH Ab/Eb lever and deem it unnecessary, or the extra gadgets found on clarinets with either a LH forked Ab/Eb mechanism, articulated C#/G# and everything else up to what you'll collectively find on full Boehms as apparently, that's 'not normal' even though they're just additional fingerings to the ones you'd have on an apparently 'normal' 17/6 clarinet.
Some seem to think anything designed to make things easier is absolute heresy as players need to struggle for their art. No they don't - they just need the right tool for the job. No-one moans about the covered action on larger clarinets, nor flutes and piccolos, so why should the clarinet have this sacred cow treatment where ring keys are the one and only way?
And then they absolutely lose their minds (and other things) when they see an Oehler system! Sometimes the blinkers need to be removed to see there's tons of other ways to do things if it makes things easier for those that want it. If you want to struggle, then do that and shut up about it and let everyone else get on with doing things their own way if that works out better for them.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
Independent Woodwind Repairer
Single and Double Reed Specialist
Oboes, Clarinets and Saxes
NOT A MEMBER OF N.A.M.I.R.
The opinions I express are my own.
Post Edited (2025-12-05 19:53)
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2025-12-05 22:46
>> I think it's fair to say that many players would feel limited by plateau clarinets in terms of expressiveness, dynamic range, and variation of timbre, among other things. <<
Maybe it's fair to say in that many players might feel that way... but it's not a real issue.
Do all clarinets play unevenly so that notes coming out of the open holes sound better, more expressive, dynamic, etc. than notes coming from padded tone holes?
Clarinets (including the top models) are not 100% completely even in tone between all notes, and on some of them some of the "worst" notes are open hone ones (not that they are bad, just a tiny fraction worse).
Unless you mean partially closing holes and other "extended techniques", which is actually a good reason not to have a plateau clarinet as it would prevent you from being able to use some fingerings.
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Author: m1964
Date: 2025-12-06 01:10
Uebel makes a plateau version of the Superior - I tried it once and it sounded just fine, practically not different from the open hole model.
Also, comes in both Bb and A.
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The Clarinet Pages
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