 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: rgoldem
Date: 2026-09-27 18:21
What is the standard range for the register key opening on a Bb clarinet?
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2026-09-27 20:14
I set the speaker key venting somewhere between 2mm minimum to 2.5mm maximum depending on the diameter of the speaker tube.
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: m1964
Date: 2026-09-29 21:34
The shape of the cork pad can make difference (if using a cork pad).
I see Selmer has the pad edge beveled, do not see that on Buffets.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2026-09-29 23:23
Same with Yamaha in they use cork speaker key pads that aren't bevelled.
I always use cork speaker key pads and bevel them as standard on all soprano clarinets and sometimes fit a Hasty pad spike made from a stainless steel oboe point screw with the head lopped off, screwed into a hole cut into the centre of it. I usually fit them on A clarinets and large bore clarinets.
The jury's out whether or not it makes a difference as most players whose clarinets I've fitted them to haven't noticed any difference in how they play, but usually contact me out of alarm as they think something's got stuck in the pad when they've just noticed it.
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: Bog_Roll
Date: 2026-10-08 13:39
I find on the big clarinets, that the register key ain't close enough to the thumb plateau.
And the bigger the clarinet, the bigger the gap!
I once got the tip of my thumb stuck in between the register key and thumb plateau, on a Bundy contra-alto.
Happily, the actual thumb key is mounted on a rod running vertically up the horn, so the ridiculous gap can be closed, by a spot of judicious bending.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2026-10-09 01:04
That's just down to poor design if the gap increases with the size of the clarinet.
With ALL clarinet speaker keys and without any exception, the speaker key touch should NEVER dip below the level of the LH thumb ring or thumbplate when held down for both the sake of comfort and to ensure on soprano clarinets, you're still able to fully cover the thumb tube whilst using the speaker key. It should be set so it's anywhere from level to sitting higher than the LH thumb ring or thumbplate when held down.
I've seen clarinets where previous repairers have cut a recess for the speaker key tip to sink into so it's sitting below the level of the LH thumb ring, only that causes far more problems than it's meant to solve.
The gap between the LH thumb ring or thumbplate and the speaker key touchpiece should be between 0.5mm to a maximum of 1mm. Any wider than 1mm and the risk in getting your thumb pinched in the gap increases. The only remedy on clarinets with a thumb ring or padded LH thumbplate is doing a cut'n'shut or building up the tip of the speaker key touchpiece depending which course of action is easier.
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: JTJC
Date: 2026-10-09 15:39
I once handed my 1010s over to a very well known and respected repairer in London. He was particularly known as a Buffet specialist. He'd repaired them before, so I had no concerns. It wasn't until I got home I realised he'd drilled wood out beneath the thumb end each speaker key. They were quite crude holes as well. I can't say it made any difference to how they played. I was quite hacked off he'd not said he was going to do that, especially something that can't really be made good, or reversed. When I hand my instruments over for repair now, I always say not to remove and wood or metal without first asking me.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2026-10-09 16:16
Sounds like the exact same repairer - I've had several clarinets he's done this sort of work to and I've filled the recesses in again.
A while back I had an argument with him where he insisted an EEEb contrabass sax is called a contra-alto - only that would be a bari sax (in EEb).
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 (2026-10-09 16:48)
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