 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: John
Date: 2002-01-19 18:07
i got my Buffet E11 back from the shop a month or so ago and ever since i've gotten it back i've noticed something funky with it. the Bb and B and even C (in the staff) are very fuzzy sounding (the C sounds better than the B and Bb though)...i am using Vandoren size 4 reeds but I don't think it's the reed because all the other notes sound crisp and clear and i have tried several different 4 reeds and 3.5 reeds. so, what could the problem be? i'll probably take it back in soon but i'd still like to have an idea on what the problem is...
if it's of any use to tell, the register key pad is quite old and brittle looking...could that be the culprit?
another problem i've noticed with my clarinet is that my lower register below the staff is quite flat and the register above the staff is very very sharp...is this a common occurance for all clarinets or is it just me? when i tune to a concert Bb and make it so the C is right in tune, the highs will be very sharp (between 15 and 20 cents sharp) and the lows (low E and F and such below the staff will be about 10 cents flat...not too enjoyable to hear when playing with a piano accompaniament...
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Author: Rissa
Date: 2002-01-19 18:21
In response to the clarion and altissimo notes being out of tune, I think it may be an E-11 "thing." When I played an E-11, anything above a G(the one right above the staff) was soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo sharp! Some other clarinettists I know that play E-11's seem to have that problem too.
Good luck,
Rissa
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Author: William
Date: 2002-01-19 18:33
The "fuzzy" notes may be a result of your repairperson setting the register key opening too close. As far as the tuning, be certain to use a firm embouchre with steady breath support, and then tune to second line G pulling the barrel joint if sharp. After that is in tune, check the G one octave higher-- If sharp (usual), pull the middle joint about the width of a nickel (but not so much as to make top line F flat) Then, check middle space C and middle line B--if still sharp, pull the bell joint a bit. Then, I would recheck second line G and make any necessary fine adjusments with the barrel joint. Tuning just to third space C only is not a good way to tune a clarinet. For the "high" notes being sharp, again, this is kind of normal although some clarinets re not as sharp as others. You just need to work with a tuner and lip them down to pitch. A Chadash barrel may help your intonation problems "up there" and also improve your sound.
Also, a Greg Smith mpc will help stablelize your pitch. Good Clarineting!!!!!!!
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Author: John
Date: 2002-01-19 18:40
i am using a firm embouchre and steady breath support as well...that is something i learned my first few years of playing and it has stuck with me since.
thankyou very much for the tuning details...i completely forgot about pulling out the bell...
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Author: GBK
Date: 2002-01-19 18:47
The Buffet brochure notes that the E-11 clarinet is pitched at 442.
The barrel that comes with the E-11 is 64.5mm...GBK
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Author: Wes
Date: 2002-01-19 20:53
The tuning of instruments to 442 is a marketing effort aimed at making them acceptable in both Europe(high) and America(tune to 440). The flute companies are also marketing instruments at 442 for the same reasons. Loree oboes at 440 are generally only used in America while the higher pitch European oboes are not desired here.
Perhaps you could try 66 and 67mm barrels with your instrument. Just because it was checked by a repairman doesn't mean that it has no leaks. Perhaps you can check the pads for leaks with a strip of cigarette paper cut to a narrow width and also get the repairman to recheck it.
The low register should not be too low as the E11 has undercut toneholes. I tried an E11 the other day that was quite good.
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Author: John
Date: 2002-01-19 21:41
I may have been slightly mistaken about the severity of the flatness of the lower register notes. i just practiced for about and hour or so and the low register was hardly flat at all. it seems my problem is mainly keeping it from being sharp. i'm going to look into more barrels once i have the money...any reccomendations for a good barrel?
another thing, i noticed that the pad for the low E and the staff B has a cut in it, perhaps that is the problem...i guess i'll have to get THAT repaired now too heh
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Author: FT
Date: 2002-01-19 22:06
Don't worry John, I've had the same problem with my E11. I had to buy a ClickBarrel, It got as big as 69mm(whatever that means) and I still had to pull the mouthpiece almost half way out!!!! The high notes, were very, very sharp too. So don't worry, it's not you, it's the clarinet that's sharp.
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Author: ron b
Date: 2002-01-20 02:45
If something is wrong, John, beside what you take your instrument in for, you should be informed and given a price up front to bring it up to playing condition. This is ordinarily done when you check it in for repair.
Too late now but always, if at all possible, play the instrument before you leave the shop. Most techs prefer to adjust the instrument at that time to *your* touch anyway, not theirs.
That being your situation and if I were in your place, I'd take it right back before any more time goes by. POLITELY ask whoever worked on it to play test it to see if it needs some 'tweaking'. If they're nice, they won't charge you for a re-adjustment this soon after they worked on it.
...Been there already,
- ron b -
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Author: William
Date: 2002-01-20 15:56
I have an E-11 C Buffet and use a Chadash barrel, which greatly improves the sound over the "stock" provided by Buffet. I also use a Chadash on my LeBlanc Concerto A. with similar results. I highly recommend them. Good Clarineting.
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