 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: David Spiegelthal
Date: 2002-03-13 18:19
Though somewhat off-topic (except maybe to bass clarinetists), the following gem from an eBay auction ad for a baritone sax "explains" why dents in the bottom of the bell are actually a good thing:
"..........Also some damage to the bottom bow (again, see picture), which possibly makes playing the low notes easier. As a Saxist myself, I have found that the reason many students have trouble with the low notes is that the the bottom bow is curved, and it can set up "swirls" of air that causes the "bubbling" of sound. (One trick is to put a small foreign object down the bell to prevent these swirls, and these small dents may actually be a blessing in disguise.)"
So all you sax players and bass clarinetists out there, make sure you smack that horn down on the concrete floor to dent your bell and improve your low notes. Please report back with the amount of improvement you obtain.
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Author: jbuter
Date: 2002-03-13 19:26
I agree that the dent suggestion is really "pooh-pooh", but if a leak exists at the low Eb or C key (near the bow area) these notes tend to "warble" or pulsate. The old jazzers trick is to put the mouthpiece cap down the bell of the instrument which constricts the passage way at the bow. This tends to speed up the air just enough to make the notes sound clear. I don't think I will take a hammer to my saxophones....I'll pass on that one.
jbutler
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Author: David Spiegelthal
Date: 2002-03-13 21:26
Great thing about eBay --- you get it all --- the problem is identified, the cause described, and the solution is made available --- done! And all from the comfort of your computer chair.....
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Author: David Pegel
Date: 2002-03-13 23:46
My obvious question:
If dents are good, why aren't they BUILT that way? Huh?
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Author: David Pegel
Date: 2002-03-13 23:47
Also, now I know what to go into marketing for... "Step right up and buy your dented saxophone for easier low notes!!"
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Author: diz
Date: 2002-03-13 23:56
I think Brenda's suggestion is the most sound - so long as the gerbil has a good sense of pitch and rhythm!
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Author: leo
Date: 2002-03-14 01:16
where do i put the gerbil in my wood clarinet? do they come in a small size?
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Author: Ed
Date: 2002-03-14 01:26
The other good reason for the dents is that the instrument will balance better on its own, maybe even stand up, due to the larger surface area in contact with the floor.
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Author: joevacc
Date: 2002-03-14 04:30
leo wrote:
"where do i put the gerbil in my wood clarinet?"
That placement is better left to the artist! ;~)
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Author: JMcAulay
Date: 2002-03-14 04:58
Regarding that "small foreign object": if it's a French instrument, would a standard American mouse work?
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Author: willie
Date: 2002-03-14 05:28
With electronic stimulation on the gerbil, think of the multiphonics possible in the altissimo.
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Author: herb k
Date: 2002-03-14 13:31
Several years ago, a friend acquired a Mark VI tenor, and found a screw-driver left in the bell, just for that purpose. I, too, have used that technique on bari...often a mpc cap, sometimes a champagne cork. It does work to diminish a warble -- occasionally.
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Author: David Spiegelthal
Date: 2002-03-14 13:41
Aw, come on Herb, you know there are better ways to fix leaks in your horn than to stick junk in the bell!
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Author: Don Poulsen
Date: 2002-03-14 13:51
The saxophone improvement tool that GBK found should be recommended for all saxophones. However, its use should not be limited to just the bell, but should be liberally used over the entire instrument.
It is not, however, recommended for clarinets.
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2002-03-14 16:05
The gerbil would work on alto and bass clarinets. Sopranos don't have a bell for them to "nest" in.
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Author: David Pegel
Date: 2002-03-14 22:34
Would the saxophone improvement tool work on brass instruments too? Maybe even brass players? Okay, just kidding...
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Author: Sandra F. H.
Date: 2002-03-15 14:29
I always give my new instruments a good, calculated bang on the floor, but only on wood so that no scratches are left. I think that manufactures of instruments don't dent the bells, because every clarinetist prefers to customize that part of it. However, you really have to have some good background in clarinet repairs to do this properly, so make sure that you consult your teacher or repairman first! LOL!
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