 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: EP
Date: 2002-04-13 06:08
Recently I heard some clarinet folks told me that they found thier register vent tube in thier new A clarinet is too long!! They complant that long vent tube produces undertone in high register notes(A/d, B/e, C/f). When I looked at mine one, damm, they're right!
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Author: Wes
Date: 2002-04-13 07:12
My 1998 Buffet A clarinet seems to have a very long register tube, far into the bore. It is also double tapered on its inside with the ends larger than the middle. I thought that perhaps someone in the music store repair shop switched the original for this. I haven't noticed an undertone effect but the high B and C seem ok in pitch, not too high. I'd like to buy a tapered tube to try on my Buffet Bb.
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Author: jbutler
Date: 2002-04-13 11:32
What brand of clarinet or are we talking about all A clarinets? I'm interested because I've not heard of this. I have changed out an R13 vent tube with a tube from a FestivalA and improved the tone on a R13A. BTW the Festival vent tube was a tad LONGER. Would like to get other's thoughts and comments.
jbutler
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2002-04-13 12:03
I've just seen a brand new Selmer Prologue clarinet which had a dead Bb.
I looked for a register vent obstruction and found that the vent went down 11 mm at 2.9 mm diameter, and then suddenly reduced to 2.5 mm for the final 2 mm (approximately), before the countersunk exit into the bore.
I wrote to Selmer about it and they're sending a replacement without offering information on correct dimensions.
An interesting aspect is that that this clarinet was one of a pair. The 'A' also had a diameter reduction, but not so pronounced.
Does anybody know the specific effects of counter-sinks, reductions, length, diameter, tapers, and double tapers, or where to get this information?
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Author: Peter Spriggs
Date: 2002-04-13 12:16
Back around serial number 160,000 or so, Buffet started making the A clarinet vent tubes longer .580". This causes a grunt or subtone on most A clarinets in the upper register & is particularily noticeable on first leger line A. The remedy is to remove it, shorten it to .500" (exactly 1/2 inch) and open up the inside of the tube on the bore end. I routinely do this with all A clarinets with the longer tube. It does require using the correct tools & reamers so I would not suggest anyone other than a competent repair person take this on.
Peter Spriggs - The Clarinet Center
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Author: Marcia Nottle
Date: 2002-04-13 18:24
I noticed my R13 "A" had considerably more grunt than my "Bb". I had the "A" vent tube tweaked (shortened for sure but don't know what else if anything) by a repair person. That improved things but did not eliminate the grunt. Guess I have to still work on that one myself!
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Author: Marcia Nottle
Date: 2002-04-13 18:24
I noticed my R13 "A" had considerably more grunt than my "Bb". I had the "A" vent tube tweaked (shortened for sure but don't know what else if anything) by a repair person. That improved things but did not eliminate the grunt. Guess I have to still work on that one myself!
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2002-04-14 18:18
I have noticed that my 2 good pro LeBlancs and my 2 good 50's Selmer-Paris have register vent tubes extending into the bore only about 1/3 of the diameter, and have "bosses" about 1/8 inch high on the outside. They all give quite good quality pinch Bb's, very slightly diff. from the A + trill key. Haven't noticed any "grunts" either. Don
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Author: eilidh
Date: 2002-04-14 18:48
I had (have) exactly the same problem with my buffet R13 A clarinet and that was one suggestion made by my teacher. It was also suggested that using different barrels could eliminate the problem and I have found that this can work. Unfortunately, however, my teacher pointed out that he can hear the undertones very very slightly when I am playing my Bflat as well, and suggested that if there is a problem with lack of support this will be more apparent on the A clarinet than on the Bflat, so I have also been working on more support, which is also helping.
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Author: RogerM
Date: 2002-04-15 12:25
My 1984 Buffet A has the same problem. One solution that can minimize it somewhat is to thicked the cork of the register key. If the key does not open as far there is less undertone problem.
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Author: Suzanne
Date: 2002-04-15 21:38
I had the same problem too, and I had a repairman replace the register tube with one from an older R13 A, and presto, the problem completely disappeared.
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