 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: LJClarinetGuy
Date: 1999-09-05 20:02
Hi everyone. I just got in my new R13 clarinet from a local H&H store. I think it's great! I just have two questions, both cpncerning the bell. While at the store, I was looking at the bell when I noticed the top metal ring came off. Is this standard of all new clarinets? Also, I noticed that the ring around the bottom of the bell moves. It isn't, how should I say, firm on the bottom, and every time I take the bell from the instrument off, the ring moves because of the rotation needed to take the piece off. Does anyone know if these two parts are supposed to move? Thanks for any advice.
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Author: LJClarinetGuy
Date: 1999-09-05 20:43
Thanks Mark. I'll tell my sister's friend that works there to have it done or to exchange it for me tomorrow.
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 1999-09-05 20:44
If you like the clarinet a lot - don't exchange it! Did you try all they had before settling on this one? They're not all the same, you know.
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Author: LJClarinetGuy
Date: 1999-09-05 21:01
I didn't get to try all the R13s they had. I did however try a Festival and C13 (I didn't care for either) and I enjoyed this one the most. I'll see if either they can fix the bell, or exchange just that part.
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Author: Dee
Date: 1999-09-05 21:32
Might as well have them fix it. Even if you get a new one that's tight now, it may loosen in the future due to some natural shrinkage of the wood over the years or in especially dry seasons.
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Author: William Fuller
Date: 1999-09-06 03:05
I recommend having the rings on your barrel and your lower tendon checked as well. They are there to help prevent cracking at the weak points of the clarinet during assembly and all can be easily tightened by any competent repair person. I do not recommend getting a new barrel because, in addition to Dee's comments, the entire instrument may play differently. Repair what you have if you like the clarinets sound as is.
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Author: HIROSHI
Date: 1999-09-06 05:31
If you are rich enougp, Muncy's sepecial bell(250$) may be a choice to buy separately. It enhances resonance of the lowest E, they say. They have two kinds with ring and without ring. I wonder why a bell without ring can be possible.
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Author: HIROSHI
Date: 1999-09-06 05:58
Correction:
1)Add overall resonance,
2)Improve flat lowest E without changing Middle E.
I asked Muncy and they are only available for Buffet now.
http://members.aol.com/muncywinds/index.html
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Author: Dee
Date: 1999-09-06 13:05
HIROSHI wrote:
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If you are rich enougp, Muncy's sepecial bell(250$) may be a choice to buy separately. It enhances resonance of the lowest E, they say. They have two kinds with ring and without ring. I wonder why a bell without ring can be possible.
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According to one booklet on repairs that I have, the ring on the large end of the bell is basically decorative. It does protect the end of the bell from getting scratched but it is not needed for strength like the rings on the tenon joints. Currently I believe the Rossi clarinets have no ring on the large end of the bell. In books on the history of clarinets, I have seen pictures of clarinets of all ages that had no bell ring.
Plastic clarinets have very often been made without this ring. However, these days they do have the ring to make them look more like regular wood clarinets.
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Author: paul
Date: 1999-09-07 16:49
I too had problems with initial fit and finish defects on my Festival. I liked the particular horn that I selected better than the nearby R-13s and I knew that the quality and color of the wood is different between the two models. So, I asked the Buffet factory certified woodwind tech at the store where I bought the horn to fix it up. He did all of the work at no cost to me, even though I didn't buy the store's warranty service. I still had some problems with the horn, especially with the altissimo register. Again, the tech did the analysis and repairs at no cost. The second wave of adjustments included reseating an upper trill keypad, adjusting the register key opening gap, and planing down my third party (Vandoren) mouthpieces. The second wave of adjustments was done at no cost, too. So far, the tech at my local Brooks Mays store has been very helpful with all of my adjustment and repair needs. From what I can tell so far, Buffet and Brooks Mays want me to be happy with my investment. Based on my experience, I belive that Buffet and your local store will be very supportive and responsive to make sure you are happy with your investment, too.
To Mark Charette: Apologies for the apparent "free plug" for Buffet and Brooks Mays. That's where I got the goods, and that's where the work was done. Just quoting the facts and lending my opinion of the quality of the work.
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Author: Roger Harvey
Date: 1999-09-10 09:13
9 months ago I had a new Leblanc Infinte air freighted to me here in Tasmania from the U.S. The ring on the large end of the bell moved when assembling the instrument, but after a few days rehumidifying the wood after its long journey in the dry upper atmosphere it tightened up, and has not been a problem since (Just as Tom Ridenour said it would!).
Try placing a damp sponge inside a 35mm film casstte with perforations in the lid, inside your instrument case. It may well do the trick for you.
Best regards,
Roger Harvey
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