 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Irwin J
Date: 2015-04-06 03:49
for years I've played on a Leblanc Opus II. I decided to get a new horn because I was having trouble with intonation and, frankly, just felt like trying something new. I ended up with a Festival Greenline, and I'm enjoying the heck out of it, especially with intonation which is pretty much spot on throughout the entire scale. However I find after playing for about 15 minutes, sometimes the Festival seems to lock up. I check to see that I'm properly covering all holes and for a few seconds, I can't get a sound out of the reed, then if I start lower or higher and come back to that note, it speaks just fine. I thought maybe I'm playing with too soft reeds (Vandoren V12 #3) so I put a new reed in and after about 15 minutes the same thing. I tried switching mouthpieces - went from my Greg Smith Chedeville to my Vandoren 5RV which seemed to help but didn't completely eliminate the lockup. Then for fun I put the Vandoren 5RV on my old Leblanc Opus II and didn't experience the lockup. The Leblanc is easier blowing compared to the Festival - not that the Festival is at all difficult to play, but that the Leblanc seems just more free. Anyway, but for this issue I'm really enjoying the Festival. Does anyone have thoughts on this? Maybe I should try Vandoren V12 3.5?
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Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2015-04-06 04:08
This is often a pad with a small tear in it that absorbs water for a few minutes and swells up. When it swells it doesn't seat correctly on the hole and an air leak develops.
You don't say if you bought the Festival new or used. A torn pad is more likely on a used clarinet, but it could happen on a new one - shipping damage or even a faulty pad from the factory. If they play tested it at the factory, they probably didn't stay at it for 15 minutes, so the problem wouldn't have developed. Look for pads in the upper section that have skin or membrane coverings - solid pads aren't likely culprits.
Not the only possibility, but a very strong one.
Karl
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Author: Irwin J
Date: 2015-04-06 04:20
thanks Karl, I'll take a look. By the way I think the pads are Gortex.
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2015-04-06 04:58
Well I don't know if this is at ALL related to your problem, but I have the same thing (sorta) happen to me switching from a "Buffet" style acoustically built horn moving to a .....well, Leblanc Opus/Concerto, new Selmers or even most of the Backuns. All of a sudden it is if the reed wants to close upon me. I switch back to the Buffet the mouthpiece/reed plays just great.
For me, there is a different approach to playing these different acoustically built horns. On the Buffet, I push more and can keep pushing, but for some reason the other style horns just don't like that. Maybe you have a reverse syndrome going on.
.............Paul Aviles
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Author: Joe M.
Date: 2015-04-08 05:18
I recently had exactly the same problem on a Selmer Recital Bb. It turned out to be a pad on the lower joint. It leaked a tiny, tiny amount and depending on the mouthpiece, weather, humidity etc. it just hit the wall in the middle of playing - mostly on the B4. I had the pad replaced and three others adjusted. Fixed!
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