The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Aussie Nick
Date: 2007-05-05 12:07
Hi all. Was just wondering if anything can be done to alter a very flat clarion F# (xxx|oxo) on my rc prestige A clarinet. I was thinking maybe something could be done to the tone hole above it? Thanks
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2007-05-05 12:44
The bottom tenon on the upper joint is usually a millimeter or two shorter than the lower joint socket. Try cutting a ring of cardboard to fill that gap, to find out whether this improves the intonation or makes it worse. If it fixes the problem, you or a repair shop can glue a cork ring to the bottom of the tenon or the socket.
Note that the gap is designed to be there (I think to compensate for the high position and small size of the C#/G# hole), so you may be jumping from the frying pan into the fire.
The good repair people can reshape the tone hole for the right index finger, undercutting or overcutting it, and angling the cutting "upstream" or "downstream." This adjusts one register without affecting the other. The problem is that the area between that chimney and the one for the pad-covered chimney just above it is the thinnest wood in the clarinet, so there's little room to work.
Remember, though, that this will also affect clarion Ab, the altissimo E and F, and the middle finger and ring finger fingerings for altissimo Eb.
If you can't live with it, adding an Acton vent may help, but that's major surgery.
You'll probably be able to find a technician through the Australian Clarinet and Saxophone Society, http://www.clarinet-saxophone.asn.au/
Good luck, and be glad you don't play bassoon, where half the notes are out.
Ken Shaw
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Author: Aussie Nick
Date: 2007-05-05 13:03
Thanks Ken, I just found a really thin tunign ring which fits into the lower jjoint socket so I will see how I go with that tomorrow when I try it (just finished a concert tonight and not in the mood to play again haha)
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