 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: markm
Date: 2005-11-20 04:18
I received my new R-13 Vintage about a week ago. First new horn I've ever bought and I love it. I told them to check it out thoroughly (with a list) before sending as if it wasn't "right" I was going to send it back. They even included their emails to the shop to check it out as I'm a "picky" customer which I had to chuckle about. So, I've discoverd that the upper Bb (just above staff) is pretty stuffy using the one-and-one/two/three fingering. All other fingerings are great. The one thing I left off my list was check ALL alternate fingerings but who can "define" all those? Also, the twelfth below (Eb) same fingering(s) is great. Any suggestions?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: metajack
Date: 2005-11-20 04:44
I just bought a use R13 from my teacher and the Bb one one fingering is also not speaking well on that horn. I wonder if this is something having it adjusted or overhauled could fix.
My teacher said he knew about this and if the upper joint was twisted just a tiny bit off from its normal position that note would speak better. It seems to help a little, but I have no idea why.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Bob Phillips
Date: 2005-11-20 05:05
The "bridge mechanism" that links the right hand rings to the pads on the upper joint that close when using the 1/1 1/2 1/3 fingerings for Bb/Eb must be properly aligned in order for the mechanism to work. It the upper joint does not align properly with the lower, the bridge mechanism will not solidly close the upper tone hole, and the Bb/Eb won't play.
You can test my puttin gone of the right hand fingers down and pushing down on the upper joint's pad. It should be fully closed.
Bob Phillips
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: metajack
Date: 2005-11-20 16:57
That's exactly what it was. Twisting the upper joint a little makes that bridge mechanism force the pad down just a little more, which is why that solution was working. I think a little more cork on the bridge mechanism on a bit more pad over the upper joint hole would fix it permanently. For now I'll just put a little tape on the bridge until I can get it adjusted properly.
Thanks much!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Tyler
Date: 2005-11-20 17:13
My teacher tells me to line the bridge up, but the upper joint part of the bridge should be "a hair past" lined-up with the bottom part (going clockwise). It has seemed to work well so far.
-Tyler
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: markm
Date: 2005-11-20 19:24
why would Eb speak very well and the Bb won't? I'm still going to mess around with the alignments but can't until later tonight.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: charlie_star_uk
Date: 2005-11-20 19:43
the clarinet copes with leaking so much more in the lower register... it is the lower harmonic... when you are trying to get it to break onto the next harmonic up (by opening the register hole) the leaking is far more important... i don't know exactly why though...... but problems show up more in upper register. it is like you are trying to balance on that harmonic step.... any leaks affect that. when you are playing the fundamental it is a lot more stable.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: markm
Date: 2005-11-21 02:10
New info: The slightest "twist" does make some difference, however the Bb is still stuffy. Guess the pad could still be leaking somewhat. Have it checked tomorrow.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: markm
Date: 2005-11-22 06:26
latest: I decided to sit down (with a glass red wine - cheap box) and figure out why this is happening. For an engineer, it can't be that hard. I did find that the jont alignment is finicky. Personally, I like to twist them inward just a hair so I can have that fixed. Now, over a glass of really good red wine, (box was empty) I finally found that the screw on the throat Ab was a "little" to tight. Bb now speaks as well as the other fingerings. You'd think something like that would be shipped "right". And the moral? Drink good wine..............
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: archer1960
Date: 2005-11-22 13:18
markm wrote:
...
> Drink good wine..............
Always a good starting point!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Bob Phillips
Date: 2005-11-22 16:16
And, as an old colleague says:
Life is too short for bad beer.
OBTW: my Buffet's bridge key mechanism is slightly wedge shaped so that a small rotation of the upper/lower joint changes the pad height of the upper joint bis key --as well as changing the stroke length -due to a change in the effective lever length.
I always test the 1-1 fingerings at assembly and twist the joint to make it work.
Bob Phillips
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
