 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Dharma
Date: 2011-11-27 12:55
I bought a Buffet B12 second hand from a music store about a month ago.
It's been playing very well, but over the last few days I've detected an irritating vibrating buzz when playing p or pp. it doesn't seem to be associated with any particular notes. I've tried blowing open G and wrapping my hands around various parts of the keyword, but it still persists.
I'm wondering if this could be caused by poor embouchure, or liquid in the instrument (thougnid I swab, it doesn't go away).
I'll get my tutor to have a listen next week, but wondered if there are any ideas in the meanwhile...?
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A horse is drawn to water, but a pencil must be lead.
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2011-11-27 12:59
Such vibrations are often caused by keywork vibrating against the rod screws passing through them - it only takes a minute bit of clearance for this to occur. Can also be caused by the spring tension on the Ab/Eb key (upper leftmost of the r.h. pinky spatulas) being slightly too weak and allowing the pad to blow open, actually vibrating open and shut under blowing pressure.
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Author: glin
Date: 2011-11-27 13:20
Check the upper joint trill keys. These are long keys and tend to get bent frequently during assembly/disassembly of the upper joint. They could be rubbing up against each other, and causing the buzzing that you hear. A good tech can straighten out the keys, if that is the case.
Good luck.
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Author: Bob Phillips
Date: 2011-11-27 17:06
My bassoon-playing engineer colleague makes his own key lubricant from STP with a bit of 3:1 oil added to make it easier to get in place.
I is pretty good at damping the sort of key noise that David describes.
Bob Phillips
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2011-11-27 17:06
Here are a few possible causes:
The reed could be split or weak at one of the corners. Try a new one, making sure that it closes against the rails completely, particularly at the corners of the mouthpiece. To make sure, set the reed so that the tip is a tiny bit higher than the mouthpiece tip. Make the tip be just barely visible when you look at the mouthpiece with the reed held away from you.
If you have the standard felt pads covered with fishskin, the top layer could have come loose, leaving a dangling flap that buzzes with sympathetic vibration. Play at the "buzz volume" and have someone listen up and down the length of the instrument to locate the problem.
Try your mouthpiece on a friend's clarinet to localize the buzz problem.
Try a different mouthpiece. It's easy to bump the corner of your mouthpiece on the wall or a stand, bending the lay back, usually at the corner where the rail and tip meet. Even a small leak can cause a buzz.
If none of these works, come back for more suggestions.
Ken Shaw
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Author: Dharma
Date: 2011-11-27 17:51
Many thanks everyone.
I've tried holding the kwywork quite firmly whilst playing, and this doesnt get rid of it. There a couple of keys with what I as a layman would consider fairly significant 'play' in them, but I don't know if it really is, or is within significant bounds.
Ken, thanks for the possibilities. I have noticed previously that the profile of my reed tip does not match the profile of my mouthpiece tip. When I very first started playing, I had some very squeaky sessions until I realised that unless the reed is almost to the end of the mouthpiece, there can be a tiny gap at the corner. My teacher has said to leave a tiny rim of mouthpiece showing beyond the reed, so I've been setting my reed up as close as possible to the edge, whilst leaving some of tip rail visible. Now I know it's ok to bring the reed a bit further out, I'll give it a try. Seems like a good candidate.
Here's another possibility: I've had my clarinet in one piece since this began Friday evening (if it's in one piece on the stand, with music out, I practice four times as much over the weekend). I've just dismantled it and found an awful lot of liquid in the joint between the top section and barrel. I mean a lot. For there to be the amount there was, there must be a gap between the top joint tenon and the barrel inner wall mortise, even when the barrel is fully home.
I wondered if this puddle could be causing the vibration? I put it back together, played another ten minutes buzz free, then when the buzz started again, I tapped the barrel smartly, and it went away again for a few minutes, before coming back...
Is it normal for there to be a gap that can collect fluid at that point? I'm using the factory Buffet barrel, btw.
Many thanks
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A horse is drawn to water, but a pencil must be lead.
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Author: Bob Bernardo
Date: 2011-11-28 01:52
Take a look at your pads. If your pads are skin pads there may be a torn piece of skin rattling. I've seen this happen a few times.
Maybe take off some or all of the keys and take a close look at the pads. It can be just a tiny tear, this is why you may have to disassemble all of the keys.
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