 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: jdbassplayer
Date: 2013-10-06 20:05
Greetings,
I have a bass clarinet that has trouble playing in the upper register. When i go from a lower register note to an upper register note the clarinet will either squeak or wont sound at all. If I play a simple scale in the upper register it will generally sound muted compared to some other bass clarinets i've played. I have gone over every pad and cork on this clarinet and cannot detect a leak so now I am starting to look at the register vent as a possible culprit. The hole is only 2.5 mm which seems very small, especially for a bass. Before I drill it out to a larger size I would like some advice as to whether this could be the problem. Also, what would be a good size to drill it out to?
Jdbassplayer
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Author: AAAClarinet
Date: 2013-10-06 20:23
Are you new to playing bass? Do you have the same difficulty on other basses. I would recommend Ed Palankers website, lots of great info.
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Author: jdbassplayer
Date: 2013-10-06 20:30
I've been playing for 4 years and I can play any other bass clarinet. I have other basses that play fine but this one is made of wood so I would like to get it up and running.
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Author: Arnoldstang
Date: 2013-10-06 20:56
Well, for what it's worth....the vent on my Selmer neck....is about 3/32". But the top of the vent is flared to about double that. I would wait to do it until a clarinet tech on the BB chimes in. I didn't check the vent on the body of my bass...too many keys to come off. The problem you are talking about is not that unusual with basses.
Freelance woodwind performer
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Author: Steven Ocone
Date: 2013-10-06 23:39
It is probably a leak. They can be difficult to find. The can occur through a pad, or be due to an adjustment. If key fit is sloppy, they can come and go. They can occur at a tenon.
Steve Ocone
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2013-10-07 02:48
What model of bass clarinet is it and does it have two register holes or just one?
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Author: jdbassplayer
Date: 2013-10-07 10:39
It's a holton bass clarinet and has 2 register vents. The notes b - d# are played with the lower vent and all sound fine, but that register vent is about 7mm because it also doubles as the bb key.
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2013-10-08 04:40
In that case, enlarging the upper register hole has the potential to help. Keep in mind changing the vent hole size can also have compromises in other areas (like altissimo). I can't say for sure without playing it since I don't remember this model specifically.
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Author: Arnoldstang
Date: 2013-10-08 22:14
Is Holton a professional instrument? Most other non professional basses only have one vent?
Freelance woodwind performer
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Author: Tony F
Date: 2013-10-09 00:13
before I went as far as altering the manufacturer's spec I'd look to see if I could find the cause of your problem elsewhere. I think (I may be wrong here) that the Holton is a Bundy clone and they seem to play OK with the standard vent. It's unlikely that a clarinet will have gone through the design stage and into mass production with something as obvious as too small a vent. It's much more likely that you have an undetected leak or porosity or a problem with technique.
Tony F.
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Author: donald
Date: 2013-10-09 00:25
Check the exchange mechanism very carefully to make 100% sure that the larger/lower reg vent (which doubles as Bb vent) is properly closed when the higher/smaller vent is open. It may look closed, but be held down too weakly.
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Author: jdbassplayer
Date: 2013-10-09 19:59
The clarinet has all new pads and corks so I know there is no leak. Also Ive had someone just hold the vent open while I play it but it still has the same problem.
I believe that the clarinet is a french stencil bass but I have no idea which clarinet it was modeled after. Ill try to post pictures tomorrow
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Author: Arnoldstang
Date: 2013-10-09 20:04
There is no question that many bass clarinet have varying success with sound production in different registers. The resistance is a problem on many instruments. Some notes are just hard to find... If there is a quick fix i'm not sure anyone has found it yet.
Freelance woodwind performer
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Author: donald
Date: 2013-10-09 20:25
"Also Ive had someone just hold the vent open while I play it but it still has the same problem." Please note my post was not concerned that the vent was not opening, but rather that both vents may be opening (one only slightly)- sorry if i did not make this clear. If the lower vent is lifting even just the smallest amount when the upper vent is in use this will have exactly the negative effect you describe.
dn
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