 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: chamil6339
Date: 2014-11-16 08:51
I bought a LB 210 Bliss clarinet almost four years ago. I've recently discovered some problems and am wondering if anyone else is having these problems. When I took it to the music store yesterday to get it aligned, we realized the physical body of the clarinet is cut almost a 1/2 inch too long in the lower joint. This explains all of my tuning problems with my concert A. Also I couldn't swap out barrels. The upper tendon joint of the clarinet was too big to allow any other barrels, whether Bliss stock or other brands to fit. The only solution would be to shave the clarinet or the barrel.
Has anyone else encountered this?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Tony F
Date: 2014-11-16 09:47
This is a bit puzzling. I have a Bliss 210 and it is one of the best-tuning clarinets I've ever had. The barrel tenon is standard size, I've tried several other barrels on it but the original Bliss 65mm barrel works best. Comparing the Bliss with a B & H Imperial, the Bliss is about 1 mm shorter, but the joints line up pretty well. Did the Bliss 210 come as an A clarinet?
Tony F.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: clarnibass
Date: 2014-11-16 10:19
It's not really clear, but are you saying that the lower joint is more than 12mm too long? That can only be a serious design issue or a major weird and very unlikely mistake that happened when it was made. I found a bunch of issues with the ones I've seen but definitely a too long lower joint wasn't a problem with any of them.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Tony F
Date: 2014-11-16 11:33
The only major issue I have with it is that the keywork on the lower joint is a bit flimsy, necessitating frequent fine tuning of the crows foot area.
Tony F.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: sfalexi
Date: 2014-11-17 04:34
The bliss did not come in an A version. Only Bb.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: chamil6339
Date: 2014-11-19 02:36
The length of the lower joint is longer than it should be. I don't remember the exact measurement, but I'm going to say 1/4-1/2 of an inch more. The lowest note on the clarinet (e) when covering all of the holes, is 40 c flat. The clarinet is sold as a Bb.
Also, I'm not able to exchange other barrels. I've tried other brands and other stock bliss barrels, but my tendon where the barrel would attach is too big.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: TomS
Date: 2014-11-20 06:58
I'd contact Leblanc and see what they say. I've played one but didn't carefully check out the tuning because my Korg was not with me at the time ...
The Bliss clarinets have a good reputation for tuning, but they have changed the design at least twice.
Seems unlikely a bad production run problem, surely they test these clarinets.
The low F and E are normally a bit flat on most clarinet designs, but never 40 cents (!!) ... usually flat by 15-25 cents.
I HAVE seen a professional grade french horn with one tubing section made too long ... some one just messed up on the production line and apparently not play tested very well. Bizarre.
Tom
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
