 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Mirko996
Date: 2015-03-09 01:02
Hi, sorry for my english,
i bought time ago a Selmer Usa Bundy Alto Clarinet E Flat ( i don't think exist another alto clarinet for other tonality ).
However, i don't spent so much, and in my opinion isn't bad, because it has a beatiful sound, low notes are pasty , very hot, and staccato is "meraviglioso" i said, like basson or basso, but the problem is the high notes (B 3 to uhm.... i can do the max range, i'm arrived to C 6 but the sound is effective orrible)
When i do staccato in upper note like E 4 i do fatigue, especialy i C 5, staccato is inexistent, is really hard to do staccato in this note, when i D 5 isn't difficoulty like C 5 but isn't beatiful.
Sometime i do a nice staccato, but after try and try i cannot do a beatiful staccato...
the hightest notes (D 5 to C 5) are bit orrible, i don't know why, but when i play D 5 i don't like.
Leaving aside G 5 to C 5 which are obviously difficult notes, the major problem has Upper note, What can i do?
I Bought Vandoren Reeds n 1, before i used Rico Style V Sax alto or vandoren Java Sax, sometime was better Rico, Sometime Java, Now i use Vandoren are the ideal reeds for this clarinet.
I'm using Vandoren B40 Mounthpiece, i'm attending another mounthpiece, Crystal Pomarico 3.
Can you suggest some sheet for this clarinet? I Want play very good this clarinet, i like it.
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Author: Johan H Nilsson
Date: 2015-03-12 00:26
Record a a chromatic scale, upload it and paste the link. Says more than thousand words.
Reed strength 1 is very soft for the B40 mouthpiece.
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Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2015-03-12 03:56
Mirko, is this the first clarinet you've ever played? Or had you played a Bb soprano clarinet before you bought the alto?
Karl
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Author: Mirko996
Date: 2015-03-13 23:53
Dear Johan
I know is very soft reeds but, if you think, is hard in my country find a reeds (expect for Soprano Clarinet), Alto clarinet never used here, the only italian musician i know that use this instrument is Gianluigi Trovesi, is particoulary and fascinating, he uses a selmer's alto, isn't cheap, more expensive (8000€, when i contacted selmer).
I hope to find opportunity to buy a more strong reeds for this instrument, for now i use this, isn't bad, especialy in my new mounthpiece. (p.s. i will upload audio)
Dear Karl
is my first alto clarinet, and yes, i have Soprano Clarinet still before alto clarinet, i play Patricola ebony virtuoso 2 and Piccolo Clarinet, Noblet.
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Author: Mirko996
Date: 2015-03-14 00:05
Uploaded.
http://picosong.com/2TWD/
if you listen, i have difficoulty to play G#5, but isn't important, are very highest notes.
however i'm exercising for this clarinett but is very hard, do you know where could find piece or method concerned for play better alto clarinet?
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Author: Steven Ocone
Date: 2015-03-14 02:50
I think I'm using an alto sax reed on mine (with a tenor sax ligature).
Steve Ocone
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Author: Mirko996
Date: 2015-03-14 14:57
Dear Steven,
i have been using alto sax since i bought it, but i haven't thinked to buy tenor ligature, thanks for suggest.
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Author: Johan H Nilsson
Date: 2015-03-15 00:59
Mirko,
Don't bother about the G#6 ![[G#6]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/ab6.gif) . Altos are not made for playing sopranino... :-)
You could use a little stronger reed to create more "body" in the tone and give better support in the upper register. Your alto will then also sound less like a saxophone...
Your instrument is well tuned with one exception: the throat tones (see attached graph). The F#4 to G#4 are sharp while the Bb4 is very flat. So any time the Bb4 is exposed, it will not sound very good unless you can lip it up, which is difficult. You could check the register hole for some dirt and try and remove it.
Post Edited (2015-03-15 01:15)
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Author: Mirko996
Date: 2015-03-16 02:27
Dear Johan,
I thank you for the invaluable help you're giving me .
I see the graphic and...
Maybe i should try that further this step because I have a lot of problems since I got it.
I think it is a problem of pad , maybe it is dirty , and it would be right to do so because they see a good review would ensure the best use of this tool and the reduction of problems. the passage from the Bb5 B5 or C5 is problematic because given the length of the clarinet close all pad is not simple , and think to do this step by increasing the speed makes the risk of false notes increases , depending on the case , but it is better not to risk .
for sure , I will not open it because I've had past experience in opening clarinets ( a elkart , metal and a Noblet clarinet ) and I have not done a good job ....
but I will not spend ourselves too if the issue of a pad consumed.
In conclusion , before saying other things about the clarinet :
The case will seek patiently a few online retailer that sells reeds (I hope the rico , if not reluctantly use the vandoren ) of a thickness that is between 2 and 3 ; my shopkeeper may also order , but in the end I should take all of them and I got lucky right now to buy a pack of tall reeds clarinet at 14 € , otherwise I would have spent € 20 if not more .
for now, if using reeds I have now the sound does not change , I will change them and use reeds alto sax .
Regarding the problem of G # 6 , before using this wonderful mouthpiece of Pomarico I used a vandoren , and I could get , even with sound particularly jarring to C6 , you will think that it is impossible and yet I can get to that note , even if it is bad , is not at all easy , but also in the soprano clarinet is very difficult to get there, but I train and we slam the head hahaha , before using this mouthpiece we arrived , I do not know what happened in the audio, but I am sure I avoided a jarring hahaha
I avoid repeating myself but that 's not the main problem though then I would learn better to make the high notes in improvisation because there is the pentatonic scale , blues [ ... ] , but note particularly high and well made are impressive from my point of view.
however, I will try to control it as soon as possible and inform you if they are able to solve this problem or not, good evening friend .
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Author: Johan H Nilsson
Date: 2015-03-16 03:18
The B4 didn't sound very resistant on the recording.
To clean the register tube, just remove the thumb key and use a pipe cleaner and some alcohol. I don't think it will help though. The Bb4 did not sound weak, which it would if there was dirt in the tube.
In a situation like this and with a low-cost Bundy, it would only be a matter of time before I experimented with moving the register hole up and/or opened the A4 hole a little with a file or Dremel tool. That's me. :-)
Good luck!
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Author: Mirko996
Date: 2015-03-26 17:00
Hi dears, i'm gone to repair and have some problem in E Flat / B Flat , now play some better, for the problem of Bb it shouldn't have nothing, he liked however the clarinet, is very beatiful. For the problem of Bb i should play slow and fixing it with throat, Thanks for help me.
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Author: Johan H Nilsson
Date: 2015-03-29 00:22
A flat Bb can also have to do with the height of the register key pad. I experienced it today... :-)
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