 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: derf5585
Date: 2016-03-19 16:49
I was sitting next to a bass clarinettist and she kept taking the crook apart to get rid of spit. Why don't they make a valve as in a baritone sax?
fsbsde@yahoo.com
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Author: jdbassplayer
Date: 2016-03-19 18:00
I know right! I've seen a few expensive bass clarinets, like Uebel German bore bass clarinets, that come with a spit valve. It seems unusual not to install a spit valve on an instrument that tends to produce a lot of moisture but then again when do manufacturers actually take opinions from players? In any case a spit valve is pretty cheap to instal and I've personally done it to one of my bass clarinets. While it is handy to have I don't find it that hard to take of the neck and dump out the moisture but that's just my two cents on the issue.
-Jdbassplayer
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2016-03-19 18:18
The older pre-1999 Buffet RC Prestige bass had a water key on its crook, but not the newer (current) model that replaced it.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2016-03-19 19:06
I think it's because all the condensation would tend to dribble all over the back of the horn. Taking the neck apart enables you to cast the dribble all over the piccolo player (it's a win win).
..............Paul Aviles
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Author: bill28099
Date: 2016-03-19 23:53
I just turn the horn upside down and drain the crook through the mouthpiece. That way I don't disturb the tuning and the nasty habit makes me keep the neck clean. My 1994 Prestige did not come with a water key.
A great teacher gives you answers to questions
you don't even know you should ask.
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Author: CEC
Date: 2016-03-20 05:33
I've been thinking of getting one of these installed on my bass:
http://www.thejoykey.com/
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Author: Caroline Smale
Date: 2016-03-21 02:05
One point to be aware of is that you could introduce a perturbation in the bore at a very critical point. An Amado type water key is less likely to cause this as it is mounted very close to the bore whereas a standard type water key introduces a small tonehole like chimney into the bore.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2016-03-21 02:14
Amado water keys are dire - the hole is too small for the water to drain out by itself unless you blow it out (not easy to do on a bass clarinet) and most of them I've seen aren't airtight.
Water keys don't usually have an internal chimney as that defeats the object as water will collect there if they had - most water key holes/nipples I've seen are either drawn from the tubing (as on bari saxes) or have a nipple soft soldered on the outside of the tubing (like most brass instruments) which is then drilled through to the bore and any burr on the inside should be removed.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2016-03-21 09:07
>> I just turn the horn upside down and drain the crook through the mouthpiece. That way I don't disturb the tuning <<
That's what I do too but it's also possible to remove the neck (not the middle part) and with a 2-part neck it doesn't change the tuning. Takes a couple of seconds longer and you have to adjust the angle back.
>> a standard type water key introduces a small tonehole like chimney into the bore. <<
That would prevent most of the water from going into it.
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