Author: Fuzzy
Date: 2016-10-27 00:38
I play (as my primary instrument) an 1898 Conn. The instrument works perfectly for what I need, but it does have a serious flaw...<insert dramatic music here>...or is it the mouthpiece?!
Here's the gist of it: the clarinet plays in tune with itself - with one big exception. When any notes require the full length of the instrument be played (low E, F, etc, or register key B, C, E) - the notes are severely flat. Nearly a quarter tone in fact. Everything else on the clarinet is beautiful.
The problem I've run into is...I've collected many clarinets from the era 1880-1920. Virtually every single clarinet I've collected has this same problem (all simple systems with two right-hand rings). Metal clarinets, hard rubber clarinets, wood clarinets - they all give me the same result.
Over the years, I've been able to hide this deficiency to one extent or another - by grotesque changes in embouchure for those notes, changing to harder reeds, etc. However, his "hiding" only works for loose ensemble and solo work (small jazz ensembles and such) - it isn't sufficient for genteel classical ensembles, where at least one or two people will snap a glare at me as if I had just murdered their dear friend with the rancid note protruding from the bell of my clarinet.
I"m starting to play in a small church ensemble, and by creatively staying on "safe" notes in harmony - it sounds fine, but I'd really like to figure out the problem. (And no, I have never had this problem with any of my boehm systems, so I am doubtful that the problem resides in my personal technical abilities...but am open to whatever possibilities could help cure the problem - including a lack of my own technical abilities).
I've attempted to change mouthpieces from time to time - with the same results. However, I do not have a "vintage" mouthpiece from the era of the instruments. Could this be the problem? If so, does anyone here have a suggestion as to where I might find a modern mouthpiece, made in the older (shorter?) style...or is there a good avenue of finding an old mouthpiece which could be put into good working order in the skilled hands of one of our BBoard resident resurfacers? Or...am I barking up the wrong tree by being suspicious of the mouthpiece?
Any help or ideas would be appreciated (sorry for the long post),
Fuzzy
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The Clarinet BBoard
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