Author: Micke Isotalo ★2017
Date: 2019-02-20 01:00
Scott, I only have experience from Wurlitzer RB's from 2002 onward. However, if you are new to these instruments a basic approach concerning tuning that I would recommend is to play the second register (particularly the upper clarion) with exactly the same embouchure pressure as the first register - also with German or Austrian mouthpieces.
I know some French system players are denying any tightening of their embouchure in the upper clarion compared to below of that, but after years of actually doing so it may come so automatically that they don't recognize it any longer. Anyway, just to be sure you are not doing that on a RB clarinet, you can fool yourself by supporting the bell with your knees, taking off your right hand, playing a first register C and then pressing the register key with your RIGHT hand thumb to get clarion G. This may be enough to "turn off" any automated tightening of your embouchure. Check both notes with a tuner and do the same with the rest of the left hand notes (if you have a friend available, he or she could also press the register key for you to fool you even better  ). You may be surprised how well both registers are in tune. However, especially the first register e4 and to some degree also the notes around it will probably be flat (I use special fingerings on d#4, e4, f4 and f#4).
The third register will probably need some tightening of your embouchure, as on French system clarinets.
If this clarinet has the l.h. 3 ring, the ADVANTAGES of that are 1) you can play a forked clarion Bb (as l.h. XOX) and 2) you can play a trill from clarion f# to g# by moving ONLY your l.h. ring finger - thus altering between XXX|OXO and XXO|OXO.
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The Clarinet BBoard
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