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Re: Chineese contrabass clarinet

Author: Chris P
Date: 2020-08-05 22:24

Do bear in mind that plastic instruments do require a relative degree of lateral motion of keywork between pillars so the keys don't bind up when they get cold as plastic will shrink and expand far more than metal.

Metal bodied contras can have their keywork made to be a tight fit between all pillars and wooden ones will need slop on cross mounted keys as they move in and out with humidity changes.

The amount of slop on plastic clarinets of all sizes is relative to the length of the key rods or barrels (longer key rods requiring more end play than shorter key barrels) and the longest key rods on contras could have around 2mm of lateral motion.

People moan about this factor saying the factory has done a crap job of key fitting, but it's done out of necessity - if it is poor key fitting, then the end play will be variable rather than relative to the lengths of the key rods/barrels.

Parallel-sided point screws are best on plastic instruments so they can move in and out the ends of the key rods like pistons whereas keywork mounted between tapered point screws will end up rattling around as the gaps widen.

Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.

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