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 Bass clarinet
Author: SuffolkSaxhams 
Date:   2021-09-25 21:31

hello, I have a Buffet RC Prestige Bass and have been tweeking this afternoon and got it playing very nicely. I'm a bit stuck with the stuffiness of the clarion E flat, and to a lesser extent the clarion D. The bass has two octave vents - one on the top of the upper joint and one on the underside of the neck. Working well for all notes above and below the clarion D and E flat.
Maybe this is as good as it gets as I know they're not easy notes to get to ring out.
Any suggestions, however, would be mightily welcome.
many thanks, John

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 Re: Bass clarinet
Author: bmcgar 2017
Date:   2021-09-25 21:50

Sounds like a pad height problem. I'd check the Eb/G# key pad first, then the clarion C/F key pad.

Could be dirt in the tone holes, too, though less likely because the tone holes are (relatively) large. Could be leaks.

More-expert people than I will have better answers, I suspect. Could be lots of things and in lots of places, but that's what I'd check first.

B.

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 Re: Bass clarinet
Author: Hank Lehrer 
Date:   2021-09-26 03:44

Suffolk,

You are right in the area of the clarion when one register key opens and the other closes (and vic-versa). Your problem could be that the synchronization might be off but this is really a problem for a repair tech who is familiar with how your Buffet works or has knowledge of how double register keys work.

Do not try to bend any of the keys or mess around with corks. You could have a very bad experience. I speak from experience.

Hank

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 Re: Bass clarinet
Author: donald 
Date:   2021-09-26 13:13

Yes, if that exchange mechanism gets a bit off it can make these notes stuffy- for instance if the lower/bigger hole opens, AND the smaller/higher one is still open by just a smidgen- then the notes will still work, but be resistant and slightly fuzzy.

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 Re: Bass clarinet
Author: SuffolkSaxhams 
Date:   2021-09-26 18:09

thank you for your help - it does indeed seem to be a problem with the balance of the exchange mechanism. Fortunately, there's lots of adjusting screws and it's much better after a little careful tweeking. Definitely no messing around with bending keys - I learnt that one also through bad experiences!
Thanks again...

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 Re: Bass clarinet
Author: Hank Lehrer 
Date:   2021-09-26 18:59





Post Edited (2021-09-26 20:31)

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 Re: Bass clarinet
Author: Hank Lehrer 
Date:   2021-09-26 20:32
Attachment:  Adjusting Bass Clarinet.pdf (352k)

Suffolk,

Here is a short paper on bass clarinet adjustments. I think after reading this, you may be able to finetune your bass.

Hank

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 Re: Bass clarinet
Author: crazyclari 
Date:   2021-09-28 03:19

Hi Suffolk,
I chose my Buffet from about 6 when I was working as a repairer in a shop. I chose it because the pitch and tuning were beautifully centered. The problem with setting up the horn was the key work was a bit everywhere. The linking mechanism on mine was a mess and totally out of whack. A bit of work to fix due to the multiple keys and linkages. Mine had a significant "double action" in the lever from the throat notes. Have fun

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 Re: Bass clarinet
Author: SuffolkSaxhams 
Date:   2021-09-29 11:28

hello again
thanks for all your replies, especially Hank for the fantastic paper - I haven't seen this before.
best regards
John

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