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Re: A clarinet plays better than Bb. Why?

Author: Chris P
Date: 2022-08-01 00:05

Chances are very likely there are loads of natural imperfections on the tonehole crowns/rims which cause leaks. Multiply that by how many countersunk toneholes there are on a clarinet and that will amount to a significant leak.

All brand new, factory fresh Buffet clarinets being sold are far from perfect as they are and will benefit from being completely stripped down and refinished with all new pads and key corks/felts, all new tenon corks and addressing everything else Buffet overlooked at the factory.

Buffet tonehole bedplaces are cut with very sharp crowns and are therefore prone to leaks as the open vessels running across them aren't filled in, as well as being cut thin, they're more prone to bits of wood breaking off to some degree or other.

The only way to address that is have the imperfections filled in and the tonehole crowns levelled and made wider and flatter compared to being left razor sharp as that will both ensure a perfect seal against the pads and also will go to prolong the life of the pads as they won't cut into them like a hole punch.

Some may want to argue the profile of the tonehole rim being made flatter and wider will have an impact on the tone, but I for one don't believe them as I've had no complaints from anyone whose Buffets I've had to do tonehole work on (and that's ALL Buffets) when they've been in for a full overhaul with all new pads. There's no point in replacing any pads if no tonehole work is done as the leaks will still be there.

Porous leather pads also impact on the response and resonance - one way to check if you have porous pads is to cover the entire pads and pad cups in cling film (saran wrap) and bunch it on the back of the pad cups, then see how it plays when all the pads are wrapped up. If it plays much better, then have it repadded with non-porous pads (either waterproof/airtight treated leather, cork or synthetic pads - anything but skin or 'bladder' pads) as well as having all the toneholes levelled and imperfections dealt with.

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

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