 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: philmooremusic
Date: 2023-01-15 22:05
I've just drilled a new register hole in my alto clarinet to fix the pitch of the B and C in the middle register. Now it plays those two notes really in tune according to my Korg tuner. I don't have perfect pitch so I have to rely on an external tuner.
My question is where do I drill another hole to get the lower notes to play because now the clarinet won't play any notes below the B.
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Author: jdbassplayer
Date: 2023-01-16 04:35
You can’t just drill a new hole to help notes in the upper register. You would also need a register tube and some kind of mechanism so that the extra vent can be opened and closed as needed. The vent will need to close when you play in the upper clarion or it will be too sharp. This can be manual or automatic but either way it is a big job that only very experienced techs should attempt.
-JDbassplayer
Post Edited (2023-01-16 17:44)
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Author: philmooremusic
Date: 2023-01-16 07:02
No, it really did help the problem notes. It didn't need a "resister" tube. I just used the location of the little lifter key hole on the side. That's the highest one where the four little buttons push levers to open up the holes not aligned with the finger hole bits. I tried using those with my right thumb, but the clarinet kept falling on the floor. I think I dented the bottom piece unless it's designed to be flat so it doesn't fall when you play.
I noticed when I pushed the 4th lever down the B and C were great sounding. So that's about where I drilled the hole. Today I tried making the hole bigger, about 1/2 inch, because I read that "undercutting" helped the lower register. But that didn't do anything for the low notes.
I don't need to open and close anything because the notes I fixed are perfect!
Tomorrow I was thinking of drilling a hole in bottom part above the flat part in case that's important.
Also it's a clarinet not a clarion.
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Author: Jeroen
Date: 2023-01-16 11:54
philmooremusic wrote:
> No, it really did help the problem notes. It didn't need a
> "resister" tube. I just used the location of the little lifter
> key hole on the side. That's the highest one where the four
> little buttons push levers to open up the holes not aligned
> with the finger hole bits. I tried using those with my right
> thumb, but the clarinet kept falling on the floor. I think I
> dented the bottom piece unless it's designed to be flat so it
> doesn't fall when you play.
>
> I noticed when I pushed the 4th lever down the B and C were
> great sounding. So that's about where I drilled the hole.
> Today I tried making the hole bigger, about 1/2 inch, because I
> read that "undercutting" helped the lower register. But that
> didn't do anything for the low notes.
>
> I don't need to open and close anything because the notes I
> fixed are perfect!
>
> Tomorrow I was thinking of drilling a hole in bottom part above
> the flat part in case that's important.
>
> Also it's a clarinet not a clarion.
Really, you may have improved the B and C but you have ruined the instrument for all other notes. Your new hole must be closed to be able to play the lower register again. Not making more open holes. If you don't understand basic acoustics, please do not make these kind of really stupid actions.
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Author: jdbassplayer
Date: 2023-01-16 18:26
That's not what undercutting is. I suggest you pick up a copy of "Fundamentals of Music Acoustics" by Benade before doing any modifications. There are some key acoustical concepts you are missing. You can't just add an extra vent to improve the response of one area of the middle register without sacrificing the intonation of another area, nor can a vent simply be left open when playing the lower register. If it were as simple as drilling another hole manufacturers would have figured it out centuries ago.
And "clarion" is the technical name for the middle register of the clarinet:
https://www.wfg.woodwind.org/clarinet/cl_bas_2.html
-JDbassplayer
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Author: philmooremusic
Date: 2023-01-16 23:34
Thanks for the input. I'll try to find that book.
I did some electrical work about 35 years ago so I know a lot about feedback circuits. I think the alto clarinet is similar to that. If you add the right size resistance at the beginning of a circuit you can really affect the frequency response.
I just need the correct hole sizes to mimic that.
I did drill a hole in the silver bottom thingy. But that didn't help. And actually that whole bit on the end didn't do anything anyway so I threw it in my scrap metal pile.
It had some writing on it. "Buffet" or something like that. Is that Warren Buffet?
I did put duck tape over the hole I drilled and could play the low notes again, and it added a really cool buzzy sound to them. So I was going to drill a small 1/4 inch hole in the metal bendy bit at the top to see if that gives me better low notes with my new "resister" hole.
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Author: Hunter_100
Date: 2023-01-17 00:12
I think this thread is just made up nonsense by an internet troll to try and rile up someone on this board.
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Author: jdbassplayer
Date: 2023-01-17 00:12
Can you post pictures of the modifications you did? I'm very curious now...
-JDbassplayer
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Author: smokindok
Date: 2023-01-17 01:31
Hunter 100, absolutely!
Perhaps the same kid who has trolled the board a couple times before? I think everyone will know the threads I am referring to.
Those previous trolling posts were more psychologically disturbing, while this one is much more entertaining, dealing with alto clarinet abuse.
Meanwhile... waiting for those photos :-)
John
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Author: Hurstfarm
Date: 2023-01-17 01:44
I’ve checked to see if it’s April 1st already, but my phone says not. Maybe if I drill a hole in it it’ll correct…
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Author: philmooremusic
Date: 2023-01-17 02:43
Sorry it's taken a while, but I'm trying to figure out how to add a photo. Drop and drag doesn't seem to work.
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Author: jdbassplayer
Date: 2023-01-17 02:46
Before you post click "Add Attachments" and you can add a picture. Make sure it is below 2MB otherwise it will not post (on phone just crop the image a little).
-JDbassplayer
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Author: philmooremusic
Date: 2023-01-17 02:56
I'm new to this site, but gosh, there's a lot of negativity.
I'm trying to fix the alto clarion not abuse it.
The body has different name on it though; it says CONN with a weird half round shape on it. I'm going to make a better bottom piece that's not dented.
I think I figured out a way to work the top hole part though.
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Author: lydian
Date: 2023-01-17 05:11
Well, I think this thread is one of the best I've ever seen on this site.
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Author: Pokenerd
Date: 2023-01-17 07:02
Poor alto clarinet! How did you get the idea of drilling a hole? Were those note really that out of tune??? If you could tell they were out of tune you could probably also tell that the clarion register is also weirdly sharp like how jdbassplayer said.
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Author: Hunter_100
Date: 2023-01-17 07:28
I am speechless. I appologise for accusing the original poster of being a troll. I guess you really did drill a hole in your clarinet.
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Author: donald
Date: 2023-01-18 03:52
You guys are being pranked... or whatever they call it...
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