 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Vubble3
Date: 2013-11-13 15:38
I have a buffet rc prestige A clarinet. The whole clarinet plays fine in tune except that one middle C which plays crazily sharp. It uses a really old skin pad which I believe is partially the problem. What do I do about this?
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Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2013-11-13 16:50
Which is "that one middle C" - long C (C5)? Does it play sharp with both the left and the right hand fingerings, or only one of them?
Where is the "really old skin pad" - in which cup. How do you know it's really old - is it torn?
Probably wouldn't hurt to replace the pad whether it's the cause or not if it really is old enough to be dried out and isn't sealing. You could test whether the pad is leaking enough to cause a problem with the note by putting some thin plastic wrap (Saran or similar) over the pad surface and trying the C to see if it's any better. The thing is, it's unusual for C5 to have a problem and bot the B a half step lower (B4), which needs the same pad to close plus an additional one below it.
Karl
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2013-11-13 18:02
On some clarinets the lowest tonehole (through which the 'long' low-clarion middle C vents) is a bit oversized or misplaced, so I line the upper part of that tonehole with some cork to make the tonehole a bit smaller in diameter and effectively move it downward along the instrument. This at the expense (not too noticeable) of making its lower 12th, the low chalumeau F, a bit flatter.
I can't think of any reason why a pad, if still sealing 100%, would affect the pitch of that note.
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Author: Caroline Smale
Date: 2013-11-13 18:39
In piano terms middle C is C4.
Are you talking about that C or about C5 which since the clarinet has 4 Cs isn't strictly middle.
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Author: Caroline Smale
Date: 2013-11-13 22:30
As in all problems eliminate the most obvious things first.
If the pad looks dodgy change it (or get a tech to do it).
It's not a hard pad to change, just ensure that apart from seating properly the C is correctly regulated via the crowsfoot with the B.
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