Author: Douglas Wachter
Date: 2001-08-14 04:50
As a young man I permanently injured the second and third fingers of my left hand, and had to stop playing the clarinet. My problem was (and is) that I can't consistently cover hole #3, the one that usually has no key at all. In addition, I have a little trouble with hole #2, but the ring key helps quite a bit.
I'm determined to find a solution to my problem, because I miss the instrument a lot, and I'm not interested in the normally plateau-keyed instruments, such as the sax.
My research has turned up a variety of instruments with varying numbers of plateau keys, some in the wrong places for my needs! A number of Bulletin Board and other commenters have expressed concerns about getting a consistently good sound out of a note played on a hole with a covered key, due to inadequate "venting," (release of air through the hole). Apparently this can happen because our fingers lift higher than a pad will).
Does anyone have direct experience with any of these instruments (Vito 7214P, LeBlanc 50s, LeBlanc 1176PS, LeBlanc Paris #5615)? How about a plateau-style Normandy or Bundy)? Does the LeBlanc Paris Symphony III have a ring key at hole #3?
How about modifying a standard instrument to add a ring key or plateau key over hole #3 (which more that one tech has told me he/she could do)? Could this work?
I'd appreciate any comments, either to this board or to me directly at dwachter@aol.com
Thanks,
Doug
Carlsbad, CA
|
|
The Clarinet BBoard
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
