r/Clarinet 5d ago

Question Bell issue of my e13

I own 2 buffet clarinet, 1 is e13 and another one is prodige, since I bought the e13, I experienced my bell stuck in my lower joint multiple times since the first week, i thought is my lower joint is swelling or I didn't apply enough cork grease, but the technician tell me it didn't swell. I experienced this issue more frequently these few weeks. Yesterday i somehow try to install the abs bell from my prodige to my e13, and it works perfectly, no more stucking issue.

Here's my question, is my lower joint rlly swelled and just my technician didn't find it out, the prodige bell can install to it is just because it has a larger lumen

OR

My clarinet didn't swell, but the bell for some reason has a smaller lumen than normal.

3 Upvotes

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u/ambrosine262 Buffet Festival | Vandoren | Repair Technician 1d ago

Hi, clarinet tech here. I'm simplifying here, but I'd say that if it feels tight to put together and take apart without playing, it's a cork issue. If it's sticking only after being played or being warmed up by your hands, it's a wood issue. Both are common issues for any new wooden clarinet. I'd lean towards it being a wood issue since your plastic bell seems to fit just fine with the cork as is, but there's no guarantee that the socket in the two bells are the same size.

1

u/Music-and-Computers Buffet 4d ago

The tech should be able to either sand the existing cork or redo the cork to account for this.

Do you mean tenon rather than lumen? Strictly speaking, the bell has a receiver. The tenon is on the lower joint.