Avrahm Galper Register Vent and Key

for Buffet R13 Bb Clarinets

Figure 1.

Galper Vent and Register Key on Buffet R13 Bb Clarinet.

Although I am not a dealer of this wonderful invention created by Abe Galper. I am so enamoured of the product that I have created this page to share more information about it based upon my personal experience. I believe that virtually all clarinetists who play Buffet R13 Bb clarinets can benefit from this replacement register vent (see Figure 2) and new register key. If you don't already have a "perfect" clarinet, you owe it to yourself to try Mr. Galper's invention.

As David Blumberg explains, "The pinch Bb has always been a stuffy note because the normal register vent is too short. Increasing the length of the vent internally creates problems. Abe Galper created a longer register vent by extending the vent outside of the body of the clarinet. This not only remedies the stuffy Bb problem but also makes the clarinet feel much more even-blowing in the upper register. Uneven resistance is now a thing of the past."

 

About The Inventor

Internationally known and respected, Avrahm "Abe" Galper was principal clarinetist with the Toronto Symphony for 30 years. Mr. Galper also served as principal clarinetist with the Palestine Opera Company, the Israel Philharmonic, the C.B.C. Symphony, the Toronto Philharmonic, and the Canadian Opera Company.

(photo courtesy of Avrahm Galper)

Galper played under conductors Andrew Davis, Karl Ancerl, Seiji Ozawa, Walter Susskind, Sir Ernest Macmillan, John Barbirolli, Pierre Monteaux, Colin Davis, Efrem Kurtz, Charles Munch, Leopold Stokowski, and many others.

He taught at the Indiana University at Bloomington. He has also given master classes in Beijing and Shanghai, China. He was clarinet consultant to the Claude Watson School of Arts in Toronto. He was a member of the Music Faculty at the University of Toronto and a member of the Faculty of the Glenn Gould Professional School of Music at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto.

Mr. Galper first studied with Tzvi Tzipine in Palestine, later with Frederic Thurston at the Royal College of Music in London. In New York he studied with Simeon Bellison of the New York Philharmonic.

Now through his books and inventions, clarinetists of all ages and abilities can benefit from Mr. Galper's experience as a professional clarinetist and teacher of clarinet.

 

Ordering Information

For specific questions about the invention or to order your Galper register vent and key, please click on the photo below to contact David Blumberg, the US representative for the invention.

 

Figure 2.

Original Buffet R13 Bb Clarinet Vent Tube and Galper's Replacement Vent. Only the tubular part of Galper's invention protrudes into the bore of the clarinet.

 

More Details about Galper's Invention

BENEFITS

•Produces a much improved, more open throat or "pinch" Bb, as good or better than the same tone produced by the alternate trill key fingering.

•Offers seamless transition between registers, potentially eliminating the terms "break" and "grunt" from the clarinet lexicon of all Galper key users.

•Supports more fluid playing.

•Causes NO adverse effect on tone or intonation.

•Includes replacement register vent and register key with preinstalled cork pad and flat spring. The key has recently been modified for compatibility with all Buffet R13 rod screws.

•Feels just like your existing register key. The pad cup area of the key is arched (see Figure 3 below) to accommodate the new vent. The touch piece feels identical to that of the original R13 register key.

•Installs easily enough for competent do-it-yourselfers.

Figure 3.

Galper's "Kit" Includes the New Vent and New Register Key with Preinstalled Cork Pad and Flat Spring. You use the original Buffet rod screw to attach the key to your clarinet.

Figure 4.

Vent Tube Removal Tool from Ferree's Tools Used to "Pop" Out the Original Buffet R13 Vent.

 

REQUIREMENTS

•Buffet R13 Bb clarinet in proper playing condition*

•Clean, padded work surface

•Rag or shop towel

•Screwdriver sized correctly to remove and insert rod screw

•Vent Tube Removal Tool (see Figure 4) or cushioned handle of needle-nose or other pliers.

•Cotton swab and clean water

•Key lubricating oil

•Candle wax or bee's wax

•Votive or other household candle

* If your clarinet is not already in top playing condition with well-seated pads, you would be wise to have the instrument overhauled before investing in Galper's register vent and key. Or, better yet, ask your local repairer to overhaul the instrument and install the Galper mechanism at the same time!

Figure 5.

Buffet R13 Bb Clarinet after Removal of Original Register Key.

 

INSTALLATION STEPS

Disclaimer: If you are not comfortable working on your clarinet, do not attempt to install this device. You could crack your instrument or burn yourself. This is an adults-only project. Even then, it is only for those adults who are handy with basic tools and aware of proper safety procedures. If you have any misgivings about performing this procedure, ask a local musical instrument technician to perform it for you. The cost should be minimal. Installation takes nor more than 15 minutes.

If you are an adult and feel competent working on your clarinet, here are the steps to follow. The basic procedure was provided by David Blumberg, the U.S. Contact for the Galper invention.

 

PREPARE YOUR CLARINET

•Use an appropriate size screw driver to remove the rod screw from the register key of your clarinet. Set the key aside for now.

•Wipe the rod screw with the rag or shop cloth to clean the screw's surface of oily residue. (If the "gunk" is heavy, use a little rubbing alcohol on the rag to help clean the screw and its threads.) Your clarinet should look like Figure 5.

•Insert the Vent Tube Removal Tool (or pliers handle) carefully into the top opening of the upper joint of the clarinet. This is the end that is nearer the register vent.

•Place the flattened end of the tool against the register vent inside the bore of the instrument. The vent is removed from the inside and pops outside the clarinet.

•Press the tool (or pliers handle) toward the wall of the clarinet to "pop" the register vent out of its hole. Do not use extraordinary force. Do not to strike the bore of the clarinet with the tool.

•Set the original register vent aside next to the original register key. Later on, you can store the original key and vent in a safe place.

•Use the cotton swab and a drop of water to clean the register vent hole. Allow the hole to air dry.

 

INSTALL GALPER'S REGISTER VENT AND KEY

•Rub a very light coating of candle wax or bee's wax over the sides of the tubular half of Galper's register vent.

•From the outside of your clarinet, insert the tubular end of the vent as far as it will go into your clarinet. Do not overtighten. The candle wax may create some frictional resistance but it helps ensure a secure fit. Your instrument should look like Figure 6 below.

•Put a small drop of key oil on the threads of the rod screw.

•Install Galper's register key using the Buffet rod screw and your screwdriver. Your clarinet will look like Figure 1.

 

Figure 6.

Buffet R13 Bb Clarinet with New Galper Register Vent Installed.

 

TEST FOR LEAKS

•Cup the bottom of the upper joint of your clarinet with the fleshy part of your right palm to seal off the bottom tenon.

•Close the ring key holes and the C/G hole with your left hand as if you were playing chalumeau C. This completely closes the upper joint so you can find out if any pads are leaking.

•Create suction by drawing a vacuum with your mouth at the top of the joint. If the instrument's pads are perfectly sealed, the suction should be very strong and you should feel some of the flesh of your right hand gently drawn into the joint.

•Whether or not your instrument passes the suction test in the previous step, cover the holes for chalumeau C, block the bottom tenon, and blow through the clarinet to see if there are any leaks or weak springs. If your instrument passes the suction and blowing tests, you are ready to assemble and play test your clarinet. Skip to the "PLAY TEST YOUR CLARINET" section below. If the tests fail and you are certain that all of the other pads on your clarinet are seated properly (and springs are sufficiently tensioned to keep normally closed keys closed) proceed with the next section.

 

RESEAT THE CORK PAD (IF NECESSARY)

If the instrument fails either of the tests described in the section above, the pad in Galper's register key probably needs to be reseated. Continue with these steps to reseat the pad:

•Remove the Galper register key.

•Light a votive or other household candle. (Woodwind technicians will probably use their alcohol lamp.)

•Carefully position the pad end of Galper's key above the candle with the metal pad cup toward the flame and the cork pad away from the flame and toward you. Do not hold the key closer than 2 or 3 inches from the candle flame and do not hold it there for more than 5 seconds. You want to liquefy the glue, not scorch the key cup, or "toast" the pad. Distances may vary depending on the heat generated by the candle. In any case, be careful because the pad cup will be hot. I like to use votive candles because they tend not to leave carbon residue on the pad cup.

•While the key cup is still hot (and the glue liquefied), rotate and "float" the pad so that it sits evenly in the pad cup. Replace the key on your clarinet, adjusting the pad in the cup as you do so to maintain a good seal. Use the suction and blowing tests described above to judge the evenness of the seal. Reseat the pad, if necessary, until your instrument passes the tests and is leak free.

•Extinguish the candle as soon as you are finished seating the cork pad to avoid accidents.

•Allow the pad to settle in for several minutes to allow the glue to solidify. If you allow the new pad to sit overnight, a consistently even "ring" will most likely form in the cork pad by morning.

•Store the original Buffet register vent and register key in the packaging that came with your Galper vent and key.

 

PLAY TEST YOUR CLARINET

Drum roll, please!

As you play test the new system, pay special attention to improvement in the pinch Bb and in the new ease you will experience at what non-Galperians call "the break."

On a personal level, the Galper vent and key have helped me to play much more fluidly. I'm not sure that audiences would be able to discern the change because I was a pretty good clarinetist before. But thanks to the Galper mechanism, my clarinet is easier to play. And LOTS more fun!

 

SUMMARY

Although Avrahm Galper's innovative register vent and key combination for the Buffet Bb clarinet is somewhat expensive ($150 including shipping), the improvements it brings to your musicality are priceless.

[Note: I paid full price for my Galper setup; mine was not complimentary or discounted in any way.]

In my opinion, the invention can do wonders for students and adults who want to enjoy playing their clarinet more. For musicians who seek perfection in their playing, the innovation is a must-have improvement over the stock Buffet vent/key combination.

 

Text and photographs © 1998 Cynthia E. Field, Ph.D., except where indicated.

A Note from the Cynthia E. Field:

The information that follows is provided for reference only. My friend Abe Galper passed away several years ago but his invention is still available, says U.S. distributor David Blumberg. The following information, which reproduces an article I wrote in 1998, might be of interest to music historians or those wishing to contact Mr. Blumberg.

You can view some wonderful photos of Abe and just a few of his (and wife Charna’s) multitude of friends. The photos in this link were taken in 1999 by Canadian amateur clarinet player Larry Paikin and The Klarinet Mailing List moderator and clarinetist Mark Charette.

Cynthia E. Field • 17 November 2008