Klarinet Archive - Posting 000116.txt from 1994/02

From: Jordan Selburn <jselburn@-----.COM>
Subj: Re: Older clarinets
Date: Thu, 10 Feb 1994 12:32:53 -0500

Anne Vacca writes:
>I have a question-
> Do clarinets get better or do they worsrn with age?
>
> My Buffet R13 was made in the mid 1960's I think
> (serial number 59806)
>
> I have heard that clarinets die (i don't know the proper term here)
> That the wood tunds bad, and doesn't respond anymore.
>
> Is there any validity to this statement? Or have I just been
>told old wives tales about the clarinets as they age?
>

Anne -

My R13 is serial number 81996 and was made in 1963. I'd guess that yours
was made sometime in the mid '50s - it is possible to find out exactly.
For example, Clark Fobes, a clarinet repair wizard (who also makes great
mouthpieces!), has a complete list - that's how I found out when mine was
made.

You've opened up a real can of worms with the "senile-clarinet" syndrome.
It was discussed a few months ago on the Internet (rec.music.classical)
without any firm conclusion. Without any objective evidence of
degredation, all that remains is speculation and opinion. And there are
some pretty heavyweight opinions on both sides.

In my case, at least, my sound is influenced by factors much greater than
the age of my clarinet. Primarily, the amount of practice time that I get
swamps out any equipment considerations. I've played some new instruments
and prefer some of them to mine, but who's to say that age is the cause?
On the other hand, who wouldn't want an excuse to buy a new pair of the
Prestige (or Opus, or Concerto, or Recital, or Elite . . .)?

Regards,
Jordan