Klarinet Archive - Posting 000087.txt from 1995/01

From: "David A. GILMAN" <DAGILMAN@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re: Serial Numbers
Date: Fri, 6 Jan 1995 11:33:56 -0500

In response to Bill's question regarding pre-WWII instruments, the
one warning I can provide concerns pitch. Most instruments were tuned to
a'@-----. After the
war, the standard rose to a'=440, but not all at once: some players still
stuck to the older standard. Even if your barrel is short enough to produce
a' at 440, your scale could be off. [There's a tenor sax player with this
problem in a band I play in: you can't help noticing it.] By the way, what
is the general pitch standard in Australia? 440? 442? I'd like to know.
Good luck!
David Gilman