Klarinet Archive - Posting 001039.txt from 1995/10

From: Jonathan Cohler <cohler@-----.NET>
Subj: Re: Professional Level [Rossi] Clarinets
Date: Mon, 30 Oct 1995 01:10:45 -0500

On 10/27/95, Lorne G. Buick said:

>Hi all- having played Rossi clarinets for a little over 5 years now, I
>would say they are definitely worth the price. They are built to at least
>as high a standard as any of the big-name clarinets (Buffet, Leblanc etc.)
>and are hand made and personally inspected by Rossi. It would be perhaps
>more appropriate to compare them (price-wise) to other hand-made
>instruments such as the Wurlitzers, which cost about $10,000 a pair in 1991
>(from an article in the Clarinet mag.).
>
>The only thing that surprises me about the story below (apart from the fact
>that anyone would steal clarinets at a convention) is that his production
>is still so small- I thought he had expanded a bit more. I guess I should
>write to him and get up-to-date...
>

I too play Rossi instruments and have been doing so for two years now. I
would add my voice in saying that they are of superior quality. In fact, I
was a long time Buffet devotee and had never found a clarinet that could
beat my Buffet set (including all the Howarth, Leblanc, Yamaha, other
Buffets...) until I played a Rossi instrument while on tour in Chile.

I was introduced to Luis Rossi by a mutual acquaintance down there, and
went to his home where I tried several of his instruments. Every one of
them was gorgeous. The technical innovations he has made, and quality of
sound and intonation of his instruments are in a class of their own above
anything else on the market.

He makes instruments in rosewood, cocobolo, or blackwood, and makes
English, French or American bores. He also has a few interesting keywork
options.
At present he makes only A and Bb instruments.

His current capacity, when I went to his factory this summer, was three
clarinets per month. He is gradually trying to grow this. If you order
from him it will take several months, as it would with any handmade
instruments. If you're interested, you can contact him via phone or fax at
(562) 274-3170 in Santiago.

----------------------
Jonathan Cohler
cohler@-----.net