Klarinet Archive - Posting 000613.txt from 1996/04

From: thehat@-----.ORG
Subj: Re: Annual clarinet,clean
Date: Sun, 21 Apr 1996 23:01:12 -0400

In a message dated 04-19-96 INTERNET: sfowler@-----.netc wrote to ** ALL **:
Is> Do you really think that the extra rings on the Prestige make _that_
Is> much of a difference. Buffet inisits that it is the better and longer
Is> aged wood. Are they feeding us a line?

I owned a Prestige b-flat for a while and there was definately something
which made it MUCH heavier than an R-13. I doubt it was only the tenon rings.
The wood of that clarinet had a beautiful brown tint to it and the grain was
lovely, as was the sound, especially compared to the R-13s of the time (1991)
which were very inconsistent. When I bought my new b-flat (1995) the quality
control was much improved overall, and I was able to buy an R-13.

Incidentally, I sold the Prestige clarinet because its bore became
constricted at the very top (between the top of the upper joint tenon and the
register post). This caused the high register to be somewhat flat. More than
one repair person suggested the metal tenon ring was responsible for this
constriction, and suggested having it removed, hoping that the bore would
open back up. I sold the instrument at that point. Anyone (Clark Fobes) know
anything about this kind of thing happening to others?

David Hattner
clarinetist-at-large, NYC
-> Alice4Mac 2.4.4 E QWK Eval:04Feb96
Origin: Hat's Nut House