Klarinet Archive - Posting 000447.txt from 1996/08

From: lou polcari <polcari@-----.COM>
Subj: FW: Buffet's Frenchified bore
Date: Thu, 15 Aug 1996 12:04:34 -0400

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From: Michael L. Smith[SMTP:msmith@-----.NET]
Sent: Wednesday, August 14, 1996 8:35 PM
To: Multiple recipients of list KLARINET
Subject: Re: Buffet's Frenchified bore1970, I purchased a set of R-13s by

Hi Michael

I have been playing Buffets 18 years, and while in the service Band, I
played hundreds of different clarinets in the selecting process.

My own impressions of the instrument:

o It is somewhat stuffy, although I can't claim to have played on enough
Buffet A's to know that it is atypical in this regard,

The "stuffiness" can be lessened by most good woodwind repair man. The
smallest adjustments to the bell or tone holes may be all it takes. Have
you had this done?

o The throat B-flat is terribly sharp...certainly the single worst thing
about this particular instrument,

Ohhh yes... this is typical for Buffet clarinets. There are some
fingerings for the throat tones that will help both the intonation and
quality of the sound. when ever I can, I add (fingering) 1,3/1,3 and the
f/c key. You should note a more resonate and lower. I spent this last
year, twice making a tuning chart for my instrument that was very
interesting. If you are interested in the method I will share it with you
just let me now.

o All the way through undergrad and a Master's in Clarinet Performance, the
pitch center did not seem to me to be noticably higher than my R-13 b-flat
(which is a really lovely instrument).

Well, Mike I am sure you know most of this but I am interested in what you
find out about the F model.

Lou Polcari
polcari@-----.com