Klarinet Archive - Posting 000588.txt from 1997/02

From: Jrykorten@-----.com
Subj: R13 Intonation
Date: Mon, 17 Feb 1997 11:07:49 -0500

Skimming the newly and thankfully unreligious mail, I see the following
comments

>By the way the yamaha CX in my books is in some ways alot better
>than the Buffet R13. The mechanisim is alot smoother and the intonation
>is better, but may be it was just that I didnt pick up any good R13's.
>Franceska Nagy

and...

>Lip pressure rather than jaw pressure causes a
>fuzzy out tune sound. This is most often exhibited in the low register
>(both clarinet players and saxophone players tend to drop the jaw and use
>lip pressure over jaw pressure for the lower notes). This is one of the
>most common reasons why low E on the clarinet sounds so out of tune when
>played by so many players.

>Now, if you mean something else, I'm afraid you lost me.

>Adam
>amichlin@-----.edu
>amichlin@-----.com

Why is it that the R13 intonation has to be so bad? I recently bought a
couple of discontinued LeBlanc LX's (new at a great price) to use when I
travel for business (not wanting to take my R13's) and they play so well in
tune (and easily) that I find myself playing them instead!

Are we brainwashed? Has this been gone over before? I read vague references
to "can't screw around with bore design to improve intonation without
interfering with tone... yada yada yada" But it appears that manufacturers
can indeed split the intonation errors more evenly. The bore design on an R13
(reverse taper on top joint) is not even a "classical" cylinder design, so
they are not pursuing an absolute purist design.

Does Buffet care? Somebody take up the challenge and explain this to me. When
I go back to play my R13's I cannot believe how out of tune they play...

Armored and Ready for Incoming....

Jerry Korten
NYC