Klarinet Archive - Posting 000260.txt from 1997/04

From: Luuk van Buul <vanbuul@-----.COM>
Subj: New clarinets (Was: wide twelfths)
Date: Thu, 17 Apr 1997 08:56:31 -0400

Gary VanCott = NHIN wrote:

> 04/07/97 04:33 PM
> I have a relatively new Buffet R-13. When I bought it I had tuner in hand
> and don't remember any particular problems.
>
> Now, I have noticed that the twelfths are a bit wide and a few notes are
> further out than the rest. The worst is the first line E, which is at least
> 15 cents flat. Middle C is a bit on the flat side too. The clarion register
> notes are pretty consistent.
>
> Questions: Can the twelfths change over this rather short period of time?
> Can the E be fixed without messing up the clarion B?
>
> Gary
> Las Vegas, NV
>
> Gary_VanCott@-----.com
>

I've bought two newly made clarinets: a Leblanc LX in December 1991 and an
Opus in November 1995. Before this I had a Buffet RC owned by the band I
played in. This was also newly bought, in 1987 if I remember correctly. I
was the first player.

My experience with these new instruments is that they change in some subtle way,
at least during the first 1 - 1.5 year (this is for an amateur who plays one
to two hours a day). I noticed changes in intonation, sound color and the
relative ease with which certain notes speak. When starting with a brand new
clarinet, some notes can be 'out-of-line' so to speak. They behave different
from their neighbours. After some time (0.5 year?) these differences tend to
become less significant. Some other notes may change for worse in this period.
After the next half year this also straightens out and the clarinet becomes one
whole instrument without noticeable discontinuities (if its a good one. Some
clarinets never reach this mature stage).
One 'large' change I noticed is that new clarinets become higher especially in
the second register left hand. When I was in the process of buying my Opus I
visted the Leblanc factory in France, along with three professional players. We
tried several clarinets (about twenty per type!) of the Opus and Concerto type
and we were not able to play them correctly in tune (at A@-----. Only
after I had asked for an extremely short barrel (62mm I think; which they made
for us on the spot!) we got them tuned. Nevertheless, I bought my Opus and
within two months it played very well in tune.
My theory is that the upper bore widens up a bit under the influence of thermal
and damp cycling. A Leblanc employee told me that virtually all returned cracked
clarinets are less than a half year old (so its no big deal to give a two year
warranty!). This indicates that relatively big changes take place in the wood
during this period.
My clarinets became 'stable' after two years.

Luuk van Buul

P.s. there is one other process that may be playing a role: maybe the
player adapts to his new instrument after some time. It appears as if the
instrument has changed but in reality you've changed yourself to 'match' the
characteristics of your clarinet.
--
===============================================================================
L.J.M. van Buul vanbuul@-----.com
Philips Research Waalre Philips Optoelectronics
Prof.Holstlaan 4
5656 AA Eindhoven Tel. +31 40 2744649
The Netherlands Fax. +31 40 2744335
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