Klarinet Archive - Posting 000331.txt from 1997/05

From: ghopkins@-----.net (Gary Hopkins)
Subj: Re: Tuning and Reeds
Date: Sat, 10 May 1997 09:50:21 -0400

Marty, you are correct about the mouthpiece making tons of difference in
the way an instrument tunes. They make all the difference in the way a
clarinet responds. You are also correct in your statement about the large
number of R13's that are being played. They ARE NOT an inferior instrument,
and I did not mean to infer that they were. However, I do feel that the
R13's made in the last decade and a half are not the same as the ones made
prior to the late 70's. No clarinet plays perfectly in tune. No clarinet
player plays perfectly in tune. A person can send their clarinet off to a
specialist, and spend several hunderd dollars to have the instrument
"tuned", and if you don't use a good mouthpiece and reed combination you
won't have good results. Also, if you don't listen, and blend in with
the the ensemble, no amount of money spent on equipment will keep you from
sticking out like a sore thumb.........Several companies make good
clarinets. Selmer, Leblanc, Buffet, Wurlitzer, Yamaha, etc.....They are all
makers of fine instruments. They are all makers of lizards as well. No two
clarinets play alike....I guess what I'm saying is you should not take what
is said by me, or anyone else on the list, as gospel.....or as a personal
affront.

Gary

>I have a recently manufactured set of R13's (about 390,000 serial #'s) and
>they tune at exactly
> A440. They tune lower than any clarinets I have owned previously.
>Mouthpieces can make
> major pitch differences. The mouthpiece I use now requires shorter
>barrels(65mm on Bb clarinet
> and 64mm on A cl.) . Too many players play R13's in tune for anyone to
>make a blanket statement
> as to their being inferior.
>
> Marty Marks