Klarinet Archive - Posting 000363.txt from 1997/05

From: Martin Marks <mmarks@-----.net>
Subj: Re: Tuning and Reeds
Date: Sun, 11 May 1997 11:49:57 -0400

At 08:50 AM 5/10/97 -0500, you wrote:
>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
>
>
>Gary
No offense taken. I was just trying to address the problem several people
stated about playing sharp. Some mouthpieces on the market do play
sharper than others. Anyone who is playing consistently sharp might want
to try for example the newer Vandoren series M13 or maybe the Genusa
mouthpieces. These mouthpieces tune flatter than many others.
Marty
>
>