Klarinet Archive - Posting 000747.txt from 1997/08

From: WLEEWOOD@-----.com
Subj: Re: klarinet-digest V1 #155
Date: Mon, 18 Aug 1997 23:08:31 -0400

I have been a lurker on this list for a while and have learned(?) a number of
things. I have comments on several recient strings. I played clarinet
through Jr Hi, Hi school, and college then quit for about 15 years. Then I
picked it up again about 10-12 years ago when my church started an orchestra.
I play last chair.

I have a Buffet R13 which my parents bought for me in 1954. During that time
I have played outside concerts, half-time shows in the rain, prades in
freezing temperatures and have never had a crack. When I recieved the
instrument the music store owner explained how to care for the instrument and
I have tried to. We did not have a good repair shop in town so I had to
learn how to do minor repairs myself. Replaceing pads is not difficult but I
would recomend starting with just one or two at a time. BTW shellac is not
too messy, that is all I use. (I keep a butane lighter in the case for
emergency replacements.)

When I started back I was still using the origional Buffet mouthpiece. I
started with 2 1/2 but in short order had to progress to 5 (Mitchell Lurie)
to keep from feeling as if I were playing with a wet noodle. The biggest
improvement in my tone came when I changed to a Combs LC3 mps.

Since I started back I've learned about the clarinet that I did not know
before. All the way through school our band directors were trumpet players
and tought very little about woodwinds. One high school director recommended
that we store reeds in a mixture of eucliptus oil and alcohol - I tried it --
UGH. Access to private instruction is important or at least having someone
available who knows your instrument.

As for marching with instruments, one year I played bari-sax and marched. I
believe that I does( or at least can) project enough to make a diffrence.
Alto and bass clarinet players used the soprano during marching season. If
you don't march woodwinds you might as well have a drum and bugal corp.

On micking the clarinet, I was glad to see Fred Jacobowitz's answer. Too
many people try to mic the bell of the clarinet - great for the sax etc but
not for the clarinet. I do wonder how the mic in the barrel joint sounds as
I have no experience with that setup.

And finally I'm glad to say that I know that my clarinet is made of wood so I
dont have to test it:-)

Lee Wood
Last chair whever I play.