Klarinet Archive - Posting 001100.txt from 1997/12

From: Jacqueline Eastwood <eastwooj@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re: smooth or rough...Barrel -ing through..
Date: Tue, 30 Dec 1997 17:49:16 -0500

On Tue, 30 Dec 1997, Benjamin Leon wrote:

> Greetings!
> So, I finally saved enough to purchase a Buffet R 13.
> I have pretty good relations with a local music store, so I got to take 3 of
> these R 13's home to try..
> One of them feels great in the hands and is in decent tuning for my ears and
> tuner. I'll call this "A".
> "B" has a heavier feel in the action, which I know can be adjusted.
> Intonation is also pretty good.
> C is similar to the "A" in action but pitch is off a bit.
>
> Here is my concern..
> Clarinet "A" is rough/porous when you look through the tube length of the
> clarinet.
> Clarinet "B" is smooth (perhaps the term - FINISHED is a better choice) when
> you look down the interior length of the clarinet.

<CUT>
>
> Comments?
>
> Thanks..
> Ben
> BLEON@-----.EDU
>

After having been a member of this list for, gosh, about a year and a half
or so, I've seen lots of similar questions! The usual response seems to
be that pitch is the biggest issue: find a horn that's in tune with
itself, no more than 10 cents out on any given note (this can be
compensated for by the player; more than that and you have a problem!).
I've always considered cosmetic imperfections to be irrelevant; however,
I understand what you are saying about the rough bore. I suppose it would
be possible for water to collect in the striations and cause problems.

Anything cosmetic, mechanism-related or assembly-related should be
corrected by the shop before you make your purchase decision, in my
opinion (so that you can try the finished product, not trying to guess how
they will fix it if in fact you do buy it). Since you are on good terms
with them, why don't you ask before deciding?

I'm sure others will have helpful comments..........

Jacqueline Eastwood
University of Arizona/Arizona Opera Orchestra
eastwooj@-----.edu