Klarinet Archive - Posting 000663.txt from 1998/04

From: DGross1226 <DGross1226@-----.com>
Subj: Re: And apropos of old instruments...
Date: Tue, 14 Apr 1998 05:07:28 -0400

In a message dated 98-04-13 19:42:42 EDT, you write:

<< It is a poor practice to add keys to antique or historical instruments,
which this one certainly is. Leave it alone, play it as it is, let it be what
it is. >>

I recently inherited my uncle's "newer" 1935 Buffet R-13 (Serial No. 18836)
which also did not have an adjusting screw on the G# key. Also, the lower G#
post served as the LH post for the A key (three posts instead of the current
four). Roger Garrett's earlier description of his Serial No. 555 could have
easily applied almost exactly to my horn. I had shared my initial experiences
with the horn with Tom Ridenour and received the following reply which I don't
think he'd mind me sharing with the List:

"The large bore of the 1930 instrument will cause the right hand low register
to be sharp in relation to the rest of the horn, and most especially in
relation to the second mode right hand pitches. The primary reason players
switched to the R-13 in the first place was not because of tone, it was
because of tuning: it had an acceptable sound, but lacked the extreme
sharpness of the larger bore clarinets which dominated the market until the
R-13. Makers knew for years that smaller bore clarinets tuned better, but
until the R-13 the tone was too strident. The R-13 yielded an acceptable
sound..........and much better tuning ratios."

Needless to say, it seems that Roger and my experiences -- at least with these
two vintage Buffets -- differ from Tom's.

Don Gross
La Canada, California