Klarinet Archive - Posting 001283.txt from 1998/05

From: Bill Hausmann <bhausman@-----.com>
Subj: RE: [kl] "Best" Plastic Clarinet (Why Bundy Stinks)
Date: Tue, 26 May 1998 17:54:29 -0400

At 08:44 AM 5/26/98 -0700, you wrote:
>There are 2 reasons that the U.S. Bundy and French Selmers "feel" different.
>
>First, they are made by separate companies. Selmer USA merely markets the
>French instruments here in the U.S. The U.S. made Bundys (Bundies?) and
>Signet horns are of a completely different design.
>
True statements.

>Second, the separate design/manufacture of the Bundy is inferior. The
>keywork is not forged, as the pro instruments (and everyone else's student
>horn), but cast--a much cheaper process.

I think you are in error here. Bundy/Signet keywork IS forged, but many
non-major brands (e.g., Cavalier, anything from China, etc.) do use cast
keywork, which breaks easily and is impossible to repair.

>All of the Selmer USA clarinets feature this weird-feeling keywork.

No argument here, though. Still, it may work for some people, perhaps
those with small hands (like beginning students). With any luck, Selmer
USA will quickly follow up their new student sax design with an overhaul of
the clarinets!

In addition, there are certain Bundy
>models that have remarkably bad intonation on purpose--because many young
>students have flaccid embouchures, the higher clarion notes (A, B and C in
>particular) are intentionally made to be extremely sharp. <snip> ...The
Artley/Conn/Hemke ain't bad.

Artley may be the WORST offender in this regard. The throat tones are
ridiculously sharp! And they are the only plastic clarinets I have ever
seen that have CRACKED!

Bill Hausmann bhausman@-----.com
451 Old Orchard Drive http://www.concentric.net/~bhausman
Essexville, MI 48732 http://members.wbs.net/homepages/z/o/o/zoot14.html
ICQ UIN 4862265

If you have to mic a saxophone, the rest of the band is too loud.

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