Klarinet Archive - Posting 000351.txt from 1998/06

From: "Kevin Fay (LCA)" <kevinfay@-----.com>
Subj: RE: RE: [kl] Why Intermediate Horns?
Date: Tue, 9 Jun 1998 19:32:10 -0400

I think you are not correct, on either account. The grenedilla blanks used
on the wood horns are different? How? My R-13 Eb has minor flaws in it;
the Noblet C I tried last week did not. The only "grading" of the wood is
whether or not the blank can be used. If it can be used, it's turned into a
clarinet.

As far as the "pro keys" go, I can see no discernable difference in the
keywork on any of the Yamaha or Buffet horns. Leblanc has some cosmetic
differences in the left hand trill keys--but they are really no different
than the "jump" keys used on their Infinite and Eternite models. All of
them are power forged, which costs exactly the same to manufacture for each.
The only minor difference I know of is that the silver plating on the Buffet
intermediate horn is thinner than the nickel plating on the R-13.

An accounting of the actual manufacturing costs would show a difference of a
few dollars, at most. Even if the difference was as high as a hundred
bucks--and it certainly isn't--that would not explain how the price of a
Concerto is three times that of a Noblet 45. No way.

kjf

-----Original Message-----
From: Kathy Sue [mailto:rcopsey@-----.net]
Subject: Re: RE: [kl] Why Intermediate Horns?
Importance: High

Kevin,
The wood on an intermediate and pro horn ARE different. What they do
is take the best sounding wood and put 'pro' keys on it. The others, they
put either 'intermediate' or 'begining' keys on. The point of an
intermediate instrument is for someone to have a chance at a better
instrument that doesn't cost nearly as much as a pro instrument. If you
need anything else, let me know.
KSC
Kathy's Instrument
Repair

rcopsey@-----.net

I second the emotion.

Of course, I'm one of those folks who would even purchase a pro-level
plastic horn (if one were available)--my wife loves her Loree oboe with the
plastic top joint, because there will be no more cracks and the sound is
EXACTLY the same.

I just don't get the whole concept of the "intermediate" instrument. I
understand completely from a manufacturing-engineering standpoint how an
injection molded plastic part can cost less that an endangered tree. I do
not understand, however, how a wood Normandy can cost $0.01 less to produce
than a Concerto--the wood is the same, and the workmanship on both horns is
excellent. Why does the Concerto cost three times as much? And more
importantly, why, if the cost is the same (or thereabouts), does Leblanc
insist on producing horns with an inferior bore/scale? Ditto these issues
for the other manufacturers--although Leblanc

I have always counseled students to buy a shiny new plastic horn,
principally for the reasons Sherry sets forth below. The street price of a
new Vito is not much more than an overhaul of the attic horn, and the
teacher won't have to worry about pads etc. Once the student has progressed
to a point where a better horn is "needed," the time has come to get the
R-13 (or 10G or YCL-72 or whatever).

kjf

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