Klarinet Archive - Posting 001060.txt from 1998/07

From: <DGross1226@-----.com>
Subj: [kl] Los Altos Clarinetists
Date: Sat, 25 Jul 1998 22:50:20 -0400

Karen, I've been reading with interest the saga of your purchase of an A
clarinet. You sounded somewhat less than satisfied when you noted, "I ended
up buying the only one that actually sounded good."

I'm assuming you're studying privately. Did your teacher offer to help you in
your selection? Picking new horns is tough enough without having some
objective ears listening. A few months back, my wife got terribly tired of
listening as I went thru about 7 or 8 Clark Fobes barrels asking for a
pianist's assessment of the tone quality of each one in a sort double blind
test.

Karen, have you also thought about giving Dan Leeson a call? Los Altos isn't
that big a city. If there was ever a champion of the up and coming young
clarinetists on the list, he's it. One thing I've learned over the years is
that because age and treachery will win out over youth and zeal every time,
you might want just want to find out why for yourself. Of course with Dan,
it's age and "experience."

Just an idea...

Don Gross
La Canada, California

p.s. Where in the Bay Area is there a store that has that number of used A
clarinets? Or did you visit lots of music stores?

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