Klarinet Archive - Posting 000429.txt from 1998/08

From: Roger Garrett <rgarrett@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: [kl] R-13 Prestige vs R-13
Date: Sat, 15 Aug 1998 13:54:31 -0400

On Sat, 15 Aug 1998 reedman@-----.com wrote:
> Roger, It may be true that your Prestige plays higher than your
> standard R-13 clarinets, but I don't think that is a universal. I have
> played some older R-13's that are substantially higher pitched than my
> Prestige Bb. My Prestige A has always played a bit low and I have to use a
> 64mm barrel with it.

I think you are probably correct. That's interesting about the Prestige
A........

You mentioned the tenon caps......and those providing for a little extra
resistance.......do you think it is the resistance (which I like by the
way!) that can cause the pitch to raise slightly? Does your A clarinet
have the same resistance? Am I all wet?? (careful with that last
question).

> In fact, I have always maintained that Buffet clarinets are tuned
> closer to A@-----. If they were really tuned at
> A@-----.
> Also, with the many subtle variations to bores caused through machining
> there is a fairly wide variation in pitch among clarinets even of the same
> make. If Buffet was to actually advertise their instruments as A=440 I think
> they could be challenged. If they advertised them as A=441 they might lose
> some sales. So it is wise that Buffet not allude to any specific pitch level
> in their material.

With my last three R-13's and a Pyne mouthpiece, I was always A440 or
lower. If the piano was ever tuned at A441 or the orchestra/band
gradually raised in pitch over the course of the rehearsal (which they
always do), I was doomed. It is probable that my mouthpiece is dropping
my pitch to A440.....that is one of the things I liked about the Pyne
mouthpieces when I first started playing them.......thing is, my Kasper
does the same thing......and a few other mouthpieces. When I play on,
say, a David Hite mouthpiece, my pitch is much higher. So....this is
intersting about the clarinet being tuned at A441....hadn't thought to
much about that before.

Roger Garrett
IWU

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