Klarinet Archive - Posting 000502.txt from 1998/08

From: "David B. Niethamer" <dnietham@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: Re: [kl] A nasty question about Buffet
Date: Mon, 17 Aug 1998 23:06:04 -0400

on 8/17/98 5:34 PM, CEField@-----.com wrote:

>Perhaps if enough people share their experiences here, we can come up with
>some sort of empirical conclusion about the likelihood of cracking based on
>year of manufacture.

My Buffet A clarinet from 1971 has never cracked - beautiful sounding
horn.

I have a Bb from around the same time (too lazy to go look up the serial
# and check) that has a crack in the upper joint. I used it here in the
RSO, and my colleagues really liked the sound of that instrument. It has
a bore that is as smooth as glass. One of my colleagues (a
non-clarinetist) tells me that in some circles, the fact that a crack has
developed and been repaired is a relatively good thing, the "theory"
being that the crack releases any tension in the material, and allows for
better, more resonant vibration. Undoubtedly this will fail to meet the
scientific standards of the physicists. But I liked this clarinet, in
spite of its repaired crack - it played very nicely.

I have a C clarinet from 1899, no cracks (no, the date is not a typo!)
The piece of wood is a beauty!

David

David Niethamer
Principal Clarinet, Richmond Symphony
dnietham@-----.edu
http://members.aol.com/dbnclar1/

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