Klarinet Archive - Posting 000521.txt from 1998/08

From: Jim Lytthans <Lytthans@-----.net>
Subj: [kl] Buffet Problems
Date: Wed, 19 Aug 1998 12:38:28 -0400

Over the years, I've owned seven Buffets: a set from the mid 1950s, a
new Bb in 1980, a new set in 1994, an Eb, and a low-C bass, plus a set
of Yamaha 72s. So far (knock on Grenadilla) not have cracked. Many of
these horns have been on tours to places with hostile climates (I don't
mean politically). Of course the climate in Southern California is good
to woodwinds, with no drastic changes in temperature or humidity (that's
changing with Golbal Warming, though). I wonder if anyone at Buffet (or
other manufactures) has done a survey of cracking versus location.
Actually the only clarinet I've owned that cracked was an 1950s Selmer
Full-Boehm Centered Tone Bb. That horn had numerous extra keys, and
cracked early on at the articulated G#/C# key, located on the middle
tendon. The crack went into the bore, and ran up two tone holes to the
E/B key. Selmer replaced the entire upper joint on that one, after 14
months. But that was when clarinet generally had five-year warranties
on cracking. What does Buffet offer now, one-year?

--
Jim Lytthans
Principal Clarinet, La Mirada SO & Claremont Symphonic Winds
Anaheim, CA
http://home.pacbell.net/lytthans/index.html

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