Klarinet Archive - Posting 000221.txt from 1998/09

From: Bill Hausmann <bhausman@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Leon Trotte clarinet
Date: Mon, 7 Sep 1998 09:42:58 -0400

At 11:54 PM 9/6/98 -0500, Mike (mpiede) wrote:
>I have an old wooden Leon Trotte (Paris) clarinet I am restoring. The
clarinet is a Boehm
>system. It seems to be original with the exception of an unmarked ebonite
barrel.
>
>I have a few questions.
>
>1. why the ebonite barrel
> a. the original cracked ?
> b. maybe it was a high pitch instrument and someone wanted to bring it in
tune?
> (the barrel is a 66mm)
> c. other possibilities ? (was it the original barrel ????)
>
>2. what level clarinet was the Leon trotte.
> It seems to play well, with good tone and intonation even with a very
> old (and well repaired) crack in the upper joint.
> The sound not is not as dark as my Strasser's.
> (I am still not sure which tone I prefer)
> even as a work in progress though the intonation and tone is noticeably
> superior to my daughter's wooden Bundy using her B45 mouthpiece
> on both clarinets.
>
>3. I am having some trouble seating the larger pads.
> It seems as if the keywork was set up for thinner pads.
>
>4. There is still a bit of work involved with getting the keywork,springs
and pads right.
> Is this instrument worth the time and effort I am giving it.
>
If it sounds as good and plays in tune as you say, why WOULDN'T it be worth
it? Just because it doesn't have the Buffet trademark stamped on it? You
can always retire the Bundy. Clarinet pads DO come in both thick and thin
types, so you may be right in your diagnosis about the keywork. I can't
say I have ever heard of the make, though. But I've run into very few Rene
Dumonts in my time, either, other than my own first clarinet.

Bill Hausmann bhausman@-----.com
451 Old Orchard Drive http://www.concentric.net/~bhausman
Essexville, MI 48732 http://members.wbs.net/homepages/z/o/o/zoot14.html
ICQ UIN 4862265

If you have to mic a saxophone, the rest of the band is too loud.

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