Klarinet Archive - Posting 000348.txt from 1998/09

From: Lee Hickling <hickling@-----.Net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Introduction and question
Date: Fri, 11 Sep 1998 13:27:00 -0400

Julian, you wrote:

>How can I check the pads so that I can be sure that's not where the
>problem is?

Professional repair people sometimes block both ends of the section and use
compressed air. At home, if you have or can borrow a pen-sized flashlight,
go into a dark room, close the pad you suspect, and put the light down the
barrel, dangling it on a string if necessary.

>I play a Buffet Crampon Continentale. That BTW reminds me of another
>question I have: can the Continentale be compared to any of today's
>Buffet models, if so, to which one(s). The serial # indicates that
>it's from 1973. What level instrument is this?

I'm sorry -- I don't know a great deal about Buffet models. All I can say
is that few if any top of the line clarinets have problems like the one you
describe. But I think any Buffet is a good instrument, and some of them are
superb. If the clarinet suits you otherwise, I still believe that asking a
professional repairer and adjuster to take a look at it is the best thing
to do.

Lee Hickling <hickling@-----.net>

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