Klarinet Archive - Posting 000791.txt from 1998/09

From: "Kevin Fay (LCA)" <kevinfay@-----.com>
Subj: [kl] Aluminum & Plastic Buffets
Date: Tue, 22 Sep 1998 11:56:30 -0400

Mr. Kloc wrote:

<snip>

So maybe it is why even if we make a plastic professional clarinet one day
like somebody suggested lately it will not cost much less than the wooden
ones. exept if we don't use the skills of our maker wich is something,I am
pretty sure Buffet will not do. Again i would like to say to everyone that I
enjoy and I am proud to be ablle to discuss about so many things on this
list.Thank you for you post everyone.

<endsnip>

I'll restate--when my wife bought her Loree oboe w/ the ABS top joint, it
cost *more* than the all-wood model. I would expect the labor cost to be
roughly the same; while the plastic joint could be molded to roughly the
correct shape, the pro model would require the same machining etc. as a wood
one. The material cost is only a very small part of the cost of the horn,
even with a rare wood like Mpingo. What is expensive--irreplaceable, in
fact--is the expertise of the folks like Mr. Kloc.

The Greenlines seem to be a good first step. I tried one, and thought that
it sounded just fine. Too heavy for my poor right thumb, however. When
Buffet makes a plastic pro horn, I'll buy one. Maybe two (in various keys,
of course).

Dee noted that aluminum is heavy. I don't know how many of you have played
the Buffet Elite--a thinwall Mpingo clarinet. Plays very nice, albeit
(IMHO) with a somewhat brighter tone. I wonder if one could be milled out
of aluminum?

kjf

-------------------------------------------------------------------------