Klarinet Archive - Posting 001193.txt from 1998/09

From: "Mark A. Bradley" <markb@-----.com>
Subj: [kl] Re:Old Buffet LP in A
Date: Wed, 30 Sep 1998 18:24:52 -0400

Well I recently joined the Plattsburgh community orchestra at State
University of NY at Plattsburgh. We're playing a tough piece for A
clarinet. The college owns 2 A clarinets and there are 3 players. One
was lost was found and given to me by the principal since she says she
can transpose it now pretty well.

I received it today from her. The keys are purely orange, I am sure
most of the pads are leaking, the auxiliary Eb lever that you have to
*reach* to press is rather loose, and every key that is pressed is
accompanied by a "chink" or "grind". I have never actually seen a
clarinet that was so old but I thought could be a new one that has just
fallen into massive disrepair. The model is an "LP" and the serial
number is 1D 82. On the sneezy site that would place it around 1910
unless I'm mistaken.

It is an interesting clarinet with a few quirks that I'll have to get
used to (I haven't played it yet, but you can imagine how a terrible
instrument like this will sound in the hands of an amateur). All in all
it doesn' seem too bad for a clarinet that has been around since 1910
(you can still see the pretty blue on the springs at least). As you can
imagine, SUNY Plattsburgh doesn't have the best music department.

It is all one piece except the barrel and bell. It has what I believe
has been described as an articulated C#/G# but I'm not sure exactly.
The C#/G# key's hole and pad is on the top of the clarinet and
depressing the lower rings will close the pad regardless if the key is
depressed or not (like on sax). It has an auxiliary Eb lever that is
nowhere near as nice as I have seen on the new Festival models. There
is a sliver key for the right hand between the first and second fingers
(in addition to the one that is between the second and third) that
appears to have the same function as the C#/G# key but I have not tried
it yet. I imagine it is used for some trill fingerings but I'm not
sure. The left hand levers are actually attached to the point where it
is supposed to lift up close the pad (I'm probably not describing it
well). The bottom joint has a metal ring on it but the top has none.

Well sorry I just thought I'd share this somewhat interesting story
(interesting for me-I've never played a clarinet with this stuff on it)
and I sure hope that I won't break it or anything. Are any of the
things that I have described found on today's instruments? I probably
will buy my own A in the next year or two (if I find a job!!) and I
probably won't miss this one once it's gone. Good enough for the
community orchestra I suppose (better than listening to me trying to
transpose!)

Mark A. Bradley
Chazy, NY
markb@-----.com

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