Klarinet Archive - Posting 000869.txt from 1999/01

From: Mark Gustavson <mgustav@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Subjective and Objective
Date: Mon, 18 Jan 1999 12:26:25 -0500

As do all mass produced clarinets, it is true that on average Buffets have a
few problems with pitch and eveness. But does the problem require changes in
design or is it the realization of the design. Or stated differently, should
one change a great design for a clarinet, which I find the R-13 to basically
be, just because it is not being realized the best is can be. The three big
manufacturers mass produce and that cannot be overlooked. They make their
money by mass producing and they do the best they can with this approach but
we will always suffer to some degree because our instruments will not receive
enough attention before they leave the factory (that is in relative terms of a
Mercedes to a Rolls). This is why one must spend the time and money with a
repair tech after the purchase. Given that the instrument is very good to
begin with, an excellent tech can fine tune the clarinet to a high state and
eliminate many of the problems that have been discussed here without losing
the inherent qualities of the design.

I am responding to this on going accumulation of bytes about clarinet design
because I recently played on Guy Chadash's new clarinet. He states that the
design is "text book", basically like Buffet. The bore is different, a more
gradual cone than the Buffet. He uses well aged wood and prepares it
differently than Buffet. He also tunes the instrument according to the
mouthpiece the player uses though he prefers the instrument to be played with
a Kaspar (hey, its his instrument). There are also many small details
including a wooden thumb F insert. He spends a substantial amount of time on
each aspect of construction, a requirement for creating an excellent product.
His clarinet's tune impeccably and sound beautiful. To my ear, they sound very
much like a Buffet but more even and consistent throughout. I have no idea
how much they cost. However, the fact is clarinets are relatively inexpensive
professional instruments. Even if we spend many hours having our instruments
fine tuned by a top rate tech our investment can be well under $3,000.
Moreoever, if we were to buy three sets of Bb, A, C, Eb and bass throughout
our career we would still under spend the price of the average section
violinist's instrument (I'm not including some players vast collections of
Kaspars!).

If there is a problem with Buffets (BTW, my choice of instrument) it's not
their design as much as their realization of the design and this aspect should
not be overlooked but understood as a result of mass production. I certainly
think there can be many improvements to the acoustics of all clarinets but at
this point in time they would not be as noticeable of a change as the
difference between a hand-made clarient and a mass produced clarinet of the
same design.

Mark

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unsubscribe from Klarinet, e-mail: klarinet-unsubscribe@-----.org
Subscribe to the Digest: klarinet-digest-subscribe@-----.org
Additional commands: klarinet-help@-----.org
Other problems: klarinet-owner@-----.org