Klarinet Archive - Posting 000744.txt from 1999/05

From: Roger Garrett <rgarrett@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: [kl]Hans Moennig's solution the Dark Clarinet Tone
Date: Sun, 16 May 1999 09:20:06 -0400

On Sun, 16 May 1999, Bill Hausmann wrote:
> No, but it WAS worked on by Brannen, right?

Of course - after I selected it and played a recital on it. I had things
I wanted done - but it didn't need undercutting, bore changes, bell
changes, or anything to correct "flaws" that you suggest are manufacturing
defects. There were no defects. I simply want him to customize it for my
use. I like his work - and I don't think anyone else is capable of doing
everything he does - not mass producer, etc. For the record, he doesn't
change the design at all.

> The story (I forget who posted it) of the corrections needed to get a
> Buffet A clarinet right, involving cutting off one end and extending the
> other, seemed like evidence enough. That would qualify as correcting a
> serious design deficiency, not just "fine tuning." If this is, in fact, an
> extremely rare situation, then maybe I am a lathered up over nothing. If
> the whole lot of them requires that sort of attention to play correctly,
> then there is a production problem that needs attention immediately!

He didn't say to get it to play right - I don't recall that it didn't play
right. I recall that he had it customized to fit HIS needs - and other
players liked it so they asked for the same thing. You can interpret that
as a design deficiency if you like, but, as I said before, for every 20
that Moennig did, there were 1000 played on that he didn't do. Your
conclusions seem a bit extreme to me.

Roger Garrett
Professor of Clarinet
Director - Concert Band, Symphonic Winds & Titan Band
Advisor - Recording Studio
Illinois Wesleyan University

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