Klarinet Archive - Posting 001076.txt from 1999/07

From: "David B. Niethamer" <dnietham@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: [kl] Buffet Clarinet - Specification Pitch
Date: Tue, 27 Jul 1999 02:17:27 -0400

on 7/25/99 11:33 PM, Michael wrote:

>The reason I was asking is that I purchased a new RC13 some 8 months ago,
>believing it to be a 440 pitch. Following a recent post to this list, I
>obtained a copy of the Buffet catalogue for current models and it clearly
>displays the pitch for all but the Prestige and the Elite) as being 442.
>The dealer acknowledges the facts. I am now arranging for my RC13 to be
>tested.
>
>Perhaps your assertion reflects one of the reasons proffered me, although I
>had tentatively rejected it - that is, Buffet produces different pitches for
>different regional markets. This doesn't make much sense to me, but......

I've always wondered exactly how any manufacturer could state with so
much assurance that their instrument would play at 440 or 442.
Mouthpieces make a tremendous difference, and can make a clarinet play at
either pitch. Barrels can have a similar effect. I know that the tone
holes are theoretically placed to produce either a 440 or 442 scale. But
given the vagaries of the manufacturing process, and the tendency of the
wood to change after it is cut and then played in after purchase, and the
added fact that the difference between 440 and 442 is so small, I can't
see how manufacturers can say that a instrument is definitely one pitch
or another. This is further complicated by the fact that the design has
to be made practical for the human anatomy, and has pitch compromises on
certain notes as a result.

We switched from A=442 to A=440 in the Richmond Symphony a few seasons
back. A new mouthpiece, to aid in lowering certain areas of the
instrument, and I was in business on my Yamaha 72's, which I've played
(at several pitch levels!!) since 1985.

David

David Niethamer
Principal Clarinet, Richmond Symphony
dnietham@-----.edu
http://members.aol.com/dbnclar1/

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