Klarinet Archive - Posting 001078.txt from 1999/07

From: Richard Bush <rbushidioglot@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Buffet Clarinet - Specification Pitch
Date: Tue, 27 Jul 1999 02:17:29 -0400

Dave,

Come on, get serious. We all adapt and adjust between A and Bb instruments. How
much of an adjustment might you perceive or feel in your fingers between an A
440 and an A 442 instrument? I think your fingers typed before your brain was
doing any proofing.

David B. Niethamer wrote:

> 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/
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
> 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

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