Klarinet Archive - Posting 000702.txt from 2000/08

From: Bilwright@-----.net (William Wright)
Subj: Re: [kl] Bill's new clarinet; was Plastic, wood and the G hole
Date: Wed, 23 Aug 2000 14:09:46 -0400

<><> Patty wrote:
Bill, what brand of clarinet did you buy?

I purchased a custom wood instrument, unlike any other on this
planet, that has been "stress relieved".

[ that is, I bought a used instrument that cracked several years ago.
The previous owner pinned and epoxied it. She felt that it was still a
great horn, but the "magic was gone" (her words). Partly because of my
budget, and partly because I have played this instrument for several
weeks and it sounds and feels "friendly" to me, I have rationalized my
decision by telling myself that any hidden internal stresses are
relieved now, and I don't need to worry about further cracking. ]

It happens to be the older model of Howarth Bb (called S2) with a
slightly larger bore, but my decision was motivated by the sound and
feel and budget advantage of this particular instrument, not a
preference for one particular brand.

<><> Did you also get new mouthpiece and ligature?

I intend to buy a new mouthpiece which is as different as practical
from the B45 that I play now. I'm not doing this because I'm
dissatisfied with my B45, but only because I want to broaden my
experience. I'll never know until I try something different.
A few days ago I posted a question as to which mouthpiece is most
different from the B45, or whether I should just look at the B45's
opening and table length and move as far as possible in the opposite
direction? And does my instrument's bore have an effect on which
mouthpiece I choose as a different-as-practical experiment?

<><> You lucky, lucky man!

This is the truth! Only a month ago, I was posting here that I couldn't
see a reason to abandon plastic. Then something changed without
warning. I don't know what it was, but two days ago I closed my plastic
horn's case with a snap and declared that I would never open it again,
not even as a backup instrument. I took it down to the local music
store and put it on consignment. I hope that it finds a good home with
some other student.

Cheers,
Bill

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