Klarinet Archive - Posting 000682.txt from 2001/07

From: Neil Leupold <leupold_1@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Clarinet Xpress
Date: Thu, 26 Jul 2001 00:53:29 -0400

Alright Walter, you can untie David now. And get off his computer! ;-)

--- "David B. Niethamer" <dnietham@-----.edu> wrote:
> I'd like to relate to the list an experience I had this month with Walter
> Grabner's work. I bought Dan Leeson's C clarinet some years back when he
> "retired". It's a Buffet 17/6 that dates to 1899, which makes it a pretty
> early example for the 17/6 keywork. The wood is gorgeous, and Dan had the
> keys chrome plated, by Buffet IIRC, so they are in great shape. But the
> instrument had pitch problems, and evidently had them for some time.
> Somewhere along the way, the original barrel was replaced with a shorter
> one, possibly to correct the throat tones. When one result was that the
> long B/C (3rd line/third space) were too sharp, the original bell was
> also discarded, and a new one made, possibly by turning down a Bb bell to
> the proper length. For me, the barrels I got with the instrument did not
> tune well. They were too short, and to even get close to playing in tune
> I had to pull to the cork at the barrel/upper joint connection. I tried
> to get replacement bells and barrels from Buffet, and after 6-9 months of
> reminders, gave up - they didn't seem to be able or interested to help,
> and after a while I felt I was being a pest. A major retailer in N
> Carolina (who shall remain nameless!) offered to try to make a barrel, so
> I shipped the instrument. They kept it for 7 months, promised to make a
> prototype, maybe even a run of C clarinet barrels. Finally I had to bug
> them to return the instrument - I had to use it in the RSO - and 7 months
> later, still no barrel :-(
>
> Along the way, I bought a Buffet RC bell from Sean Osborn, which mostly
> solved the B/C problem.
>
> This is where Walter comes in. He offered to make a barrel. I sent him
> the instrument. After a little email correspondence, he made me a Delrin
> version that he thought should work. I had the clarinet back in a week,
> and the barrel was great! Many tuning difficulties solved, some due to a
> little extra tuning work done by Walter. He even sent me the mouthpiece
> he used to check the results of his work, so I could see where it was
> coming from. It's so nice I may buy it!
>
> Walter also worked on a couple of mouthpieces from my "collection",
> restoring an old "favorite" to playability. All at what I consider to be
> a very reasonable cost.
>
> Along the way during the last year, I've seen a number of Walter's
> mouthpieces, and have liked them very much. He's very knowledgeable and
> helpful, and does great work IMO.
>
> All the usual disclaimers...no stock in Clarinet Xpress...I received no
> consideration from Walter or Clarinet Xpress for this message...just a
> *very* satisfied customer. Should you have need of this sort of work, I
> can recommend Walter very highly.
>
> David
>
> David Niethamer
> Principal Clarinet, Richmond Symphony
> dnietham@-----.edu
> http://members.aol.com/dbnclar1/
>
>
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