Klarinet Archive - Posting 000033.txt from 2001/09

From: Bilwright@-----.net (William Wright)
Subj: Re: [kl] new clarinet - and why?
Date: Sun, 2 Sep 2001 14:01:15 -0400

<><> Ragnhild wrote:
my Bb-clarinet is a little over 6 years old (I bought it new in May '95)
and the A-clarinet is roughly 13 years old [snip] How do you
"know" when you should start considering buying new instruments?

Ragnhild, the following is very standard advice that you will find
repeated often on this list:

The age of your instruments is irrelevant. If your instruments need
repairs or maintenance, then get them repaired, of course. A checkup
by a competent technician is useful every 12 months or so. Your
instruments may have misadjustments, worn pads, etc of which you are
unaware.

'Try out' other instruments whenever a convenient opportunity presents
itself (music stores, clarinet festivals, instruments belonging to
friends, etc). When/if you encounter an instrument that does something
special for you, such as having a sound that you like better, or
resistance or keywork the works better for you, then consider buying it.

Be sure to compare more than one manufacturer, bore, etc. And you may
find that two instruments of the same manufacturer and model are quite
different. Perhaps you will like one particular instance of a
particular model enough to buy it. Don't be afraid of used instruments
that have been checked out by a competent technician.

Don't forget to experiment in a similar fashion with mouthpieces and
barrels. A different mouthpiece or barrel may make more (much more)
difference than a new instrument.

Cheers,
Bill

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