Klarinet Archive - Posting 000268.txt from 2001/11

From: DGross1226@-----.com
Subj: Re: [kl] Amati Clarinet
Date: Wed, 7 Nov 2001 11:21:40 -0500

In a message dated 01-11-07 04:14:25 EST, Donna Higgins writes:

<< The low-C bass clarinet I posted about yesterday (the long-B intonation
issue)
is an Amati. I'm not sure when my Amati was manufactured. The serial number
is 11331, if that means anything to anyone.>>

Donna,

As the second owner of the horn, I understand from his widow, Virginia, that
it was initially purchased by the late Arthur Benade in 1984 in Kraslice.
The original bill of sale is in the case. Professor Benade had planned to
use it in his acoustic studies of the clarinet and including undercutting
tone holes -- and other magic -- on the instrument. Unfortunately, he died
before he could even begin his studies.

It's actually a virtual copy of the old Kohlert bass clarinets, but with a
unique "cloverleaf" pattern of RH thumb touchpieces for the lowest notes. If
you check the KLARINET archives, it was "advertised" by Robert Howe who was
helping Virginia sell Professor Benade's clarinets. His posts comparing the
Amati to Professor Benade's low C Buffet (which he kept for himself) are very
interesting. However, that was without having the instrument completely
overhauled as you have done.

I have not played the currenty Amati bass clarinets, but I have tried the
intermediate line of Boehm system Amatis. From my test playing of only one
horn they are, in a word, awful. If you can deal with terrible intonation,
soft pot metal keys, terrible action, a bore that looks like some used a rasp
on it, a top tenon that's so large you can't fit a Chadash barrel on it
without a 1/4 inch gap, and a bell ring that's so sharp you need leather
gloves to remove the bell without cutting your hands -- then Amati's the horn
for you.

Don Gross
La Canada, California

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