Klarinet Archive - Posting 000104.txt from 2001/12

From: "Tony Wakefield" <tony-wakefield@-----.net>
Subj: [kl] Clarinet Bores - not me - the internal dimension kind.
Date: Thu, 6 Dec 2001 15:03:23 -0500

Clarinet Bores (The internal dimension.) And the Buffet DG - now no longer
manufactured.

I`m catching up on my questions re the DG several weeks ago - thank you to
whoever replied.

I have been playing on a Leblanc Opus for about 5 years now. The bore is
stated as being 'poly-cylindrical'. And we know that 'all' clarinets are
like this to some degree, i.e. that the 'true' cylindrical bore runs little
more than half of the whole length. So whether the bore of the Opus is
<much> different than most 'ordinary' clarinets is not clear. Leblanc state
that (presumably) the cylindrical part has a bore of 14.61mm. Their
'student' Esprit has a 14.65 bore.

My (new) Buffet DG 'A' clarinet has, as far as I can make out (I don`t have
a gauge) a larger bore than the Opus Bb. I`ve obtained copies of
specification leaflets to no avail Blake Arrington says that the DG has a
smaller bore than the 'normal' Buffets`, (and that it was mainly marketed in
Europe), and
Thomas Shaffner states that it was designed with the German sound (dark?),
and for orchestral use in mind.

Geoffrey Rendall in 'The Clarinet' states that the narrower the bore, the
lower the pitch, together with richer harmonics. And conversely, the wider
the bore, the sharper in pitch, with poorer texture. (Maybe this wider bore
system is a specific criteria in the design of student models - sharper
pitch/poorer texture?). He also says that tone is more than likely to be
affected by the
choice of materials used in the manufacture of the main body, and not by the
different bore sizes.

Which does have the bigger influence on tone? Is it bore size or is it wood?
Why do we have different bore sizes (in the soprano clarinet)? The bore size
<does> affect the intonation in the different registers, but the
manufacturers will, or should have (by now) a mean dimension in their design
to be able to maximise a stable intonation. If they are still offering
different bore sizes i.e. the DG, (up to a year or so ago) what could be the
reason for this? Is it mere gimmickry, or do they still not find
satisfaction in the intonation of their 'normal' range of Buffets? Do the
players themselves want different bore sizes to choose from?

Sorry to be such a bore.

Best,

Tony W.

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